Gaining weight does not always get the same press as losing weight even though being underweight can impact your overall health. Being underweight is associated with loss of menstrual function, complications with pregnancy and complications with surgery. Following a quick weight gain diet can improve your health and your self-confidence if you have discipline.
Identification
When you are losing weight, it is a good idea to pace yourself and try to make steady progress every week. The same holds true when you want to gain weight. It is tempting to eat a monstrous amount of food every day to gain weight quickly, but this is hard to stick with and it can cause gastrointestinal upset. Instead, add 500 calories to your usual daily intake. Every two or three weeks, step onto the scale and see if you are gaining weight. If not, add another 500 calories to your diet. Once you start gaining, continue until you reach your goal weight.
Features
Foods like burgers, fries, meatball hoagies, pizza, doughnuts and muffins are high in calories, but they are also high in saturated fat. Saturated fat is the main dietary cause of high blood cholesterol according to the American Heart Association. For this reason, keep your intake healthy and choose foods that are calorie dense like nuts, seeds, lean meats, eggs, whole grains, dried and fresh fruit, starchy vegetables and beans.
Time Frame
With an elevated caloric intake, it can be hard to fit all your calories into the standard three meals a day. To make it easier on yourself, eat five or six meals and spread them two to three hours apart. Consume your first meal as soon as you get up and combine protein and complex carbs with each one. A turkey breast sandwich on whole wheat bread with cheese, lettuce, tomato and an apple is a meal, for example.
Effects
Liquid calorie beverages make suitable additions to a fast weight gain diet. Instead of drinking soda, sweetened teas and dessert coffees that are loaded with empty calories, stick with healthy beverages like all natural fruit juice, fruit nectars, sport drinks, soy milk and regular milk. Be aware of your timing though. Drink fluids either 30 minutes before or after a meal and not with it to avoid becoming full before you eat.
Potential
If you want to pack many calories into a meal, add one or two smoothies to your daily diet. Use ingredients like yogurt, nut butters, soy milk and fruit. Pour 16 oz. of vanilla soy milk into a blender. Add one cup of frozen blueberries, one chopped frozen banana and 2 tbsp. of almond butter. Close the lid, blend it and pour into a tall glass. This drink has approximately 660 calories. Use this for a meal any time of the day.
Considerations
Before you make any drastic changes to your diet, talk to your doctor especially if you have any existing medical conditions.
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