Starting the Journey

It is important to understand why you are skinny in the first place.

If you are too skinny (like I was), chances are that you will have to first look at the reasons why you are skinny. You might think that you are eating enough but still can't make any gains. There can be numerous reasons for skinniness. Before lifting weights, please consult your physician. 

Skinniness could be because of iron deficiency, thyroid gland dysfunctions like more thyroxine hormone being secreted, liver ailments (liver secretes bile which helps in digestion of fats by emulsification), or other reasons like burning more calories than consuming, taking in fewer calories than the normal value aka eating less food or zero muscle definition on the frame.

You may be thinking that you are eating a lot but still not gaining weight. Well, chances are that either you are burning more calories by doing extra physical activities, or your body is just not storing fat.

So, the best bet would be to first undergo a complete blood test, Liver Functionality Test (LFT), and thyroid profiling (T3/T4 hormones). Let's understand how the thyroid gland comes into the picture here. I have already talked about the liver above.

The thyroid releases 2 very important hormones called thyroxine or T4 or tetraiodothyronine & triiodothyronine or T3. Thyroxine regulates metabolism & digestion primarily.  If too much thyroxine is released into the bloodstream, it increases the metabolism or BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). What it means is that your body stores little to no fat and all the fat or energy is consumed to maintain your body. Fat acts as a cushion layer above your skeleton which, along with muscles, gives your body its appearance. I *literally* had no fat on my body and I used to look like a hanger. 

So, you now know why do you need to undergo the above-mentioned tests. These tests will reveal if there is any irregularity. In my case, my hormone level was normal but I wasn't eating *that* enough. So, in order to start your journey, please talk to your doctor & take any corrective measures to ensure you are on the right path. A healthy liver & healthy thyroid is key to gaining weight. Best of luck!