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Trying to gain weight? Feel like no matter how much food you cram down your throat though there is no change on the scale? Is that scale just out to get you? Or maybe you've been blessed with genetics that have you destined for life as a skinny person?

If this is how you're feeling, you may just be a hardgainer.

Yes, you've heard it before. Why don't you just eat more? Obviously it seems so simple, but for a hardgainer, it's anything but. Gaining weight for this person is like a full-time job of force feeding. You eat, and eat, and eat, and still nothing. Frustration sets in and eventually you might lose steam.

It doesn't have to be this hard though. First, stop and make sure the following foods are in your current diet.

-meal replacement shakes (or make your own by combining protein powder, peanut butter, frozen fruit, and flax oil). Note that these are not to replace meals like their intended purpose, but to add to your already present meal schedule.

-nuts - any type will work - just make sure you are eating at least three or four handfuls a day.

-dry fruits - skip the fresh fruit right now and opt for dry instead. There is far more calories and it will feel a lot lighter in your stomach.

-chicken, lean beef, and whole eggs - you need some good quality protein in your diet and these are the best sources

-dry oats - for the hardgainer, eat them raw, like you would any other cereal

-1% or 2% milk - skip the skim right now, the extra bit of saturated fat will actually help to boost your testosterone levels

-bagels - again, bread for you is not on the menu. Bagels are far more calorie dense and will replace that lost muscle
glycogen that you are so needing at this time.

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-pasta - pasta is terrific for your post-post-workout meal to help give your body a slower source of carbohydrates to distribute evenly over time to the just-worked muscles

-salmon - this is a higher calorie fish that is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids - which are essential if you're trying to build muscle

-V8 juice - rather than looking to loads of vegetables for your vitamins and minerals, consider some V8 juice instead. It'll hardly put a dent in your appetite, allowing more room for other high-calorie foods.

You can have a few vegetables because getting some fiber is still important, but by no means should vegetables make up the bulk of your diet.

So, if you can't seem to get the scale moving, stop and look at this checklist. If any one of these foods is missing (apart from having an allergy), go to the grocery store and pick it up immediately. If you want to get serious weight gain happening, you need to get serious about your diet.