Created by sponsored advisor and friend Angie Asche, MS, RD, LMNT
(biography click here)
“I feel like I’m eating so much all the time, but can’t put weight on.” As a sports dietitian, I hear this on a weekly basis. And for athletes struggling to gain weight, eating can feel like a chore. Athletes should apply the same effort to proper fueling as they do to their training; however, gaining weight doesn’t have to be exhausting! Weight gain occurs when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Athletes looking to gain weight typically want to increase lean muscle mass while minimizing body fat gain, or even lose body fat simultaneously. Several factors play a role in this process, such as nutrient timing and consuming high-quality, whole-food sources. To promote weight gain, a starting point for men is baseline calorie intake plus an additional 400-500 calories in excess. For women, an additional 300-400 calories above baseline is recommended; however, this can vary depending on the individual, and may need to be adjusted by 50-100 calorie increments daily until the desired goal weight is reached. To help simplify the process, here are five tips to add to your routine for healthy weight gain!
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