Thread: difference between WEIGHT GAIN powders and PROTEIN powders?

I think the difference is the amount of cals/carbs etc. I stick to protein powders with low calorie/fat/carbs, cos otherwise I'd put fat on.

Think it would all depend on a person's body type. An ectomorph may want to go for the weight gain to pack on extra size. Somebody like me who leans toward being an endomorph needs to be careful with the content of their supps.

Originally Posted by pastanchicken

I think the difference is the amount of cals/carbs etc. I stick to protein powders with low calorie/fat/carbs, cos otherwise I'd put fat on.

Think it would all depend on a person's body type. An ectomorph may want to go for the weight gain to pack on extra size. Somebody like me who leans toward being an endomorph needs to be careful with the content of their supps.

Agreed, Weight gain formulars contain a great deal of complex carbs whereas Protein is simply Protein. I stick to whey powders.

Not sure on what the benefits of using Weight Gainers on their own would be but it would certainly increase your cals per day

Weight gainers are designed as a (poor) substitute for a meal, protein powders are a compliment to whole food and much more versatile.

SD

Weight gainers are used by people to substitute meals which is wrong

They should be used in between meals to add extra calories.

TBH I dont really like the weight gainer philosophy as you'll see loads of guys downing endless shakes in an effort to get big when what they really should be doing is eating more meals.

Off season my split may look like this meal wise

Breakfast - Oats and Protein shake

11am - Solid meal

1pm - Liquid carb and protein (weight gainer)

3pm - Solid Meal

4pm - same as 1pm

5.30 - Train

6.30 - PWO shake

8.00 - Solid Meal

10.00 - Solid meal

So 8 meals

4 solid meals

3 liquid

1 breakfast shake and oats.

If Im at home I would probably have a burger or eggs instead of a shake. I hardly ever have shakes at home as I prefer cooking real food. The only time I feel that a shake is necessary is my pre and post workout meal as I get better results this way.

If you are looking at a liquid calorie bump then avoid heavy malto based shakes with fillers (Guar gum, Xanthan Gum) these bloat you out and fill you up like a MRP and so you'll find it hard to eat within 2 hours.

Vitargo (barley starch) based shakes are much better or shakes that have a carb mix. Extremes new Mass builder will be a mix of fast and slow carbs which fits the bill perfect.

In the past I have used PVL's Mutant Mass which is Barley based but the servings are quite heavy I prefer to have half a serving with a scoop of protein otherwise you're looking at a hefty calorie intake.

Traditional Mass formulas like CNP's Pro Mass are quite thick and stodgy and so are good if you arent pplanning on eating for a few hours but for me off season is about regular eating and I hate the full, bloated feeling I get from CNPs product although it is good to have handy in the evening if you want a slow releasing drink overnight.

BSN's True Mass is a good product with a nice taste but pricey as hell and theres a lot of stuff in it which you really dont need or could get elsewhere.


That being said you have to find your own favourite, I've used loads of different products in the past but one thing I've noticed with pretty much all of them is that you're better off using have the recommended serving with an extra protein scoop rather than the full 1000 or so calorie 4 scoop serving size.

If I was going to choose between the 2? Protein powder every time. You can always have a flapjack with a protein powder to increase carbs and fats. Probably better for you as well on most occasions.

Hope that helps

lots of good info to digest if you excuse the bad pun...

cheers TinyTom

No probs

Also if you are going to be consuming a lot of food then always handy to have some digestive enzymes with you.

Or Pineapple and Papaya if you are poor or tight like me.

not sure, i think im being made redundant from my cushy 50k job at 2:30...

so fark knows how tight ill have to be going forward

I use a 'mass gain' post workout as I read that you need some fast acting carbs to spike your system.
So I have one with 60g fast acting carbs and 50g protein.

But to be honest I'm only doing it cos thats what I read, not because I know it works.

I'm trying to drop my BF and previously used only protein supplements but I read in one of the magazines that post workout you need the carbs or your body spirals into muscle breakdown and you end up fighting against building new muscle.

I'm eating below maintenance atm but eating 6 meals a day.

Breakfast = oats and protein shake
10am = poached eggs on wholemeal toast
12.30pm = Tuna on 2 rounds wholemeal bread
3.30pm = Tin makerel 1 round wholemeal bread
6pm = chicken breast or steak with small portion brown rice
9pm = protein shake

Post workout is the mass gain = 60g carbs/50g protein

Originally Posted by harryblue

I use a 'mass gain' post workout as I read that you need some fast acting carbs to spike your system.
So I have one with 60g fast acting carbs and 50g protein.

Which mass gainer you using fella? pretty much all use Low GI carbs such as Matodextrin or in the more expensive ones Barley and Oat powders. This would make them not a great choice for PWO but certainly better than nothing.

SD

Originally Posted by SportDr

Which mass gainer you using fella? pretty much all use Low GI carbs such as Matodextrin or in the more expensive ones Barley and Oat powders. This would make them not a great choice for PWO but certainly better than nothing.

SD

I'm using something called Cyto-gainer - "Cyto Gainer is almost entirely complex carbs and ultra high quality whey protein. The protein is glutamine-rich, partially pre-digested whey peptides for easy digestibility - it gets into your muscles fast. Carbs are complex maltodextrins from corn hybrids - stabilizes energy and prevents sugar crash"

I did try some muscletech stuff but it actually made me vomit the taste was so bad. The cyto stuff tastes like strawberry ripple ice-cream.

To be honest I haven't noticed any difference between using that and the Isopure protein I was using before. I only started using the cyto stuff because I read that after a workout you MUST slam in some quick acting carbs or you've wasted your workout.
Previously I just had my protein shake then a meal of steak or chicken about 45 mins to an hour after the workout.

weight gainers always seem to taste alot better, I guess more sugar and flavour-carbs... and slightly more fat

Bump for later...

i have just started working out, and after reading this thread i think i need the protein shake as i dont want to add more weight as im looking to tone up,
would that be correct?
any advise on what one i should buy.thanks