Gaining

As a 31 year old who’s been thin most of my life, do I have any chance of really changing my body type or shape? I’ve read the majority of your fat cells are created when you’re younger. I’d hate for the majority of my weight to just come from visceral fat. I’m curious if anyone has had success gaining later in life, and how it turned out for you.

Unfortunately, beloved, much of how you gain is due to genetics. You would probably have this issue if you gained earlier in life too.

That said, your best option is mix exercise and a high calorie with low trans/saturated fat. Overtime, it will help burn your visceral fat. However, since you won't be eating at a calorie deficit, you won't lose any weight.

However, I must stress that your milage will vary as to the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat you'll end up with.

At 31 you are not what I call a person who is "later in life", quite the opposite! I'm 75 and I started my weight gain journey about three years ago to try to reach a fat fantasy I had when I was very young. I was slender, too. 40 pounds later and still gaining, I can attest that you can change your body shape - at least have a fatter one - by following the simple facts laid out here in Fantasy Feeder: Eat more calories than you burn off.

That said, eating sugary foods has shown that it does promote visceral fat (bad) while calorie dense - high fat foods like cheese, hi-fat dairy products and other high fat foods (do a google on high fat foods) seem to promote growth in your subcutaneous fat cells most of which are in your lower belly, thighs and butt. But as Munchies said, it is a roll of the dice genetically as to where your fat gains will go.

To see consistent gains, you must keep a consistently hi-fat daily diet. Binging may help in the short term, but getting fatter is more sustainable if you keep on a plan.

AT 31, I guarantee that if you keep on a steady weight gain plan, in 10 or 20 years you can be as immense as you like!