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Hardgainer
A hardgainer is someone who struggles to gain muscle mass and body weight, even with consistent training and sufficient calorie intake. The body tends to burn an unusually high number of calories — even at rest — often due to:
- High metabolic rate
- Elevated basal metabolic rate (BMR)
- Ectomorphic body type
- High NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis)
Hardgainers often have low fat mass, a fast-reacting nervous system, and burn more energy even while sleeping — which makes gaining mass particularly challenging.