Did you know that you can gain weight by working out and exercising? That is right. While it is very popularly known that weight loss is possible with the help of exercise and a properly balanced diet. Gaining weight, if you are underweight, is also possible with the right exercise for weight gain and a good diet. If you are an underweight person who is looking for ways to gain weight then this article is just for you. In this article, we will be discussing the exercises for men and women to gain weight.
Introduction
There are two major reasons why you might be looking for ways to gain weight. The first reason someone might want to gain weight is to build muscle. The other reason is simply that you are underweight and your current weight is not healthy according to your height. Exercising is the best natural way of bulking up. Just like with losing weight, gaining weight is also possible by exercising only if you follow a proper diet and have a healthy lifestyle. Men and women will also have different exercise needs when talking about weight gain. In this article, we will be talking about natural weight gain with a focus on the exercises for the same. Whether you are looking for weight gain exercise for men or women, you will find them in the upcoming sections of this article. Read ahead to find out more.
Here’s Why You Can’t Gain Weight
The growth of your body is very much influenced by your genetics. Not being able to gain weight might also be influenced by the same. Before we look at how exercises help you gain weight and bulk up, let us take a look at the factors why you are unable to gain weight. The following are three major reasons for the same:
- Diet: unhealthy diets and irregular eating patterns are a result of the unhealthy lifestyle that most people have these days. This is a major reason why your body is unable to gain weight.
- Lack Of Physical Activity: regular exercise is another factor important for gaining weight. Due to busy schedules, most people miss out on their workout sessions.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease: this is a disorder that leads to intestinal problems leading to improper digestion of food.
Now that we know why you are unable to gain weight, let us take a look at how exercises help you gain weight and the best weight gain exercise for men and women that will be beneficial on your bulking-up journey.
How Exercise Helps To Gain Weight?
It is important to note why you gain weight because of exercising. Exercising is commonly known to help burn fat but exercising also leads to an increase in your muscle size. The larger muscles are more prone to the same. This is a good form of weight gain. Regularly exercising will ensure weight gain and lead you to your desired healthy body weight. In the following section, we will be looking at the workout for men and the exercises to lose weight for females at home.
10 Weight Gain Exercises You Can Try At Home
Let us now look at the weight gain exercise routine that you must follow and that you can easily do at home.
| S. No. | Exercise For Weight Gain | How It Helps |
| 1 | Push-ups | Targets abdominals, shoulders, chest muscles, triceps and wing muscles. |
| 2 | Pull-ups | Primarily focus on biceps and latissimus dorsi. |
| 3 | Squats | Help build muscles around the leg and hip region. |
| 4 | Crunches | Target abdominal muscles and obliques. |
| 5 | Lunges | Target abdominal muscles, hamstrings, gluteal muscles, calves and back muscles. |
| 6 | Bench Dips | Focus on triceps, chest muscles and front shoulders. |
| 7 | Glute Kickback | Strengthens the buttocks and the hamstrings. |
| 8 | Burpees | Great full body workout. Target arms, chest, abs, glutes, quads and hamstrings. |
| 9 | Deadlift | Increases overall muscle mass. Strengthens upper and lower back. |
| 10 | Bench Press | Builds shoulders, triceps and chest muscles. |
1. Push-ups
- About: Push-ups are known for building upper body and core strength. These are a little difficult but highly effective for weight gain.
- How To Do It:
-Get on the floor and lie down with your face towards the floor
-Position your hands on the floor wider than your shoulders.
-Push yourself towards the floor, extending your arms fully.
-Slowly bring your body closer to the floor and stop when your chest touches the floor.
-Get back to your initial position.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-Do not try if you have any shoulder injuries.
-Keep your core tight and butt clenched while doing this exercise.
2. Pull-ups
- About: another effective weight gain exercise is a good set of pull-ups. This exercise is effective for getting ripped arms and chiselled shoulders.
- How To Do It:
-Grip the pull-up bar with your palms.
-Pull yourself up and reach a point where your chin is above the bar.
-Slowly lower down your body such that your arms are fully extended.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-You will need a pull-up bar for this exercise.
-Focus on building strength and not speed.
3. Squats
- About: if you are looking for the best weight gain exercise, this is the one for you. Squats are highly beneficial for your lower body muscle strength.
- How To Do It:
-Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
-Push your hips down in an action similar to sitting on a chair.
-Reach as far below as you can.
-Return to the initial position.
-Repeat - Things To Keep In Mind:
-Keep your back straight while doing squats.
-Do not bend your knees.
4. Crunches
- About: when working out, one of your goals must be to strengthen your muscles. Crunches are a good way of strengthening your core as well as gaining weight.
- How To Do It:
-Lie down on the floor on your back.
-Take your hands across behind your head and bend your knees.
-Contract your abs as you inhale and exhale as you lift your body.
-Inhale returning to your initial position.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-Do not make any jerking movements.
-Keep your neck and head relaxed.
5. Lunges
- About: if you are looking forward to gaining weight, then lunges will be highly beneficial for you in bulking up your thighs and hip muscles.
- How To Do It:
-Stand straight.
-Step forward with and lower your body till the point your leg makes a 90 degrees angle and your thigh is parallel to the floor.
-Push yourself up to go back to the initial position.
-Repeat with the other leg.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-Avoid leaning too much.
-Balance your body weight properly.
6. Bench Dips
- About: This exercise targets your triceps, chest muscles and front shoulders.
- How To Do It:
-Use an elevated surface like a bench.
-Grip the bench with your palms with fingertips facing downwards.
-Keeping your legs bent at the waist and perpendicular to your torso extend them forward.
-Bend your elbows to 90 degrees and push yourself down while lowering your buttocks.
-Lift your body back to the initial position while extending your arms.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-You will need an elevated surface for this exercise.
-Placing your elbows right is the key.
7. Glute Kickback
- About: Your core, butt and lower back are the three muscles that are targeted by this exercise which is also very beneficial for weight gain.
- How To Do It:
-With your hands in a press-down position, kneel on the floor.
-Lift one of your legs upwards slowly in order to bring your hamstrings in line with your back.
-During the move, squeeze your glutes and fully extend them for a second as you hold.
-Return to the original position.
-Repeat with the other leg.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-This exercise is not for people with back pain.
-Keep your back straight throughout.
8. Burpees
- About: This weight gain exercise is your full body workout. All the major muscle groups will be targeted by this exercise.
- How To Do It:
-Stand with your feet apart.
-Squat and make sure your fingertips touch the floor.
-Shift your weight on your hands as you place them on the floor.
-Kick your legs out behind you and bring your chest closer to the floor.
-Go back into a squat position.
-Jump back up to the standing position.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-Make sure you have properly warmed up before doing this exercise.
-Keep your core tight.
9. Deadlift
- About: Along with helping you gain weight, a deadlift will also be beneficial in increasing overall muscle mass in your body.
- How To Do It:
-Stand straight with legs apart.
-Bend over to grip the bar and keep shoulder-width distance between your hands.
-Bend your knees such that the front part of your leg touches the bar.
-Straighten up your back.
-Inhale as you stand up with the weight.
-Hold the weight for a few seconds.
-Keep the weight down.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-You will need a weighted bar for this exercise.
-Do not begin with a heavyweight.
-Do not bend your back to avoid serious back injuries.
10. Bench Press
- About: the best exercise not only for weight gain but also to help you strengthen your shoulder, chest and triceps. The bench press is a good option for bulking up.
- How To Do It:
-Lie down on your back on the bench or on the floor.
-Hold the weighted bar.
-Bring the bar to your chest as you lower your arms.
-Slowly straighten your arms raising the bar.
-Repeat. - Things To Keep In Mind:
-You will need a weighted bar and a bench which is optional.
-Don’t press your head while lifting.
-Ensure you do not suddenly lock out your elbows.
What Exercises To Avoid When Trying To Gain Weight?
In the previous section, we have discussed in detail, the weight gain exercise for beginners and advanced bodybuilders. We identify that the exercises that are best for weight gain are strength training or resistance training exercises. There are also certain exercises that will not really be beneficial for you if you wish to gain weight. Cardio and aerobics are exercises that are known to be beneficial for burning fat and toning your muscles. If your goal is to gain weight, you must either avoid these or do them in moderation.
Conclusion
With this, we have reached the conclusion of our article on exercises for weight gain. In this article, we have talked about how you can gain weight with the help of exercise. We have also looked at why you have been unable to gain weight and how you can change your daily habits in order to ensure proper weight gain. We hope that this article would have helped you find the right weight gain exercise routine for you and you will be consistent with your workouts in order to gain weight. Along with physical activity and exercising, you can also make considerable changes in your diet and lifestyle for the best results.
FAQs
If you have a very low BMI or are underweight, gaining weight is highly important for you. While we have discussed the various aspects of weight gain exercise for beginners as well as people with a lot of experience, there might be some questions that you have related to the same. In this section, we will be answering some of the most commonly asked questions about weight gain exercises and how you can gain weight easily.
What Is The Best Exercise For Weight Gain?
The best exercises for weight gain include resistance training exercises. You can do squats, bench presses, burpees, crunches and so on.
Is There A Workout To Gain Weight?
Yes, there are exercises that will help you gain weight. Be it a workout for men or exercises to gain weight for females at home, there are many options that you can choose from. Exercises that help you gain weight include squats, pushups, pull-ups, deadlifts and many other strength training movements.
Can We Gain Weight Without Gym?
Yes, you can gain weight without the gym but not without exercise. You need to make sure your calorie intake is right and you also do some weight gain exercise at home. This will be enough for you to gain weight along with changing your everyday habits.
