Researchers compared the effects of drinking nonfat milk, a soy protein drink, or a carbohydrate drink on building muscle and burning fat after completing weight lifting workouts. All three groups gained muscle, but the milk drinkers got the best results, says researcher Stuart M.

Add these to your shopping list asap.

1. Brown rice. Although cooked brown rice provides only 5g of protein per cup (195g), it has the carbs you need to fuel exercise.
2. Lean beef. This should be your “go-to” if you’re looking to gain muscle mass.
3. Skinless chicken.
4. Oats.
5. Fruit and veggies.
6. Healthy fats.
7. Cottage cheese.
8. Eggs.

9 Scientifically Proven Ways to Grow Muscle Fast

1. Increase Your Training Volume.
2. Focus on the Eccentric Phase.
3. Decrease Between-Set Rest Intervals.
4. To Grow Muscle, Eat More Protein.
5. Focus on Calorie Surpluses, Not Deficits.
6. Snack on Casein Before Bed.
7. Get More Sleep.
8. Try Supplementing with Creatine…

How to Tell if You’re Gaining Muscle

• You’re Gaining Weight. Tracking changes in your body weight is one of the easiest ways to tell if your hard work is paying off.
• Your Clothes Fit Differently.
• Your Building Strength.
• You’re Muscles Are Looking “Swole”
• Your Body Composition Has Changed.

If you are new to working out and are at a healthy body weight, you should bulk first. This will make it much easier for you to cut body fat after the bulk, as you will have a lot more muscle mass compared to if you started out by cutting.

As a skinny-fat guy, there are plenty of activities where your body will do just fine: jogging, yoga, cycling, and so on. These activities are good for improving your health, but they don’t improve nutrient partitioning, and so they won’t help you overcome your skinny-fatness.