It's a good idea to continue to exercise while you attempt to gain weight the healthy way. However, it's probably best to lay off the cardio (which burns those hard-earned calories) and focus on strength training instead (which builds muscle mass and helps you to gain weight). Strength training includes working with weights and performing exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bench presses, bicep curls, crunches, chin-ups and leg curls. If you've never done strength training before, it's a good idea to enlist the help of a personal trainer who can show you how to perform the exercises safely and correctly. Just keep in mind that the more you exercise, the more calories you will need to consume to replace those you lost while working out. This is where protein shakes and bars really come in handy. Luckily, exercising should also increase your appetite. Smoking is a bad idea for those who are trying to gain weight as it suppresses the appetite. Although it won't be easy, quitting is the healthiest option - not only will it increase your appetite but it will improve your overall appearance, not to mention the health of your lungs. If quitting seems too extreme, at least avoid smoking for an hour or two before meals. Keeping a food journal will allow you to keep track of your weight gain and enable you to see which methods are working and which or not. Make a note of every calorie you consumed that day and every calorie you burned (to the best of your knowledge). Also write down your weight after each weekly weigh in. See the numbers written down in black and white will help you to figure out what your you're doing wrong or what you could improve on. It will also help to keep you motivated once you begin to see progress. Stress may also be contributing to your low weight. When people are stressed, they can neglect basic things like eating regularly and well and exercising. Try to keep your stress levels down. Take time every day to unwind and relax. You might try relaxation techniques, yoga, or meditation to help you control your stress levels. If it helps, you can join a class. Make time for things that you enjoy, too. Take time to read or watch a movie in the evening. Take a warm bath before bed. Gaining weight is not an easy process - in fact, gaining weight can be much harder than losing it. However, it is important that you stay committed and keep your eyes on the prize. Set small, manageable goals for yourself - like aiming to gain 4 pounds in a month. This will give you something more tangible to work towards. If you set your goals too high, it's easy to become overwhelmed and feel like giving up. The most important thing through the entire weight gain process is to stay healthy - eating a balanced diet and continuing to exercise throughout. Bingeing on junk food many seem like the easier option, but your overall health will suffer and you will not be able to maintain the weight in the long run. Remember that you're not just trying to gain weight - you're trying to overhaul your entire attitude towards food.

Summary: Gain muscle mass. Quit smoking. Keep a food journal. Reduce your stress. Stay committed. Stay healthy.

Heat a tablespoon (15 ml) of vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet. Wash, peel, and cut a rutabaga into thin slices. When the oil is shimmering, add the rutabaga slices. Cook the slices for about seven minutes, until golden brown and soft. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, and other seasonings if desired. You can either eat stir fried rutabaga on its own, or cook it with other vegetables, meats, or rice. Wash, peel, and thinly slice a rutabaga. Arrange the slices in a thin layer in a large skillet. Add enough broth, stock, water, or cream to the pan to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Cover the pan and cook the rutabaga on medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft. As the rutabaga cooks, stir it every two to three minutes to ensure even cooking. Wash, peel, and dice a rutabaga into 1-inch (2.5-cm) chunks. Place the chunks into a metal steamer basket or the steamer basket that comes with a steamer. Fill the bottom of a saucepan or steamer with water. Turn on the steamer and cook the rutabaga for 25 to 35 minutes, until tender and soft. Rutabaga is a delicious root vegetable that can be used in many different types of soups. You can add rutabaga chunks to vegetable, beef and vegetable, minestrone, or even potato and leek soups. You can also use rutabaga to replace some of the vegetables called for in potato, carrot, or other root vegetable soups.

Summary: Stir fry it. Braise it. Try steamed rutabaga. Add it to soup. Finished.

Ingrown hairs on the face happen more commonly in men after shaving. To help prevent this from occurring, avoid using any products that contain alcohol when you shave. Products that contain alcohol can dry and irritate your skin, which may lead to ingrown hairs. Use a natural moisturizing shaving product based on plant oils or other hypoallergenic substances. This will decrease the chance that the product will irritate your skin and make acne worse. Another way you can prevent ingrown hairs from occurring is to use a very warm or hot washcloth to hydrate your face before shaving. The water will soften your facial skin and hair and make your facial hair easier to cut. If your hair is easier to cut, you will have less risk of irritating your facial skin, and a straight cut across the hair will decrease the risk of ingrown hair. Keep the warm to hot washcloth on your face for three to four minutes. If you need to keep adding hot water to keep it warm, do that. You can also shave after you get out of a hot shower. Applying your shaving oil or cream the proper way can help soften the hair and get the hair ready to shave. The motions should be against the grain. This will ensure that the oil or cream gets to the base of the facial hair. You also should leave the cream on for a few minutes before shaving. Use light, gentle strokes while shaving, especially when shaving areas that have acne. Make certain your razor has a sharp blade. Replace old razors often with a new razor blade or new razor as needed. Moisturize your face after shaving using a natural moisturizer to avoid chemicals that may irritate your skin. Topical retinoids, low dose corticosteroids, topical antimicrobials, and alpha-hydroxy acids may help lessen the instances of ingrown hairs. You can also ask your doctor about topical eflornithine, which can slow the growth of facial hair. If you want to permanently remove the hair or if you have chronic ingrown hairs, consider laser hair removal. It is a quick treatment that works on short hair and can deliver permanent results. It can, however, also be costly, require multiple treatments, cause scarring or blistering, and be painful. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about this possibility. There are some at-home laser treatments on the market, but you may not want to experiment with these on your face, as you could cause damage without really realizing it. Leave the laser therapy to the professionals your safety is work the extra cost.
Summary: Refrain from using alcohol-containing products. Use a warm compress before shaving. Massage oil or cream into your face using circular motions. Talk to your doctor about medications. Consider laser hair removal.