Any healthy cheap way to gain weight?

[guy121]

I've been on a diet for a little over a month now and lost quite a bit of fat. I don't know my bf %, but I am 21 years old, 5'10" and weigh 155lbs. I used to weigh 165lbs.

My body type is an ectomorph and I used to weigh 135lbs 2 years ago, but probably the only reason I gained weight was cause I would eat like 3 whole large pizzas, 3-5 cinnabons, a bunch of 2 double cheeseburgers and a Large fries from mcdonalds(my favorite meal:D which totals 1500 calories, and 28.5g sat fat yummy! ), etc.. in a week. Its really not too expensive when you go for the Papa John's 2 pizza's for $20 deal. I've pretty much ate like this since I was 14 years old.

Now after the diet, I want to bulk up, but seeing as how my metabolism is probably really high still I don't know what to do. Food is expensive! I drink about 3 protein shakes a day which include 50g protein, when I'm not hungry and in between meals. Is it really that bad on my liver? I eat maybe 4 sandwiches, take a couple grams of flax seed oil pills, and maybe eat a couple apples. I'm still losing weight. What else can I add in that is cheap and effective at helping me gain weight that won't turn into fat?

[GearTripper]

actually eating "healthy" is way cheaper then fast food any way you slice it.

[guy121]

I'm not so sure... a meal from mcdonalds is around $5. The two pizzas could last me 1 day and the next morning for $20. The sandwiches are the only thing that comes close to eating healthy and cheap. Sub some protein shakes and that still comes out to somewhere around $20 a day.

[GearTripper]

you're right if you compairing volume... i was referring to protein and nutitional content though.

[Cory]

You need to seriously learn about nutrition for building muscle. Go to Barnes and Noble and buy a book or do a search on the computer. There are tons of tools at your disposal.

[meat12]

Eating junk food like mcdonalds will make you put on junk weight, you'll put on layers of fat . Which will have you posting about fat loss in a few months.

You want to put on lean body mass and you do that by eating a healthy high cal diet. Like GT is saying you have gotta go with quality over quanity.

You can eat healthy for cheap man, go to Costco or Cub foods. Definately do some reading in the nutrition posts and some books, it will help you understand it all a lot more.

[Scrumhalf]

Buy ingredients and cook at home, bro. It is way cheaper than anything that you can buy and also better for you.

Patronize a grocery store that has a good bulk food section (where the food is in bins that you can measure out and fill in plastic bags).

Buy bran cereal and oatmeal for breakfast.

Buy brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread, pasta, fat free pasta sauce. Buy raw vegetables that you can steam at home, etc.

I spend about $120 per week for a family of 5, and that is without holding back on anything. That amounts to less than $4 per person per day! Think about that!

The food is healthy, tastes great and is high quality because we know exactly what has gone into the preparation.

The trick is to avoid pre-processed/packaged food as much as possible.

Not only is it possible to eat healthy, but it is the cheapest approach as well.

[JUICE]

eat tuna bro, eggs, drink milk, meats, and chicken. Thats all i eat, and i forgot my 2 shakes a day.

[guy121]

yeah, looks like costco is probably the best bet. Thanks for the ideas.

I understand I need to eat healthy to gain muscle and need to have a balance. Though spending money on extra food vs spending it on extra activities is a tough decision. I'm currently a poor college student, thats why I'm looking for cheap healthy ways to bulk.

[meat12]

Hey man, I've been through it man being broke for a while. It's not so hard though, just educate yourself on what you need to eat and you'll find it's really not as expensive as you may think..good luck man and don't let a lack of funds hold you back, let coupons be your savior.lol.:D

[Cory]

It is so easy to eat healthy and cheap. Go to walmart and buy the great value brand. Tuna, Chicken, sardines in a can. Buy there brand of frozen veggies. Big containers of oats, brown rice, and sweet potatos. These items are extremely cheap and very healthy. My grocery bill is like $25 a week. That is dirt cheap compared to eating Mcdonalds every day and phenomenally healthier. There is no excuse.

[beefcake]

I thought since he's an ecto, he should be eating everything and anything, no matter what the nutritional content. Anything to put on bodyweight.

[Shibby]

At costco a bag of bonless skinless chicken breast is $14 (like 15 breasts). Bundle of tuna $6 for like 12 cans. and these are california prices. Just give you an idea. That right there is only $20 and it's alot of good healthy food.

[Cory]

Originally posted by beefcake
I thought since he's an ecto, he should be eating everything and anything, no matter what the nutritional content. Anything to put on bodyweight.

wrong......junking out will make him put on weight, but over time, it won't be the kind of weight he's looking for. Not lean muscle weight. There will be quite a bit of fat that will accompany some muscle gain that will have to be stripped away later. He can get in quite a bit of calories from foods that are not high in saturated fats or processed carbs and put on lean weight without having to then go on this big cutting diet to lose a bunch of fat, which will only have him losing all the precious muscle he did manage to gain.

[meat12]

Originally posted by Cory
wrong......junking out will make him put on weight, but over time, it won't be the kind of weight he's looking for. Not lean muscle weight. There will be quite a bit of fat that will accompany some muscle gain that will have to be stripped away later. He can get in quite a bit of calories from foods that are not high in saturated fats or processed carbs and put on lean weight without having to then go on this big cutting diet to lose a bunch of fat, which will only have him losing muscle as well.

:agree:

Exactly, eating that shit will give you the wrong type of weight man, I'll take 3-4 lbs of muscle mass over 10-12 lbs of fat. Educating yourself is the key, and it's really not that hard to do.
Just by eating properly you will see better muscle definition.

Your body is a reflection of your diet. It will show how you eat..you eat like shit..thats what your gonna look like.