It can be tough to find good exercises for skinny people to gain weight and build muscle mass, particularly if you're looking in the bodybuilding magazines.
Unfortunately most of these magazines cater for the "already big" and so do not always contain appropriate advice for the skinny guy or "hardgainer".
In this article I'm going to buck that trend and give you 3 of my all-time favourite exercises for skinny people.
These are compound exercises so they will work multiple muscles at the same time, giving you the added benefit of building strong functional muscles, and not just big ones.
3 Exercises For Skinny People The following 3 exercises for skinny people should be performed 3 times per week with a rest day in between.
No exercise should be performed two days in a row, as sufficient rest is essential for muscle growth.
Try to workout with a friend or partner to spot you, as your last reps should be almost too difficult to perform.
Having that person there will enable you to put 100% effort into your hardgainer workout and get maximum benefit from your exercises.
Chest Press Building a big chest and shoulders is one of the fastest ways for skinny people to transform themselves and their confidence.
The perennial favourite, the chest press is probably the most famous exercise of all.
And quite rightly...
it's still the ultimate upper body exercise to get a massive chest and shoulders.
However, to see maximum benefits, good technique is imperative, as is controlled breathing - inhale as the bar goes down, and exhale as you push the bar up.
You should lower the bar almost to the point where it touches your chest - but DON'T LET IT BOUNCE as the most beneficial part of the exercise is the squeeze as you push the bar off your chest.
As an extra alternative in your hardgainer workout, this exercise for skinny people can be performed by inclining the bench upwards - to work the upper chest and shoulders...
or downwards  to work the lower chest and front shoulder muscles.
Perform 3 sets of 8-12 reps Squats Squats are a staple exercise of every great workout but particularly good as a bodybuilding exercise for skinny people.
The squat is the single best way to develop a strong back and legs (helping to give you a better more imposing posture), but care should be taken to perform it with the right technique.
Too many folks force the squat and therefore don't feel the benefits.
Always stretch well before hand, and take care to never bend your back while performing the exercise.
The stress should be placed on your legs, not your back.
Perform 3 sets of 8-12 reps Woodchoppers (or Wood Chops) The Woodchopper is one of the great exercises for skinny people and helps you to develop and build rock hard abdominals.
The exercise involves using a weights machine with a cable pulley.
Stand side-on to the machine and your feet a little more than a shoulder-width apart.
Grab the pulley's handle in both hands and draw the cable across your body, emphasizing the use of your abdominal muscles and particularly your obliques, by using those muscles to twist.
You should feel like you are sawing a tree or chopping wood (hence the name).
Repeat this for about 8-12 reps and then switch round to do the same thing but on the other side.
Start with a light weight to get the technique right first and then build up to heavier weights as you get more comfortable.