It’s not always that you hear about people wanting to gain weight. Heck, the overwhelming majority of us are trying to lose it. That’s precisely why a lot of people go on a vegan diet.
But whether it’s a vegan, carnivore, or a keto diet, it doesn’t matter. If you want to put on weight (preferably in the form of muscle), the only way is to eat more than you’re used to.
In this article, I’m going to share with you some tips on how you can gain weight on a completely plant-based diet. First, let’s identify why most people have trouble gaining weight.
Why Most Vegans Can’t Gain Weight
There are a few fundamentals problems that skinny people (in general) have when trying to gain weight. They think they have what’s called a fast metabolism that keeps them from gaining weight.
Others think they’re suffering from issues like irritable bowel disease and stress, or have something in their digestive tract that won’t properly metabolize food.
Here is the gist of it. It doesn’t matter what types of foods you eat. If you eat a very limited number of calories daily, it’s impossible to gain weight. That’s why you’re skinny.
A Vegan Diet Is Actually Good To Lose Weight
One thing to consider also is the fact that a vegan diet is pretty good to lose weight. I’m not referring to a junk food vegan diet but a whole food plant-based diet with an emphasis on leafy green vegetables, legumes, and fruits is an awesome way to lose weight.
These, most of the time, are foods that contain a lot of fiber, promoting satiety. And they’re not calorie-dense, which is perfect for anyone wanting to shed off weight.
Track Your Current Calorie Intake
Track your current calories. Spend the next week or two logging everything you eat in a smartphone app like the myfitnesspal. You’ll learn that you’re not eating that many calories and that is the main reason why you’re not gaining weight. Someone skinny always overestimates what they eat, which is completely normal.
Metabolism plays a big role in weight gain and weight loss, and there are people with a fast metabolism. Genetically-speaking, there are three body types.
Ectomorphs, Mesomorphs, and Endomorphs.
Ectomorphs and endomorphs sit at the extreme ends of the scale. Ectomorphs have a lot of trouble putting on weight. They have a smaller frame and are not designed to be big and strong. Endomorphs have a bigger frame and they have it easy when it comes to putting on both muscle and fat. Mesomorphs sit in the middle and are blessed with the best of both worlds.
That doesn’t mean mesomorphs can’t get either very skinny or very fat. However, they have less difficulty when it comes to losing fat and gaining muscle.
But regardless of your body type, there is only one thing you can do to gain weight. You have to eat a lot more, or way more than your average person. Don’t let your metabolism decide what type of body you should have. If you’re skinny and want to have a more muscular body, you can do so and that is totally dependent on your lifestyle and diet choices.
10 Tips On How To Gain Weight on a Vegan Diet
1. Eat More Calories Than Your Body Burns
To gain weight you n