Bony To Beastly

I’m naturally skinny. Both of my parents were, too. My dad was nicknamed “Mop” because of his shaggy hair and stick-thin body. My mum was nicknamed “Lampshade” because of her bob haircut and flat figure.

In my early twenties, I weighed 125 pounds at 6’2, with a BMI of 16. That’s clinically underweight, and my doctor never let me forget it. Nobody did. So, I dove deep down the rabbit hole of trying to figure out why I was so much skinnier than everyone else I knew.

There are a few genetic factors that make some people naturally skinny. We often have thinner bones, fewer fat cells, faster metabolisms, smaller stomachs, and a different hormonal response to food. Sometimes, our organs work a little harder than usual, burning extra calories. I’ll go into all of this in a second.

None of those genetic traits make it impossible to gain weight. There are several solutions for all of them. It’s just that while most people gain weight by accident, we need to do it on purpose. Having skinny genetics also comes with several huge advantages. I’ll cover those, too.

It took me a little over a year to bulk to a healthy body weight. I blogged about how I gained 70 pounds, teamed up with a renowned strength coach, and have spent the past 15 years helping other skinny people understand their genetics, build muscle, and improve their health.