Those that have a hard time gaining muscle most of the time think that it has something to do with their workout routine or their supplementation. After they've been lifting weights for a while without seeing any muscle building results, they immediately think that they must be on the wrong bodybuilding program.

They start to add in all kinds of techniques that they read in some bodybuilding magazine or website. They start to add in supersets, forced reps, negatives, giant sets, heavier weights, static contractions, stretch overload, so on and so forth. Or they'll begin to add more exercises, sets, frequency, etc.

Or, they'll run to the nearest supplement store or internet site and begin to pour their hard-earned money on testosterone boosters, prohormones, weight gainers, protein bars / shakes, pre-workout / post-workout drinks, creatine, NO2, glutamine, branch chain amino acids, etc., etc.

Yet, after all of that extra effort, time, and money spent, they still are getting the same muscle gaining results..........nothing!

Wanna know why?

Because they fail to look at the number one factor on how to gain muscle .........eating more calories. That is 99% of the time the problem, not their training or supplementation.

And I love it when I hear someone complain that "no matter what they do they can't gain any muscle mass". But when asked how many calories or food their eating, it is always, and I mean always, not enough, even though they swear up and down that they do.

Sure, they think their eating a lot of food, and they may be doing so a day here and a day there. But when you look at how they eat over the course of several months, you'll see that they are eating like a bird, and that's why they look like one.

Trust me, I know what it feels like. A lack of an appetite is what kept me from gaining muscle mass naturally for years on end.

Well, here are a few tips and tricks to increase your natural appetite so that you can actually start to eat enough to grow, even though you may be fooling yourself into thinking you already are (but hey, regardless of what your stomach may be telling you, if you haven't gained any significant amount of muscle in a while, it's time to look in the mirror).

First, avoid eating foods that are very acidic, like carrots, orange juice, tomatoes, lemons, limes, and other citrus fruits......since a high level of acid tells the brain to slow digestion down, which will result in a lot of food just sitting in your stomach, killing your appetite.

Second, don't eat too much protein, since this releases certain hormones that also tell your brain to slow digestion down.

Third, don't eat a lot of foods that contain a lot of sodium, like frozen foods and canned soup. Again, sodium also tells the body to slow digestion down, and, again, taking away your appetite.

And, avoid a lot of fiber, since fiber stretches the intestines, bloats you, and fools the brain into thinking you're "full".