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Weight Gainer Protein Shakes

Weight Gainer Protein Shakes
Claire Muszalski
Registered Dietitian2 years ago
View Claire Muszalski's profile

Building muscle is something that requires intense dedication, both in and out of the gym. Many people understand that to build muscle, you need to lift some weight, but a lot of people might think that’s it. One of the key components of building muscle is food – and not just what you eat, but how much you eat, too. 

To build muscle, your body needs to be in a hypercaloric state, meaning that every day it’s taking in more calories than it is burning. For some people, however, reaching that state is very difficult. Whether it’s a lost appetite or a rapid metabolism, if you’re having a difficult time hitting your calorie marks, a weight gainer protein shake might be exactly what you need.Jump to:
gainer protein shake

 

Difference Between Weight Gainer Protein & Regular Protein

Like normal protein shakes, weight gainer shakes won’t add an inch to your chest or add size to your legs overnight, but over time, it can help you get to those goals. The difference between weight gainer shakes and regular protein shakes comes down to the nutritional values of each one. 

In a normal protein shake, you can usually expect to consume 100-150 calories and get 20-30g of protein. With weight gainers, however, there are many more options when it comes to reaching your goals. 

For somebody looking to get a few extra calories to bridge the gap, there are shakes that will have 400-800 calories per serving. On the other hand, for people who find it extremely hard to gain weight, there are shakes that will have 1000+ calories per serving to help reach those 4000-5000 calorie goals for the day.

 

What’s in a Gainer Shake?

Shakes designed for weight gain usually consist of protein, carbohydrates and sometimes fats which can make them extremely effective. For example, in addition to replacing your normal protein shakes, weight gainers will have good slow and fast-acting carbohydrates – perfect for after a workout to replace glycogen stores.1 Weight gainers also contain sources of fat, which help boost total calorie intake and support the creation of the hormones that impact our health.2 Calorie surplus is key to seeing muscle growth. 

Some gainers will even have creatine in them too, which works especially well with the quick-digesting carbohydrates in the shake because they aid in the absorption of creatine into the body.
Gainer Shakes Normal Protein Shakes
400-800 calories Around 100 calories
Contains extra carbohydrates and fat Contains only protein from sources such as whey or soy.
Can be used to reach a calorie surplus and build muscle Generally used for building muscle
Convenient source of protein Convenient source of protein

 

Use of Weight Gainer Protein Shakes

When it comes to these shakes, it’s important to be aware of what you need. While it may seem tempting to assume it’s all you need to get bigger, you should remember that weight gainers are still supplements, and that is what they will do for you – supplement. 

To gain muscle, you should be consuming around 2g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight every day. 

Weight gainers are like protein supplements but for calories. When it seems hard to reach your daily protein requirements, protein shakes can help, and it’s the same with weight gainers. If you’re having trouble reaching your daily calorie requirements to build muscle, a weight gainer protein shake can help you tremendously. Incorporating a high calorie, low volume shake in between meals can be an easier way to consistently boost your total calorie intake without feeling like you are overeating at mealtime. 

However, if you’re able to reach your daily calorie and nutrient goals with the food you already eat, a weight gainer may actually hurt your progress. This is because adding in a weight gainer may only cause you to gain unwanted fat. 

Three conditions are necessary to gain muscle: you need to be consuming more calories than you burn in a day (calorie surplus), you need to be challenging your muscles to create microtears to heal and rebuild, and you need to consume adequate protein to rebuild and gain additional muscle tissue. Weight gainer protein can be the best way to meet your dietary needs when you’re hitting the gym hard and looking for gains.3

Want more info on bulking? Check this out next...

THE Gainer

Finding a weight gainer protein shake that’s going to meet your macros and keep you lean while you build muscle might sound too good to be true, but THE Gainer does exactly that. 

So many weight gainer protein shakes are packed with sugar and empty calories that will leave you experiencing unnatural blood sugar spikes and gaining fat as well as muscle. THE Gainer contains over 750 calories from low-sugar ingredients. 

The carbohydrate blend provides quick-release energy without a huge blood sugar spike, followed by a sustained release of energy. This is due to Carb10 and Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin (HBCD) which both have a low osmolality for fast gastric emptying, so you can get a quick initial energy boost from HBCD and avoid a low blood-sugar crash. The carbohydrates will replace used up glycogen stores and help the protein to be absorbed for muscle building. 

The protein blend is made up of quality fast and slow-releasing proteins, so the body can start building muscle immediately post-exercise and continue for hours after. This means maximal muscle gains from all your effort in the gym. 

 

 Vegan Recovery Blend

While you’re probably used to seeing weight gainer proteins out there, most of them are made from whey or a combination of milk proteins. If you have to avoid dairy or choose to follow a plant-forward or vegan diet, you might think you’re out of luck - that’s where our Vegan Recovery Blend comes in.  

WIth the optimal 2:1 carb to protein ratio and both fast and long lasting carb sources, this vegan protein blend is built to help you build muscle. It is packed with the benefits of plants while still containing the amino acids (like BCAAs) that your muscles need to recover and get stronger.4 

The Vegan Recovery Blend is an ideal post-workout recovery shake that can help you hit the hypercaloric state you need to really see progress from your workouts.

 

Gainer Shake Recipes

Get creative with your shakes — remember the aim is to boost the calories with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This can mean adding oats, fruit or dried fruit, or a dollop of peanut butter. The options are endless!

Need some inspo? Try out these tasty recipes...

 

Take Home Message

Weight gainer protein shakes can be extremely helpful for those looking to gain weight quickly or reach their calorie requirements. They come in many different variations and can be extremely helpful for reaching your daily nutritional goals.

 

FAQs

Do weight gainers work?

Weight gainers contain lots of calories in the form of a mix of protein, fats and carbs, helping your body be in a caloric surplus which then leads to weight gain.

What is the difference between weight gainer protein and regular protein?

Regular protein shakes typically contain 100-150 calories, predominantly made up of protein. Weight gainer shakes are typically 400-800 calories, with a greater abundance of carbs and fat.

How should I take a weight gainer?

You should take a weight gainer to supplement your food intake in order to help reach your caloric requirements.

All of our weight gainers shakes like THE Gainer, Extreme Gainer Blend, Weight Gainer Blend taste great and are an affordable way to supplement some of your nutritional requirements and help you bulk up successfully.

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2 months agoBy Liam Agnew

Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet.

  1. 1.Ivy, J. L. (2001). Dietary strategies to promote glycogen synthesis after exercise. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology26(S1), S236-S245. 
  2. Cui, X., Rosner, B., Willett, W. C., & Hankinson, S. E. (2010). Dietary fat,fiber, and carbohydrate intake and endogenous hormone levels in premenopausal women.Hormones and Cancer1(5), 265-276. 
  3. Phillips, S. M., Hartman, J. W., & Wilkinson, S. B. (2005). Dietary protein to support anabolism with resistance exercise in young men.Journal of the American College of Nutrition,24(2), 134S-139S. 
  4. Stoppani, J.,Scheett, T. P., Pena, J., Rudolph, C., Charlebois, D., & Charleston, S. C. (2009). Consuming branched-chain amino acid supplement during a resistance training program increases lean mass, muscle strength and fat loss. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition6(Suppl 1), P1. 
Claire Muszalski
Registered Dietitian
View Claire Muszalski's profile

Claire is a Registered Dietitian through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a board-certified Health and Wellness Coach through the International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh.

Talking and writing about food and fitness is at the heart of Claire’s ethos as she loves to use her experience to help others meet their health and wellness goals.

Claire is also a certified indoor cycling instructor and loves the mental and physical boost she gets from regular runs and yoga classes. When she’s not keeping fit herself, she’s cheering on her hometown’s sports teams in Pittsburgh, or cooking for her family in the kitchen.

Find out more about Claire’s experience here.

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