Weight gainers work on a very simple principle – they use high quality ingredients to increase the amount of kilo joules your body takes onboard so as to exceed the amount you are expending on exercise. It is a simple enough formula that anyone can grasp. You need to ingest more kilo joules than you ‘burn’ exercising. The problem for many athletes and body builders wanting to add lean muscle mass is that the exercise required to trigger muscle growth itself uses up a lot of energy. There are only so many meals you can eat in a day, so it makes sense to get those extra kilo joules from supplements.
What are some popular weight gainers?
There is a huge range of weight gain supplements on the market now. When looking for one that suits you, take into account your individual training needs and whether it is a trusted brand and a product that has been well proven through its use by other respected athletes:
1. Max’s Muscle Builder SRT
Max’s Muscle Builder SRT, or ‘Sustained Release Technology’ is a formula specially designed for those ‘hard gainers’ who have a fast metabolism that seems to eat up everything without adding lean muscle mass.
It has plenty of carbohydrates for energy and helping with protein absorption, and a range of minerals and protein sources to ensure that nutrients essential to muscle building are released progressively and not just in one burst. This is the ideal approach for those who find adding bulk difficult.
2. Redbak Mass XXXL
Redbrick Mass XXX is a 50/50 blend of protein and carbohydrates, with a full range of amino acids to support weight gain.
It is ideal for muscle recovery as much as muscle growth and is suggested for hard gainers or those undertaking extreme amounts of exercise.
3. BSN True-Mass
BSN True-Mass claims to contain no hormones, creating or aspartame, but what it does contain is a mix of amino acids designed to help with both gain and recovery.
Rich in Branch Chain Amino Acids (Baas) this formula has more than enough of every amino acid required to support your weight gain aspirations.
4. Musashi Bulk
Mushiness Bulk is a well established weight gain formula that has recently undergone improvements in taste and formulation. With milk and soy proteins it combines a great taste with all the nutrients you’d expect in a serious weight gain formula.
Mushiness is an Australian supplement company and has an excellent reputation in the body building community.
5. Muscle Tech Mass-Tech
Muscle Tech Mass-Tech claims to be ideal for body builders who are experiencing one of those ‘plateaus’ where adding new gains has stagnated.
Delivering a massive amount of kilo joules in each serve it is a potent blend of protein, carbohydrates and fats required for muscle growth and some consider it pretty much the ultimate weight gain formula.
6. Prolab N-Large 2
Pro lab N-Large 2 claims to provide more kilo-joules and protein per serve than its competition. It utilizes whey protein with its superior amino acid profile, and is easily mixed without a blender.
It also has carbohydrates for energy during your workout and assisting with protein absorption.
7. Optimum Gainer
Optimum Gainer is made with 100% whey protein which has been proven to be easily digestible and therefore ideal for hard training athletes who need to be able to digest nutrition quickly and get back to training. It has a range of minerals and amino acids essential to weight gain and is especially good for those hard gainers who need to add bulk fast.
As you can see there is an abundance of supplements designed to help with weight gain, and the ones you choose will depend on what stage you are at with your training.
Why use weight gain formulas?
Some body builders are natural hard gainers, and find that no matter how much they eat and how hard they train, they struggle to add weight. Others find that the energy expended in training often means they lose weight rather than gain it and athletes involved in sports which have a high cardio vascular and aerobic component also find it hard to retain weight. It therefore makes sense to use supplements that deliver a massive amount of kilo-joules and plenty of muscle building nutrients such as protein in an easily digestible form. Supplements should always be use din conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise routine, but used correctly can radically enhance your results.
