4 Best Weight Gainer Supplements and How They Work

Are you one of those people who struggle to gain weight? While others may envy you and even consider you lucky, you’re painfully aware that it’s not always a walk in the park. However, the best weight gainer products can help you tip the scales in your favor and bulk up. Whether you’re concerned about your health, self-conscious of your string-bean physique or want to pack on muscle, there’s a quality weight gainer product to help you achieve your goal.

With the supplements and health food market of today, the choices for weight gainer products are overwhelming. Not sure what to get? We have put together a comprehensive guide so that you can choose the best weight gainer product for your needs. In this post, you’ll learn about the different types of weight gainers, how to pick the best weight gainer and what some of the top products are.

What Is a Weight Gainer?

Weight gainers, also known as mass gainers or mass builders, are products that are designed to help you gain weight. Most of these products cater to individuals specifically looking to increase their muscle mass. This makes sense. After all, having tons of extra fat on your body is never ideal, no matter how thin you are. If you are underweight, you likely want to gain weight, but you also want to ensure that the majority of what you gain is muscle.

Gaining weight is hard work! For people who are naturally thin or scrawny, it can be really hard to make the scales go up. Not to mention that if you want to gain weight in a healthy way, you can’t just eat donuts all day. However, that doesn’t mean that fats and carbs are bad. You need a combination of nutrients in your diet to help you gain weight the healthy way. It’s recommended that you eat high-calorie, nutrient-rich foods such as avocado, nuts and seeds, healthy oils, dried fruit, oats, whole grains and lean meats.

The best weight gainer products help you achieve your goals by supplementing and beefing up your diet. However, other great weight gainer products may help by increasing your performance in the gym. Learn about the different weight gainer products and how they work below:

The Best Weight Gainer Protein and Weight Gainer Shakes: Calorie-Rich Nutrition

The best weight gainer shakes and weight gainer proteins pack in the calories in doses that contain balanced macronutrient content. You’ll get a hefty helping of protein, carbs, and even some fats to help you bulk up. This type of weight gainer is ideal for anyone looking to gain weight but can be especially useful for athletes. Because weight gainer and protein shakes typically include a decent amount of protein, weight-lifters and gym goers can forgo their usual protein powders and use these instead. That being said, protein powders, in general, are great muscle building supplements that can also be used to help gain weight in general.

Products specifically designed for weight gain, however, will make it easier for you to put on those elusive pounds. What are some good products to try?

#2. Cyto Gainer Protein Powder by CytoSport

The Cyto Gainer Protein Powder is a popular weight gain supplement that can also replenish your muscles after a workout. It contains high quality proteins from whey, milk protein concentrate and whey peptides. Per customer reviews, this powder has a great taste and mixes easily with water or milk. Compared to some of the other weight gain supplements on the list, this powder is on the cheaper end (per serving)!

Highlights

• Available in chocolate and vanilla flavor
• High quality protein (the protein is easily digestible for use)
• Gluten-free
• Contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals
• Price: $44.99 per 6-lb jar (36 two-scoop servings per jar or 18 four-scoop servings per jar; price varies based on size) + FREE Shipping

Nutrition Profile and Ingredients

• Calories per serving (75g): 280
• Macronutrient Profile:
  • Protein: 27g (~38.5% calories from protein)
  • Fat: 2.5g (~8% calories from fat)
  • Carbohydrates: 37g (~53% calories from carbohydrate)
• Additional nutrients:
  • Sodium: 105mg
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sugar: 5g
• Major Ingredients: Maltodextrin (a disaccharide sugar), Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Isolate, Cocoa Powder, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Creatine Monohydrate, L-Glutamine, Whey Protein Hydrolysate. Please note that this may not be a complete ingredients list. Always check the ingredients on the product itself or ask the company for a full list.
• Allergen Warning: Milk, Soy

Who Makes It

CytoSport was originally founded in 1998 by a single family. As the company grew, however, Hormel Foods Corporation purchased the company in 2014. In 2014, CytoSport was named one of the world’s most innovative fitness companies. CytoSport is the maker of Muscle Milk ® and Evolve ® products. Currently, they are a California-based company that sells several fitness performance products to colleges, professional athletes, and world-class training programs.

The Bottom Line

If you research this product, you may see that the front label displays calorie and protein information based on a double serving of the product (4 scoops total). Don’t be confused! Make sure to carefully read the front label and Nutrition Facts label before buying. While you can consume 4 scoops of this product in one sitting, remember that your product will be consumed twice as quick. Price per serving: $1.25 for a two-scoop serving, $2.50 for a four-scoop serving.

#3. Pro Gainer Weight Gainer Protein Powder by Optimum Nutrition

The Pro Gainer supplement can double as a calorie booster and/or a meal/snack replacement for those who don’t have time to eat after a workout. Compared to the other supplements on this list, the Pro Gainer macronutrient breakdown of fat and protein falls right in the middle. It is higher in fat than some other weight gain products, so you can pack in calories easily. While this supplement’s carbohydrate percentage is still over 50%, it is the lowest carb option in our list of best weight gain supplements.

Highlights

• Available in unflavored, chocolate, vanilla, banana, strawberry, raspberry lemonade, peach mango, and fruit punch flavor (may vary based on availability)
• Contains lecithin for better blending properties
• Contains added vitamins and minerals
• High quality protein from ingredients like egg whites
• Price: $39.43 for a 5-lb container (14 one-scoop servings; other sizes available; “subscribe and save” option available) + FREE Shipping

Nutrition Profile and Ingredients

• Calories per serving (165g): 650
• Macronutrient Profile:
  • Protein: 60g (~37% calories from protein)
  • Fat: 8g (~11% calories from fat)
  • Carbohydrates: 85g (~52% calories from carbohydrate)
• Additional nutrients:
  • Sodium: 380mg
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Sugar: 7g
• Major Ingredients: Maltodextrin (a disaccharide sugar), Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Egg Whites, Whey Peptides, Cocoa (dependent on flavor), Medium Chain Triglycerides, Sunflower Oil, Guar Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Lecithin (an emulsifier), Vitamin and Mineral Blend, Aminogen® Protease, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium, Lactase. Please note that this may not be a complete ingredients list. Always check the ingredients on the product itself or ask the company for a full list.
• Allergen Warning: Milk, Egg, Soy, Wheat

Who Makes It

Optimum Nutrition is an entity of Glanbia, which is an international “cheese and ingredients” company. You may also see Optimum Nutrition under another name called “American Body Building.” Optimum Nutrition manufactures nutritional supplements for active people all over the world. Specifically, they specialize in ready-to-drink products, pills, capsules, and nutrition bars.

The Bottom Line

The Pro Gainer supplement offers several flavors. If you’re sick of milky weight gain supplements, try out some of their fruit flavors. Switching up the flavor may help you stay on track with your weight gain dietary routine. When comparing the nutrition of this supplement to other products, this is a lower carb weight gainer. If you are interested in weight gain for body-building and strength purposes, this would be the best supplement to try. It has the highest amount of protein (in grams) per serving. Price per serving: $2.82.

#4. Super Mass Gainer by Dynamite

The Super Mass Gainer weight supplement is a high-calorie, high-carbohydrate supplement. It has the highest caloric density per serving on the list! If you need to gain weight quickly or you have a hypermetabolic illness (cancer, HIV/AIDS) consider the Super Mass Gainer for increasing your weight. This particular supplement has a very different nutritional profile, which may give it an edge over other weight gain supplements. With its low protein and low fat profile, this supplement is easier to drink, which can help you drink more of it.

Highlights

• Available in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavor
• High carbohydrate ratio for easier consumption and digestion
• High carbohydrate ratio may help prevent early fullness (especially for those in hypermetabolic, wasting disease states)
• High quality protein (the protein is easily digestible for use)
• Price: $28.68 per 6-lb jar (8 two-and-a-half-cup servings; other sizes available)

Nutrition Profile and Ingredients

• Calories per serving (336g): 1280
• Macronutrient Profile:
  • Protein: 52g (~16% calories from protein)
  • Fat: 10g (~7% calories from fat)
  • Carbohydrates: 242g (~76% calories from carbohydrate)
• Additional nutrients:
  • Sodium: 580mg
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Sugar: 22g
• Major Ingredients: Maltodextrin (a disaccharide sugar), Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate, Micellar Casein, Sunflower Creamer, Cocoa (dependent on flavor), Fructose, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Vitamin and Mineral Blend, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Acesulfame Potassium, Sunflower Lecithin. Please note that this may not be a complete ingredients list. Always check the ingredients on the product itself or ask the company for a full list.
• Allergen Warning: Milk, Soy

Who Makes It

Dymatize Nutrition is a sports and athletic supplement company whose products have been endorsed by Chip Smith Performance Systems, an elite training facility. In order to create their products, they use a team of scientists and doctors with over 50 years of combined experience.

The Bottom Line

Weight gain supplements that are high in fat or protein may be hard to consume regularly and in large amounts. Protein and fat naturally make us feel full quickly and for long periods of time. Since this weight gain supplement is comprised of mostly carbohydrates, a consumer may be able to drink lots of this supplement without feeling as full. The less full you feel, the more you will drink and the more weight you will gain. If you need to gain weight for medical purposes (i.e. cancer treatment, clinical muscle wasting, malnutrition), this should be your first choice. Consider the Super Mass Gainer if you suffer from early satiety or struggle to finish high-calorie supplements at baseline. Price per serving: $3.59.

Best Weight Gainer for Men and Women

Women and men have different needs. You may be wondering if there’s an ideal best weight gainer shake for women or a weight gainer product especially recommended for men. The truth is, it probably depends more on your lifestyle, body weight and goals than on your sex.

The best weight gainer for skinny guys who go to the gym may actually be a plan that involves weight gainer pills, shakes and a solid meal plan. However, for guys at a normal weight looking to bulk up, the simple addition of a protein powder or muscle building supplement may do the trick as long as they’re hitting the gym.

What about women? The same is generally true for women. The best weight gainer shake for women could easily be one of the options listed above. Both Serious Mass by Optimal Nutrition and Gainer by Muscle Milk are great choices that will help anyone gain weight. For women who are already hitting the gym and doing weight training workouts, a simple protein powder can also help.

Weight gainer protein powders and shakes are specially created for those who want to gain weight. They pack in more calories than other protein powders. So, if you are underweight and really need to move up, these are the best weight gainer choice for you.

How to Pick the Best Weight Gainer for You: 5 Easy Steps

Your plan for weight gain should involve a combination of lifestyle changes. Part of that plan will involve a quality weight gainer product. Here are the steps that can help you determine what product to choose:

1. Make a Goal Weight: Your goal weight will show you how far you have to go. Do you want to move up 20 lbs, 30 lbs or just a few? The more weight you want to gain, the more calories you’ll want from a weight gainer product, making shakes and protein powders your top choice. If you’re aiming at the lighter side, a muscle-building creatine weight gainer could be enough to get you to your goal weight.
2. Make an Exercise Plan: Are you a jogger? Or perhaps you like to do workout videos at home? Or are you a serious gym enthusiast who lives for leg day? The more lifting you do, the more products like weight gainer pills will help. However, you may want to take them in addition to weight gainer shakes so that you can bulk up. If you aren’t into weightlifting, opt for one of the best weight gainer shakes or protein powders.
3. Make a Meal Plan: The more calories you get from meals, the fewer you’ll need to add with weight gainer shakes. That means if you work out a lot, you may opt for just the pills. If you struggle to eat enough though, the shakes and powders are best for you.
4. Check Customer Reviews: When purchasing any supplement, reviews are a great way to know what to expect. If the majority are positive, you can purchase with confidence.
5. Make Your Final Choice: Based on what you’ve determined in the previous questions, you should know what to do next.

Have you successfully gained weight using a weight gainer? Tell us what product you used and any tips you have in the comments!