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Will I Gain Weight With a Mass Gainer? - Genetic Nutrition

Will I Gain Weight With a Mass Gainer?

, by Sandesh Prasannakumar, 9 min reading time

Introduction

Interestingly, most people with thin physiques use mass gainer shakes or supplements to increase their overall calorie intake and, in turn, gain muscle mass. Mass gainers include proteins, which are meant for carbohydrates, as well as fats that will help in the building of muscles.


Though there is nothing wrong with mass gainers as supplements for skinny guys and gals, some individuals are worried that the calorie intake will contribute to fat rather than muscle. Therefore, will you pack some pounds with mass gainer supplements? Alright, let’s focus on that.


How Mass Gainers Can Assist You in Achieving Your Weight Gain Goals

Mass gainers are calorie-dense products containing protein, carbohydrates and fats aimed at aiding muscle buildup and weight gain. Many trainers and bodybuilders use mass gainers to:


  • Aim at consuming more calories on a daily basis
  • Supply the energy required to support physical training sessions.
  • Encourage the increase of lean muscle mass
  • Deal with fast metabolic rates or low hunger

The reason mass gainers cause weight gain is the increased calorie content of the product that supplies extra nutrients for growth. For instance, there are some mass gainers which contain more than 1000 calories per serving. Including two or three portions per day may add a lot of calories to your daily food intake and thus help you gain weight.


Not only does a mass gainer have more calories, but it also contains protein and carbohydrates for muscle mass gain; the nutrients provided during the workouts assist in repairing damaged muscles and growing new and bigger muscles.


Will You Become Fat or Muscular?

Everyone has a question - are mass gainers going to help you put on a lot of fat or are you going to gain muscles? The answer to this question is contingent on the following factors.


So, to answer your question, if you overindulge in excess calories from mass gainers or any other source, then yes, you are likely to add more calories as body fat. However, by paying attention to the calories consumed and expended, it is possible to gain lean muscles instead of fat. Here are some tips:


  • Instead of just focusing on the scale weight, measure your weight and body fat percentage consistently. It is important to note that Caliper skin fold measurements can approximate the changes in body fat.
  • Define how many calories you need to take daily for muscle mass building and try to maintain it as much as possible. Dieters must avoid consuming too many calories in a day as this results in the storage of fats.
  • Add strength training onto the mix to ensure that most of the mass gained is lean rather than fat.
  • This is because the mass gainer you are using contains calories and if you find that you are gaining more weight than you want, then that is the time to adjust your calorie intake as well as the use of mass gainer.

The main issue here is how to limit the amount of calories consumed in such a manner that one can facilitate the growth of the muscles while at the same time avoiding a corresponding addition to the layer of fat. Of course, patience is also required here since muscle building requires weeks and even months rather than days and weeks.


Advantages and Disadvantages of Mass Gainers

Using mass gainer supplements to gain weight does come with both advantages and disadvantages:


Potential Benefits:

  • Ensures that increasing the daily calorie intake is easy and hassle-free
  • Supplies protein to help build up muscle and carbohydrates to aid in the repair of muscle tissues.
  • Enabling very skinny people to build muscles
  • Possibly have positive effects on energy and post-training performance

Potential Drawbacks:

  • Most of the weight gained can be attributed to fat instead of muscles.
  • Portion distortion makes it difficult to manage calorie intake since portions are very big.
  • Defined as having higher added sugar content and lower micronutrient density than whole foods
  • Side effects that could arise from excessive consumption

Like with most supplements, mass gainers are useful for those with specific goals but should not be a replacement for a proper nutrition plan with whole foods. Second, tracking your weight loss both on the scale and mirror will help you ensure that you gain most of the muscles.

The Bottom Line

When using mass gainers, give attention to your calorie surplus, your strength training program, and your rate of weight gain if your goal is to gain mostly lean body mass rather than fat. However, as an additional tool, mass gainers cannot be placed on the same level as a proper exercise program and a nutrition plan based on wholesome food supplies.


It is quite possible to gain 10-15 pounds of lean mass within the first year of proper training and nutrition. Consuming too many mass gainers can also limit your ability to balance your calorie intake, fat levels, and micronutrient intake. However, for certain people who classify as hard gainers, serious weight lifters and athletes, mass gainers can be assimilated into your bodybuilding process.

For all your protein and supplements needs, visit Genetic Nutrition!

FAQs

  1. How many pounds will I be able to gain using mass gainer supplements?

The amount of weight you gain is determined by the calorie intake you bring in beyond the basal metabolic rate. According to the guidelines on the mass gainer product, taking 300-500 extra calories through the mass gainer will help a person gain about 1 pound per week. To achieve mostly muscle gains, it is advised to gain 0.5%-1% of your body weight per 30 days.


  1. When should you consume mass gainers shakes?

The best time is to divide the serving - you should take one serving in the morning and one serving after the workout on training days. This offers important nutrients during the workout session for repair and bodybuilding. On normal days, one serving in a day is enough, but on non-training days, it is more than enough.


  1. Are mass gainers safe for females to take?

Yes, women also can take mass gainers and they generally recover and gain muscle easier than men. Nonetheless, women may require changing the portions of food they take because calorie requirements for building muscles are usually lower due to variations in hormones and composition.


  1. Is taking mass gainers better than consuming protein powder?

It is also important to note that mass gainers contain a higher amount of total calories and carbohydrates as compared to proteins in the protein powder. If you find it hard to put on weight or do not have the calories required to provide the muscles with the nutrients needed to grow, then using a mass gainer can be helpful in your supplement intake. However, protein powder is more suitable for those who seek to supplement their diet with protein alone.

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