Gaining weight in general can be hard especially if you have a fast metabolism like myself. I have always been very active and I have no plan on slowing down anytime soon. I played basketball football, track, and baseball as a kid. I then went on to play college football which entailed daily workouts and I am currently a calisthenics training daily. I have always been extremely active and I don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Here's how I gained 20+ pounds of lean muscle while Alkaline Vegan! Macros Macros! Macros! I struggled to put on weight all throughout high school until I learned this huge secret to gaining weight. Weight gain is all about the balance between the number of calories burned and calories consumed. I assessed how many calories I burned in a day on average, then I got to work eating for gains.
If weight gain is the goal, increase calories by 5–15%. Determine your macros: Protein intake should be between 0.7–1.0 grams per pound of body weight. Fat intake should be between 0.25–0.4 grams per pound of body weight. All remaining calories are allotted for carbs.
A typical day for me starts with a fruit(seedless) and hemp-seeds (10g protein per tbs) smoothie immediately after a morning workout. I drink spring water in between and consume 2-3 large meals between 12 pm and 7pm everyday. I don't eat solid food after 7pm and before 12 pm because these are peak digestion and detoxification times.
My go-to meal is a "burrito bowl". I always find new ways to mix and match the ingredients, seasonings, and toppings in my "burrito bowl" using only ingredients from Dr.Sebi's List of Approved Alkaline Foods. However, I always use 1 cup of quinoa (a mineral-rich ancient grain with 8g protein) as a base instead of rice, 1 cup of chickpeas (40g protein), and a whole avocado which is loaded with all necessary healthy fats.
The moral of the story is to eat, eat, eat nutrient-dense macros!
1 cup of chickpeas (40g protein)
Once we've met the necessities, depending on the day I add different types of greens, nuts, berries, seasoning, homemade alkaline dressings, guacamole, key limes, and more. I love to get creative with my options for the burrito "bowl", giving it new flavor every time.
While on the meal plan I also switch it up a bit and occasionally cook on high heat with Grape-seed Oil. Some of my favorite alkaline meals are vegetable stir-fry over quinoa, Coconut butternut squash stew, lentil soup, chickpea flour omelets, spelt flour pancakes and plenty more.
While plant-based is normal for your weight to fluctuate as you gain, consistency is the only way to success. I do 3-4 hard workouts a week and have moderate rest days in between. I work out in super-sets to trigger hypertrophy and muscle growth and I make sure to get enough rest and recovery because this is when muscle grows.