Are mass gainers worth it and do they actually work?
Well, you come to the right place because that’s exactly what I’ll be going over in this post.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or expert in weight gainers.
I’ve put together this guide to answer all your questions about mass gainers and weight gaining in general.
Table of Contents
Are mass gainers healthy?
It depends on which mass gainer you go with.
You see, there are a lot of low-quality mass gainers out that are just full of sugar.
Of course, this is bad for you.
Mass gainers can be good for you depending on which one you pick.
Since they contain protein, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients.
Make sure the mass gainer you pick has whole foods in it.
This is something you definitely want in your gainer if you want to put on weight the healthy way.
Do mass gainers work?
The goal of a mass gainer is to help you put on weight.
You put on weight by eating more calories than your body needs.
By going beyond that point you will put on weight, regardless if you take a mass gainer.
A mass gainer simply makes it easier for you to consume more calories.
Mass gainers are a convenient way to consume calories.
You don’t need to spend time cooking a meal or chewing.
You can simply open up your weight gainer, put in some milk or water and drink it.
That’s it!
Many people including myself don’t have enough time to be preparing food.
If you’re constantly on the go and want something to eat…
…go ahead and take your mass gainer.
It’s a convenient little supplement that makes life easier and assists you in your weight goals.
Will mass gainer make me fat?
A weight gainer is just like anything else…
…too much is bad for you.
If you’re counting your calories, you can control how much fat you’re putting on.
HOWEVER…
A lot of cheap mass gainers are just packed with sugar. If you go with a mass gainer like this, you will get fat.
Make sure to read the label and figure out how much sugar is in there.
If you aren’t working out, you could end up putting on fat.
Of course, this is something that you really don’t want. Make sure you’re consuming your weight gainer appropriately.
Are there any side effects?
Depending on the mass gainer you consume, you could experience side effects like diarrhoea and stomach aches.
Of course, you don’t want to buy a mass gainer and test it out on yourself to see if you get any side effects from it.
I would recommend checking out the reviews and see what people are saying about that particular gainer.
Here are some gainers I recommend:
Beginner mass gainer
This mass gainer is good for hardgainers
Teenage oriented mass gainer
Fast metabolism mass gainer
Best plant based mass gainer
Organic mass gainer
All natural clean gainer
Can I use it as a meal replacement
Yes, you can use weight gainers as a meal replacement.
They contain protein, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients.
If you get a high-quality weight gainer which I would highly recommend, they contain ingredients like wholes foods.
Whole foods like brown rice, lentils, and ancient grains are awesome!
These are super healthy foods and will not only help you gain weight but improve your overall health.
If you’re a person who’s constantly on the go, a weight gainer is a brilliant alternative to cooking.
You don’t need to be constantly prepping food.
Have your mass gainer shake ready and you can just grab it and go.
It’s super convenient!
Drink it at work, after a workout, with your meal or any way you desire.
How much should I take?
This all depends on your goals.
If you are counting your macros, adjust how much you take to your macros.
There’s not necessarily a right answer to how much of the mass gainer you should consume.
If you’re desperately trying to put on weight, I would recommend being generous with how much you take.
If you’re counting your calories and have set macro goals…
…I would recommend adjusting the amount you consume to that.
Can I use it without exercise?
Would you stop eating altogether if you weren’t exercising?
Of course, you wouldn’t.
Keep on taking your mass gainer on your off days if you want to put on weight.
If you’re not working out altogether and stop doing your typical daily exercise routine, you can still take a mass gainer.
If you want to put on weight, you just have to eat more calories than your body consumes.
A mass gainer won’t necessarily take you over that limit unless you’re taking a lot of it.
Mass gainer vs protein powder
What’s the difference between a mass gainer and protein shake?
Which one should you take?
You see, a mass gainer contains what you’d expect a meal to contain…
…there’s protein, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients.
With a protein powder, you’ll just find protein and not a lot of fat, carbohydrates or micronutrients.
If you want to get some quick-hitting protein that your body will quickly consume…
…a protein shake would do just that.
If you want something that’s going to help you put on some size or just replace your meal…
…a mass gainer will do the job.
At the end of the day, a mass gainer also does what a protein shake does…
…it gets protein to your body.
So if you’re trying to put on weight, get your protein and replace meals easily, a weight gainer will kill two birds with one stone.
Mass gainer vs homemade shake
What have I repeatedly said throughout this article?
“The way you put on weight is by consuming more calories than you burn.”
A homemade shake can assist you with putting on weight.
HOWEVER…
Mass gainers are a lot more convenient.
With a homemade shake, you will have to find the appropriate ingredients and blend them.
Also, homemade shakes don’t taste anywhere near as good as a weight gainer.
I remember I would make my weight gainers and I would add things like oats to really add some calories.
Whenever I would add oats, it made the shake taste like powder, no matter how much blending I did.
Let’s take a look at how a mass gainer is made.
Weight gainer supplements are carefully made to taste amazing.
WHY?
Because they would sell better. It really is that simple.
Manufacturers do a lot of testing before the final products are sent out.
ON THE OTHER HAND…
When we make our homemade shake, we’re not as fussed how they turned out compared to how a supplement we purchased tastes.
If you don’t care about convenience or taste, I would recommend making a homemade mass gainer shake.
WHY?
Because of the whole foods.
Sure, you can get high-quality whole foods in a mass gainer supplement.
BUT…
You know exactly what went into your homemade weight gainer shake.
Which mass gainer is right for me?
Honestly…
…there’s not much to it.
When picking a mass gainer you want to make sure it contains whole foods.
This a key ingredient.
Make sure when you’re picking a mass gainer, they aren’t packed with sugar.
Are you a vegan?
That’s OK.
Make sure you find a good plant based mass gainer.
Sure, you’ll find mass gainers for skinny guys but they pretty much do the same thing.
What do I do if my mass gainer is not working?
If you purchased a mass gainer and have been taking it for a while…
…and thinking, “Why isn’t this working?”
Most likely it’s because you’re not consuming enough calories.
You can’t just skip out on the meals of the day and keep consuming your mass gainer.
In order for your mass gainer to work you need to make sure you’re at a caloric surplus.
This isn’t some magic supplement.
You need to make sure you’re consuming enough calories in order to put on weight.
If you are consuming enough calories throughout the day, you might want to check with the manufacturer…
…and see what they have to say.
Should I take my mass gainer as a pre or post workout?
When you workout, you want to be full of energy.
Sure, a weight gainer can supply you with carbohydrates to give you an energy boost, but…
…this simply isn’t enough.
Before you workout, make sure you consume caffeine.
This is really going to boost your energy levels.
If you have a look at many pre workout supplements…
…they’re just packed with caffeine.
WHY?
Because caffeine is the ingredient that’s going to supply you with a massive energy surge.
A weight gainer does not contain any caffeine and if it does…
…you might want to stay away from it.
A weight gainer should be used as a post workout instead of a pre workout supplement.
After your workout, your muscles are depleted and need fueling.
Mass gainers can provide you with the necessary fuels your muscles need like carbohydrates and protein.
What’s the correct way to use a mass gainer?
Honestly…
…there’s no special or correct way to consume your mass gainer.
It’s an easy to use supplement.
Put the powder into a container like a bottle and insert a consumer liquid such as milk or water.
Go ahead and give it a good shake.
Now, you can drink it.
There’s no rocket science here.
You can use it as a meal replacement, a protein supplement, and can consume it whether you workout or not.
Do mass gainers increase muscle size?
In short, yes, mass gainers do increase muscle size.
WHY?
Because of the ingredients it contains.
Mass gainers contain protein which helps rebuild muscles and will help increase size and muscle density.
With it being packed with carbohydrates…
…that’s going to help increase the overall size of muscles a lot.
It can even play a bigger part than the protein with increasing muscle size.
Which mass gainer is best for skinny guys?
There’s no specific mass gainer tailored for skinny guys.
All mass gainers have the same goal and that’s to help users increase in weight and muscle mass.
The only difference is the quality and variety of ingredients.
I would recommend doing your research and compare some mass gainers in calories per 100 grams.
This way you’ll be able to efficiently put on weight and put as little food in your mouth whiles increasing your weight.
Which mass gainer is best for beginners?
The only wrong mass gainer is one with a ton of sugar and low-quality ingredients.
And the best mass gainer is one that contains high-quality ingredients and good calorie density.
There aren’t any muscle gainers tailored towards beginners specifically.
There used to be a time where mass gainers would give you constipation and that was because the supplements were of low quality.
Or because people had a sensitive stomach.
If you’re a beginner looking into mass gainers…
…I would recommend you read the reviews first and see what people say about digesting that gainer.
That’s the only thing I could think of what a beginner would be concerned about when buying a gainer.
These days, you don’t have to have a solid stomach to get away with drinking weight gainer shakes.
Just see what others are saying.
Weight gainer for women
This is still a grey area…
…some companies have made weight gainers geared towards women and many people don’t know what to think of them.
Some people are calling these companies out and saying they’re just trying to make a quick buck…
…since all weight gainers do the same thing and these companies are just changing the packaging title and gearing it towards women.
And to be completely honest…
…I’m sceptical as well.
A weight gainer helps you hit your goal by packing a bunch of calories in them.
But what does a “Women’s” weight gainer do differently?
Some of these companies say their women’s weight gainers are designed to reduce excessive fat and focussed on developing muscle mass.
Are mass gainers worth it – Conclusion
Are mass gainers worth it?
Yes, they are.
They’re an excellent way for you to pack on muscle and overall size.
