Building muscle mass requires a dedication to training and an intense focus on nutrition.
But even if you get everything right, a fast metabolism could impact any gains you make, meaning weight gain could prove a real challenge.
If you're struggling to build mass, mass gainers could be the perfect supplement for you; they're high-calorie and protein-rich, helping to support weight gain and build muscle alongside a detailed training plan and a healthy, nutritious diet.
Unsure whether mass gainers are for you? Here's everything you need to know about this bulk-building supplement.
Table of contents:
What is mass gainer?
Do mass gainers work?
Is mass gainer bad for you?
What is the difference between mass gainer and whey protein?
Our top 3 recommended mass gainers
What is mass gainer?
Mass gainers are supplements to help aid weight and muscle gain alongside workouts tailored to the same goal.
Most mass gainers typically contain a blend of protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. The protein content, usually whey protein, is added for its fast absorption rate, so it's great for kickstarting muscle recovery post-workout.
Alongside the protein benefits, the complex carbohydrate content in mass gainers helps fuel your workout, whereas the additional healthy fats help support your overall health and provide additional calories to help aid training.
Finally, as many mass gainers contain vitamins and minerals, this also benefits your overall health. Each serving provides a great combination of everything you need: micronutrients, healthy fats, complex carbs and proteins, perfect for building muscles and supporting weight gain.
Do mass gainers work?
If used as part of a dedicated training program and alongside a healthy, nutritious diet, mass gainers can be beneficial in helping you to gain weight and build muscle. Here are some of their main benefits;
1. Beneficial to muscle growth and repair
Mass gainers are excellent for supporting muscle growth and repair.
Containing whey protein, the building blocks of muscle, after an intense workout this protein content helps to repair and rebuild the muscles. After a weight training session, your muscles enter a state of breakdown and experience microtears; the protein repairs the muscles, leading to bigger and stronger muscles.
2. Carb content improves performance
Most mass gainers contain complex carbohydrates, ideal for providing extra energy for your workouts. Complex carbs take longer to break down, slowly releasing glucose into the bloodstream for a steady energy flow.
This sustained energy allows you to push harder and achieve enhanced results!
3. A greater intake of calories
Mass gainers are an effective way to take on more calories, which is particularly useful for those who train regularly yet may struggle to eat enough throughout the day.
If you find it difficult to gain weight, a mass gainer can help bridge the calorie gap and provide more fuel for your workouts.
4. Aid with nutrient absorption
The additional vitamins and minerals in mass gainers can help support your overall health and enhance your ability to absorb nutrients, helping to create the perfect environment for muscle growth and development.
Is mass gainer bad for you?
Although mass gainers are safe for most healthy people, they do carry some potential side effects. If you're unsure whether mass gainer is right for you, consult a healthcare professional before consuming. Here are some of the most common side effects and ways you can alter your mass gainer intake to hopefully avoid facing any;
- Digestive issues: Due to their high sugar and protein content, mass gainers can cause digestive issues such as bloating and gas or upset stomach, particularly during the first week of using them. If you experience digestive problems, lower your dosage and increase slowly as your body adapts.
- Spikes in blood sugar: With the addition of complex carbohydrates, mass gainers can create a spike in blood sugar, which can be a concern for those with diabetes or pre-diabetes. If you have diabetes, always consult your doctor before adding mass gainers to your diet.
- Unhealthy weight gain: Mass gainer was created to help build bulk, and if this isn't paired with a training regime, you can expect unhealthy weight gain and excess fat.
- Food intolerances: those who struggle with dairy or lactose intolerance may struggle with a mass gainer.
Will mass gainers make you fat?
With a training programme and a healthy, nutritious diet, mass gainers will help you gain weight and muscle, but they won't make you fat. However, it's important to remember that they should be used to supplement, not substitute a healthy diet and training plan.
Issues with unhealthy weight gain only occur when mass gainers are taken and aren't balanced out with training.
What is the difference between mass gainer and whey protein?
Although whey protein and mass gainers can help you build muscle, whey protein on its own may be a better option if you aim to gain lean muscle. Mass gainers can assist with this, but with additional fats and carbohydrates, they also build muscle mass, often with an increase in body weight.
Whey protein may be the option for you if you're strength training and simply trying to achieve some definition, whereas mass gainer is better for those who are bodybuilding and trying to achieve size.
Our top 3 recommended mass gainers
Now you know how mass gainer works, what it's good for and how to add it to your training regime, here are our top 3 recommendations to help you in your quest to gain mass!
1. Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass Gainer
Packing a huge 1,250 calories into every serving, Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass is a hard gainer ideal for those who want to gain weight or take on more calories but can't take on any more food.
Featuring protein and amino acids to help build and repair muscle and creatine for extra energy and muscle cell hydration, Serious Mass Gainer has a range of delicious flavours, perfect for fuelling your build.
2. DY Nutrition Game Changer Mass
If there's one thing that Dorian Yates knows, it's how to build muscle mass! The team at DY Nutrition believes that a frequent supply of quality nutrients is key when it comes to building muscle.
Game Changer Mass provides a powerful blend of protein, carbs, creatine and essential nutrients with minimal fat content for quality calories for building mass.
Delivering key nutrients to help sustain energy and performance in the gym whilst increasing daily calorie intake is a game-changing formula to assist you in your bodybuilding goals!
Take one serving post-workout and one between meals on non-workout days for best results.
3. XL Nutrition XTRA Mass Gainer
Offering 1000 calories per serving and 50g protein, Xtra Mass provides many benefits, including an increased calorie intake, muscle growth and repair, quick and easy consumption of good nutrients, enhanced exercise performance and improved recovery.
XTRA Mass Gainer is the perfect bulk-building, muscle-repairing post-workout treat, available in three delicious flavours: chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. Its high-calorie content makes it perfect for those trying to gain weight but struggling to get calories from their diet.
Mix 260 g of mass gainer with 600 ml of water for best results!
Shop mass gainers at Discount Supplements
Bulk up your workout regime with our wide selection of mass gainers at Discount Supplements. Or, if you're looking for options for building lean muscle mass, why not browse our whey protein powders collection?
Related posts:
