What are weight gainers?

Weight gainers are unique in the supplement world in that they aren’t trying to make you lose weight but rather gain it. In the past, weight gainers accomplished this goal by loading you up with huge amounts of calories consisting of nothing but sugar and fat. Fortunately, as nutritional science has evolved, weight gainers have become far healthier. You should always read the labels of any weight gainer though, since some companies still adhere to the old sugar and fat formula.

The key to weight gainers is their ability to deliver a large amount of calories quickly. They are typically used as a meal replacement and contain a healthy mix of high quality protein, carbohydrates and small amounts of fat. Generally these weight gainers are taken in powder form by mixing them with water or milk, resulting in a 600 to 900 calorie meal replacement drink. It’s important to remember though that the key to gaining lean muscle mass goes beyond just consuming massive amounts of calories. Unless those calories take the form of high quality nutrients then you are going to do more harm than good.

Do I need weight gainers?

Before you decide to take weight gainers, it’s important to figure out whether or not you actually need them. Despite the fact that weight gainers are very popular, particularly among new body builders, they aren’t always needed. The best way to decide whether you will need to take a weight gainer or not is to develop a solid weight gain plan and then see whether or not you are hitting your daily calorie and nutrient consumption goals.

If you are able to meet your daily calorie goals with a normal healthy diet, then you don’t really need weight gainers. Unfortunately, most people have busy lifestyles and taking the time to plan and prepare healthy meals each day just isn’t an option, which means that weight gainers are a perfect solution for quick and easy, not to mention healthy meals. They can also be used as post workout meals because of their solid mix of good carbs and protein.

Choosing the right weight gainer

When you decide to add a weight gainer to your daily routine, it’s important to keep a few things in mind. The first is that if you need more protein in your diet, then be sure to choose a weight gainer that is heavier on protein. Likewise, if you aren’t having trouble meeting your daily protein goals, then you should choose a weight gainer that has lower protein and more complex carbs.

You should also avoid products that promise huge calorie counts, because these don’t really work for the average bodybuilder. The reason for this is because it’s generally considered better to break your calorie consumption down into small, equal meals (around six per day), rather than three large meals. And when one serving of a weight gainer is thousands of calories, that isn’t going to work for you unless you are an extreme athlete that needs a massive amount of calories. For the average bodybuilder this is just overkill. Instead, go for the weight gainer that delivers modest and healthy calorie counts.