The best way to gain weight is to determine your baseline daily intake of calories.
Once you know how much you are taking in, it should be relatively easy to increase your calorie consumption.
It's important to note that not all calories are created equal.
Fat contains 9 calories per gram, while protein and carbohydrate both contain 4 calories per gram.
The body converts fat intake more readily into fat stores on the body, while protein intake is more easily converted to lean mass.
There is a common misconception that muscle weighs more than fat.
1 pound of muscle weighs the same as one pound of fat.
However, one pound of fat is bulkier than one pound of muscle.
Generally, when a person wants to gain weight, they are looking to increase muscle rather than fat.
So, unless you're one of those rare people looking to bulk up on fat, you'll be better off increasing your protein levels.
Working out with low reps and high weight is the best way to bulk up muscles.
The process is best supported by one gram of protein per pound of body weight, per day.
High protein meals or meal replacement shakes work nicely, especially if regular milk is used in conjunction with the meal or protein powder.
The sugar in the milk, combines with the high protein and feeds the muscles which have been stressed.
This method of weight gain pretty much guarantees that the added weight is muscle.
If you do happen to be one of those rare individuals who is looking to gain any kind of weight, then just a basic calorie increase should do the job.
It helps to know that one pound of body weight is the equivalent of 3,500 calories.
Once you subtract the calories required for digestion of the food, you really have to eat a lot in order to gain just one pound, especially if you are one of the lucky few with a naturally high metabolism.
If you do happen to be one of those people, then often a high carbohydrate plan can assist with weight gain as well.
The reason for this is that carbohydrate stimulates insulin production, which is directly related to fat stores in the body.
In other words, more insulin equals more fat in most people.
Also, keep in mind that fat has over twice the calories of protein and carbs.