Expense or Investment: Is Mass Gainer an Investment?

You need to add weight to your body to bulk up—and getting the balance right can be a challenge.

Increasing weight to gain muscle bulk can be difficult, especially if you're attempting it for the first time. 

Gaining weight intentionally is something you should do with plenty of thought and preparation—as it's vital to look after your health throughout. 

Consuming too many of the wrong foods to add weight quickly can harm your overall health, so it's essential to be armed with the proper knowledge to help you get from A to B as swiftly and safely as possible.

There are no shortcuts, but there’s a way you can make the journey more quickly without having any negative impact on your body…by taking mass gainers.

But, are they worth the investment? Let’s find out.

What is a mass gainer?

Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let’s consider what a mass gainer actually does. 

To increase your weight, you need to consume more calories than you burn—which can mean taking in a massive amount of food daily while working out regularly. It’s a fine balancing act.

This is where mass gainers can help. A mass gainer is a high-calorie supplement powder that you can take to speed up the gains process for bulking up. 

It's a convenient and time-saving way of packing nutrients and calories to increase your weight and add muscle bulk. 

Gainers are one of the most popular supplements in the bodybuilding world—and with good reason. A reputable, quality mass gainer will save you time and help you bulk up quickly and safely.

The benefits of mass gainers

A good mass gainer is a quick and convenient way to boost your daily calorie intake. Mass gainers contain protein, carbs, and healthy fats, which will help to raise you to increase weight and give you the nutrients you need to work out. 

Preparing the amount of food you need to add weight comfortably and safely is time-consuming, and mass gainers are a great time-saver. 

Why? Well, because they’re pre-prepared and ready to consume at a moment's notice. 

This doesn't mean it's all you need to consume daily. You should take mass gainers alongside a robust exercise schedule and a healthy diet containing plenty of whole foods containing essential vitamins and minerals. 

If used correctly, a mass gainer can help you to gain weight and promote bulk muscles.

The disadvantages of using mass gainers

A quality mass gainer will be full of natural ingredients, which should have no side effects. They should also be packed with essential proteins, carbs, and healthy fats, which will work with you to create muscle bulk. 

If you play by the rules, there should be no issues. Problems tend to occur when the mass gainer isn't being used correctly. 

For example, those who take a mass gainer and think it will do all the work for them will be in for a big shock. 

If you don't exercise and eat well—you won’t reach your goals. And, without a good diet and exercise plan, you may experience…

• Digestive Issues
• Kidney Damage
• Fatigue
• Insulin Resistance
• Dehydration

You need to add weight to your body to bulk up, but you need the exercise and correct nutrition to build the muscle you're looking for. Work with the gainer, and you'll reach your goals quickly and safely.

Tip: Check out our epic guide on bulking up without getting fat for insider advice on maximizing muscle growth with your diet.

Should you take a mass gainer?

If you want to put on serious muscle bulk, a weight gainer supplement can help you get there quickly. 

Gainers work differently for everyone, and results will depend on your goal and body type. So, who will benefit from taking a mass gainer?

Let’s dive in.

Hard gainers

A hard gainer is someone who has trouble gaining weight, even with a high-calorie diet. This is usually down to activity level or metabolism. 

Mass gainer supplements can help by boosting the calories a Hard Gainer consumes and moving them onto the next level. 

This is much easier than eating twice as much food in your daily diet. Mass gainers can give a leg up to those who usually have difficulty achieving a bulk weight.

Bodybuilders

When performing a bulking phase, you need to add some serious weight and mass gainers can help you pack on pounds and muscle more efficiently than through diet alone. Yes, you'll still need to consume whole foods and nutrient-rich diets to sustain your workouts in the gym, but gainers will give you an added boost to your efforts. 

Tip: A well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein, and healthy fats will work alongside your gainer to produce bigger and better results.

Easy Gainers

Unlike hard gainers, easy gainers typically have no problem putting on weight. Again, this can be because of their body type, metabolism, or a lack of exercise. 

In this instance, a mass gainer should be used in moderation. But if it's not metabolism that's the issue, Easy Gainers may find that when they start working out and putting in arduous efforts in the gym—they're not putting on the weight that they once were. 

Easy Gainers may even discover that the additional exercise has caused them to lose weight. This is where a gainer can help to tilt the balance towards muscle bulk.

Ectomorphs

The big question is usually, can an ectomorph (a skinny guy) bulk up using a mass gainer? 

Those with this body type tend to have a light build with small joints and lean muscle. They tend to struggle to add any body weight. Mass gainer supplements are appropriate for anybody who struggles with weight gain and who wants to build a muscular body—including skinny guys. 

It's important to note that there will be a limit as to how much weight and bulk you'll be able to add if you aren't the ‘big-boned’ type—but you'll be able to take your body to its full potential by using a mass gainer alongside exercise and a healthy diet. 

Mass gainers provide a convenient way to increase calories without overeating, which makes them especially helpful for individuals who typically have trouble gaining weight or building muscle due to a fast metabolism of body type.

Who should take a mass gainer?

If you're struggling to bulk up, or you want to bulk up quicker, a mass gainer will help. It's essential to know your limitations when it comes to bulking. 

Your body type will dictate how much weight and muscle mass you can gain. But no matter what your goal, a mass gainer will help you get to where you want to be.

Mass gainers are perfect for those who want to gain weight by consuming excess calories, as they’re far more convenient than trying to source the calories through food alone. 

Mass gainers can be effective for people struggling to consume enough calories from whole food sources alone—especially those looking to gain weight and build muscle. 

Good gainers provide a substantial amount of readily digestible calories, primarily derived from protein and starchy carbohydrates, which are essential for muscle growth. 

But, it's important to note that the power of mass gainers may vary from person to person, and they come with potential side effects like digestive problems or fat storage. 

Tip: Always choose mass gainers with high-quality ingredients to avoid overloading the body with unnecessary nasties.

Which nutrients should a mass gainer include?

Mass gainers work by helping you pack on the pounds—but there should also be additional carb and protein sources included to ensure you're getting support to cope with your workout demands.

Many cheap gainers pack plenty of high-calorie items to help with weight gain. But without the necessary supplement support, these alone are likely to be detrimental to your health. 

Here are some of the essential ingredients you should be looking for if you want to pack on weight and cultivate lean muscle mass.

Whey protein concentrate

When adding lean muscle mass, it's essential to check the amount of protein you're consuming.

Protein supplements help you to get the nutrition you need. So, mass gainer supplements containing protein powder and essential amino acids should always be at the top of your list. 

Whey protein is an excellent source of high-quality protein powders, promoting muscle growth, and is also useful for maintaining muscle mass. Whey protein will help with muscle protein synthesis, promoting growth in the process.

Maltodextrin

The carbohydrate content is one of the first things you should look for when considering a mass gainer supplement. 

You should always check how many calories are included per serving as well as the carbs ratio. Most mass gainers tend to contain a high-calorie carb, but this is one of the very best. 

Maltodextrin is a valuable calorie and carbohydrate source that will give you a huge energy boost. 

It's an essential addition to any gainer supplement and will help with weight gain while helping to build lean muscle mass.

MCT oil

MCT oil is perfect for giving you a quick energy boost—the kind you need when performing high-intensity reps in the gym. It also helps with energy, endurance, and muscle development.

Milk protein concentrate

Getting enough protein during your workout is essential, and a mass gainer supplement should be packed with ingredients to help support your efforts. Milk protein concentrate helps muscle growth and bone strength in a big way.

Oat flour

Oat flour is packed with nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It can help with gut, and heart health as it's rich in dietary fiber.

Magnesium

When gaining muscle, you also need to look after the rest of your body—and magnesium is great for various aspects of health—including the heart, blood sugar levels, and mood. It  also helps to promote healthy muscles, nerves, and bones.

Zinc

The recovery process is where your muscles repair and grow. If you want to build some serious mass, you need to pay attention to this process. 

Zinc is great for various aspects of health. It plays a key role in immunity and healing, as well as reducing inflammation.

Black Pepper

Black pepper is the ‘dark horse’ of the supplement world, but it has numerous health properties and will help to support your health during intense exercise schedules. 

It contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, which help promote muscle recovery, boost bone strength, and aid digestion.

Mass gainers: Expense or investment?

Mass gainer supplements work by allowing you to gain muscle bulk much quicker. They’re used by those looking to add serious mass to their body—and increase muscle gain.

A mass gainer should be seen as an investment in your health. The best mass gainers will contain all the essential nutrients you'll need to push yourself harder and recover from the efforts. 

Good gamers will also contain plenty of calories, ensuring you have the energy to push on when you need to most. These super supplements will also save you both time and money, as you won't need to source additional food to look for the extra calories you need to add muscle bulk.

It's all there in one convenient tub! But remember, it's important to source a quality product that contains essential proteins, carbs, and healthy fats rather than a cheap alternative. 

Using a good mass gainer alongside a proper diet and a consistent workout schedule will supercharge your muscle-boosting efforts.

Crazy Nutrition's MASS GAINER formula is crafted to help you increase size, pack on muscle, and improve recovery.

It also includes special ingredients like DigeZyme® to help digest without stomach upset or bloating, help reduce sugar spikes and improve nutrient absorption. Go get some.