Mass Gainers: The Good, Bad and The Ugly

However, like any other supplement, mass gainers have their proponents and critics. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into the realm of mass gainers, exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly. By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of whether mass gainers are a valuable addition to your fitness regimen or a potential pitfall to avoid. 

So, read on as we uncover the truth behind mass gainers and discover the best ways to harness their potential for your muscle-building goals.

Benefits

It is no surprise that mass gainers can provide a world of value. But it is completely dependent on individual application. There is no easier way to consume calories quickly than via a liquid drink or single snack. We know that wholefoods are the best way to go, but for individuals that have little time in the morning, no break during the day or limited access to the necessary facilities this is certainly going to be an issue. 

Practical Application

If you fall into one of those categories above, we have a couple of examples that may suit you. We recommend pairing it up with another wholefood meal and/or strategically building your day around the gainer. For example, a breakfast smoothie with wholefoods such as oats, nuts, banana AND a medium calorie mass gainer shake is much better than consuming 1200+ calories in a single low quality shake. 

Another useful example is utilising our new Mass Gainer Protein Juice around your gym session which yields just over 500 calories and over 100 grams of carbs. This can be used, pre, during or post workout as it doesn’t utilise whey protein - skipping out on the bloating and milky taste.

The Bad and the Ugly 

It shouldn’t come as a shock that the supplement industry can be quite deceiving. As consumers, it is imperative to know what to avoid to ensure the best results possible. Like normal protein powders, they are not all made the same. Mass gainers can range in calories anywhere from 300 to over 1200 calories in a single shake. While in most cases “bigger is better” this isn’t necessarily the case for mass gainers. Consuming an abnormal amount of calories in a single hit without understanding nutrient partitioning can actually be more harmful than good. 

Take for example the individual that starts in the early morning, has minimal break time and does not have access to adequate facilities. If he/she decides to have one energy drink and an apple in the morning, one 1200+ calorie shake during smoko, and doesn’t eat until after training. The mass gainer shake will have little to no effect on weight gain and will more often than not, leave you lethargic, unmotivated and nauseous as we have left our body with very little nutrients to function off.

If we look at the flip side and add in a smoothie in the morning that includes good wholefoods such as oats, banana etc., a main meal that includes protein like tuna, a small snack such as an EQ cookie or a quick carb source, the EQ mass gainer juice at 500 calories around training and then finally dinner. The utilisation of smaller calorie portions will prime our body for peak anabolism, giving us more sustained energy throughout the day.

When looking at nutritional labels of Mass Gainers, it is important to know what to look for to ensure we are not doing ourselves more harm than good. The main concern for Mass Gainers is the extreme carbohydrate content in the form of sugars! Try your best to avoid an absurd amount of sugar - especially in one single hit. The World Health Organisation suggests that the average daily sugar intake for adults should account for less than 10% of their total daily intake (this equates to about 50g of sugar).

Key Points... 

• Always aim for wholefoods first!
• Avoid consuming lots of calories in one hit
• Utilise Mass Gainers to suit your needs (not just for the sake of it)
• Watch out for sugar content!

Many individuals like to either demonize or praise mass gainers, nothing in between. At the end of the day, our goal is to ensure that adequate knowledge is given so you can make an informed decision that will ultimately allow you to reach your goals as quickly but effectively as possible. 

EQ Team,