Although the majority of Americans who exercise do so because they want to lose weight, bodybuilders and some other athletes will exercise for the exact opposite reason. Muscle mass improves performance in some sports and looks attractive on some frames.

Bulking up isn't something that happens overnight, even if you're genetically lucky and can build muscle fairly easily. If you're new to exercise, however, you'll see some results quickly -- even in a few weeks -- which can keep you motivated for the months or years it requires to bulk up significantly.

Skipping meals will not help you gain weight. Forget breakfast, and you continue the six- to nine-hour fast that occurred while you slept. Take advantage of the morning meal to add extra calories so you can put on pounds to achieve a healthy weight.

The basics of muscle gain and fat remain the same, regardless of your gender. To become lean, you need to strength train and follow a healthy diet.

Weighing in immediately following exercise or even the morning after a workout can give you a false sense of the effects of exercise on your weight.

Physicians prescribe prednisone, a corticosteroid medication, when your body is not making enough corticosteroids due to illness and inflammation. These conditions include arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, lupus and certain cancer types.

Zoloft, generically known as sertraline, belongs to a category of antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs. Doctors prescribe Zoloft for treatment of depressive disorders, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Like other SSRIs, Zoloft may cause weight changes in some people.

Blanching -- boiling vegetables for a specified length of time -- is a simple but necessary task for freezing asparagus successfully. Like all vegetables, asparagus contains enzymes that ensure the asparagus plants mature and develop properly.

You might be tempted to gain weight as quickly as possible to address the issues of being underweight, such as compromised health and energy as well as possible low self-esteem. Increase your body weight slowly to avoid adding excessive body fat, though.

If you find yourself gaining weight or struggling to drop pounds, you may need to consider your digestive system. Over 60 million Americans experience digestive disorders including bloating, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea and gas, according to the NJ Nutritionist website.

Because of nutritional yeast's high nutrient content, vegetarians will sometimes use it as a supplement. In vegan recipes, nutritional yeast also makes a good substitute for Parmesan cheese. But nutritional yeast isn't that high in calories, so it isn't likely to cause weight gain.

Gaining healthy weight is a gradual process. You may be able to put on as much as 1 pound in a week by consuming more calories, but it'll take time to make significant changes in your appearance. Consume a greater number of calories than you burn to put on the weight.