How Fast Does Mass Gainer Work? (duration to gain weight)

This article describes the time you would need to gain weight with a mass gainer and the factors affecting it.

On average, we have seen people getting bulkier in 3-4 months with mass gainers, but these results vary for each person.

You may start noticing the gain as soon as two weeks later. On the same note, the progress can also be relatively slower, taking three or more months.

In the following sections, we have discussed how you can make the process faster with gainer supplements.

But first, let’s find out why mass gainer results show up after a long time;

How Long Does it Take to Gain Weight Using a Mass Gainer?

As mentioned earlier, on average, it takes 3 to 4 months to gain a good weight using mass gainers. However, this duration varies from person to person and depends on many factors.

The first factor that impacts the results is the formulation and efficacy of your supplement. And secondly, it is a person’s age, sex, BMI, metabolism, and medical conditions that may hinder or promote weight gain.

Usually, there is nothing to be concerned about, as achieving a healthy weight with a lean muscular figure is naturally slow and cannot happen overnight.

However, if you are struggling to gain mass even with supplements, the following factors can be a reason:

1. Training regime

Your physical activity (lifestyle and workout routine) is perhaps the number one factor influencing muscular growth and body weight.

Your muscles grow larger when you engage them because when you lift or perform tough exercises, your skeletal muscles are forced to contract and stretch.

As they get a little injured and sore in the process, they start consuming nutrients actively and incorporate more amino acids in the recovery process. Resultantly, muscle fibers are strengthened and elongated.

Simply put, the more you use a muscle, the bigger it gets.

2. Genetics

And, of course, genetics certainly affect the rate of weight gain and muscle growth which is why it is tougher for some people to gain mass than others.

Genes affect growth in different ways; they may reduce protein degeneration, increase muscle endurance and injury resistance or affect the rate of metabolism.

It is important to notice that genes do not completely inhibit mass gain but only make the process a bit slower and tougher.

Metabolism-influencing genes are of special concern in this matter, as mass gain becomes difficult if you have a fast metabolism and quickly consume the calories instead of using them to build lean mass.

However, the blame does not lie on a single gene; instead, muscle composition and development result from thousands of genes, mutative agents, and gene expression mechanisms.

In short, if you are a hard gainer, the reason may be your genetic layout. Though you cannot change your genes, you can still take measures to maximize weight gain.

Try the science-backed tips for gaining that we have listed below in our last section.

3. Age

Age also becomes an interfering factor in weight gain, especially when you’ve entered your 30s. The reason is protein metabolic imbalance.

Proteins in your body constantly degenerate in everyday activities and exercises, and you need to provide for that loss through your diet.

As you grow older, muscle fibers’ regrowth and recovery ability decline slowly, leading to mass muscle reduction. According to research, lean mass reduces by 3 to 8% every decade after the 30s.

Hence, you must take conscious measures to override protein degeneration and maintain your body mass.

4. Gender

You may have observed that generally, men are bulkier and more muscular than women.

It seems that women naturally have a reduced tendency to grow big muscles. Even scientific observations show that muscle volume increase twice in males compared to females when subjected to the same type of strength training.

However, in-depth research shows that the basal tendency to gain weight and grow muscles is not different for men and women. Rather, it is a matter of different hormonal balance of sexes.

Testosterone is the primary hormone that causes protein synthesis and muscle growth, and its concentration is way higher in males than females. This describes “masculine muscularity” very well.

Nonetheless, it does not mean that women cannot develop muscles. They just need to put in some extra effort.

5. Stress levels

Your mental health affects every aspect of your life, and your “gaining” goal is no exception.

Research has shown that psychological stress impairs recovery, negatively affecting muscle endurance and mass. So, when muscle recovery is delayed, muscle mass starts decreasing.

6. Diseases

Besides these reasons, some diseases also induce muscular atrophy or make it hard to gain weight. These include diabetes, digestive issues like Cohn’s disease, kidney, and liver ailment, etc.

Mass gainer results before and after

People who have tried mass gainers say these supplements work and will help you gain faster. However, if you do not exercise or overdose on these supplements, most of the mass you accumulate is just fat.

Mostly, this product is reviewed positively by those who are naturally hard gainers and were quite skinny before they started the supplementation. These shakes help them fulfill high-calorie requirements healthily.

Some of them reported mass gainer 1-month results as high as 5 lbs.

Many of these also share their smoothie recipes for other people to try. They recommend blending the scoop with milk and adding bananas, peanut butter, and dates to make it more delicious and calorie-rich.

How to gain weight faster with mass gainers supplement?

Here are some tips you can use to gain a healthier weight faster;

1. Count calories

You cannot just eat and drink everything high-calorie and expect a healthy weight gain. Instead, you would certainly have to do some calculations if you want to build a lean body.

Find your BMI and average calorie consumption, and set the calorie-intake goals. (Your gym trainer or nutritionist can help in this matter). Then find the calories in your meals (use online free calorie calculators) and figure out the calorie deficit you need to bridge with the gainer supplement.

You can adjust the serving size according to your requirement.

Use half scoop if you need 300 extra calories besides your meals, and your mass gainer provides 600 calories per scoop.

2. Snack on nuts

Snacks are an easy way to fulfill your calorie requirements, but processed foods, fried snacks, and bakery items would increase your fat mass as they contain tons of empty calories that are not good for lean build-up.

Therefore, opt for healthier snack options like nuts (almonds, pistachio, walnut, peanuts) and calorie-rich fruits (avocado, banana, apple) to supply good calories to your body.

3. Lift and train

As mentioned earlier, you need to engage muscles in physical activity to make them grow larger and more aggressive.

That is why weight-lifting and resistance training is more effective for muscularity as these workouts engage more muscles than aerobic exercises.

For an even better result, try to add more compound workouts to your routine so multiple muscle groups are used simultaneously. Push-ups, bench-press, squats, pull-ups, and lunges are a few examples.

Take your gym trainer’s help to make a suitable workout schedule and training regime.

4. Sleep

Not only that pulling an all-nighter makes you dizzy and jaded at work the next day, but it can also hinder your progress towards a lean muscular figure.

A research report published by Deakin University, Australia, shows that sleep deprivation induces anabolic resistance in muscle, making it harder to gain mass.

Similarly, Chinese research shows that young men with good sleep routines have stronger muscles than those with poor sleep quality.

Hence, quality sleep is as important as exercising or consuming the right calories.

5. Let go of stress

We have seen how stress negatively affects the recovery process and muscle endurance. That is why it is necessary to stay stress-free to achieve your desired body weight.

Life-events stress and perceived stress harm alike. So, you’ll need to tackle both.

To relieve stress, mindfulness and meditation practices can help a lot.

FAQs

Does mass gainer work for fast metabolism?

Yes, mass gainers are effective supplements for people struggling to gain weight due to a fast metabolism.

When your metabolism is fast, your body utilizes a large amount of energy quickly, making it difficult to maintain the calorie surplus.

However, a gainer shake can increase your calorie intake by 500-650 calories within a few minutes.

Does mass gainer increase belly fat?

It largely depends on your current body mass and your training habits.

As this supplement contains carbs and fats, if you don’t exercise or take too much of it, likely, that you will soon accumulate belly fat with mass gainers. Hence, the overall intake (meals+ mass gainer) should be slightly higher (500- 600 kcal) than your energy consumption.

However, if you are an ectomorph with a fast metabolism or train harder, consuming tons of energy, there is no risk of belly fat.

How long does it take for mass gainer to digest?

It varies with the type and amount of different macronutrients, especially proteins in your shakes.

Fats, proteins, and carbs absorb into the blood at different times. Carbs usually absorb readily. Hence, absorption time largely depends on the other major constituent, proteins, which take 2 to 7 hours to digest.

How long does mass gainer last?

Mass gainers usually have a shelf life of 2 years from manufacture.

However, most products are consumed in a short time as companies normally offer one month’s supply per pack.

Conclusion

Mass gainer shakes are effective if you want to increase your body weight and look bulkier and more aggressive.

However, you’ll have to be patient as healthy weight gain does not happen overnight, and it may take months to see visible mass changes.

But these supplements can also increase fat mass if you overdose on them and do not adopt a healthy lifestyle with a regular workout routine, proper sleep, and mindful activities.