Sports nutrition

What is a Mass Gainer?

Mass gainer is a sports nutrition product loved by bodybuilders looking to increase muscle mass, thanks to its carbohydrate-rich composition which delivers a large number of calories per shaker. It also contains protein and fat, but in generally smaller quantities than carbohydrates. To gain weight and muscle mass, it is essential to be in caloric surplus, i.e. to absorb more calories than you expend. To achieve this, you need to calculate your daily caloric requirements and adapt your diet accordingly, to create this caloric surplus. Generally speaking, a mass gainer is recommended for beginners looking for a complete product, as well as for people who have difficulty gaining weight despite a diet already rich in protein and calories. A mass gainer is therefore the practical, fast way to help you increase your daily calorie intake and thus your muscle mass.

What’s the difference between whey and a mass gainer?

Whey and gainer are two different sports nutrition products, despite the fact that both contain protein in their composition. A whey protein is a protein powder formula with lower carbohydrate, sugar and fat contents than those found in a mass gainer. In simple terms, if you follow a strict diet or are looking for a supplement made exclusively from quality proteins, whey is recommended. A gainer, on the other hand, is recommended for people who want to rapidly increase their caloric intake in order to gain weight.

What’s the difference between lean and hard gainer?

There are two types of mass gainer: lean gainer and hard gainer. These two gainers are not identical, and the difference will mainly depend on the amount of protein and carbohydrates, and therefore on the calorie content.

The lean gainer has a higher protein content and a lower carbohydrate content than the hard gainer. Lean gainer contains at least 40-60% protein and 40-60% carbohydrates, whereas hard gainer contains around 20-30% protein and 70-80% carbohydrates. Lean gainer is made up of complex carbohydrates with low glycemic indexes, such as oats and sweet potatoes, to achieve a lean mass gain. The hard gainer, on the other hand, is richer in carbohydrates to help you gain weight and increase your daily calorie intake.

When and how to take Mass Gainer?

Mass gainer is taken throughout the day according to your needs. This means you can divide your portions between morning and afternoon snacks, as well as around strength training, for example. To complement your Mass Gainer, you can turn to sports nutrition products such as creatine, BCAAs or whey. To find out which Mass Gainer to choose, simply start from your needs and personal tastes and go for a gourmet flavor, such as a gainer with concentrated chocolate, which always gets good reviews.