Mass Gainer Before or After Workout? (FIND OUT!)

In this article, we’ll discuss whether taking a mass gainer before or after the workout is a good idea and why.

So, don’t tell me your mass gainer is not working out for you; tell me you are taking it the right way. Because supplementing yourself with mass gainers at the right time matters a lot. And if you haven’t been able to gain much lately, one main reason could be bad timing.

This article will let you know the best and worst time of the day to take it and what could possibly happen if you mistime your mass gainer intake.

So keep reading till the end to find your answers.

When Should You Take Mass Gainer?

When you should take mass gainers all starts with understanding your body’s needs at different times of the day.

And the best time to fuel your body is when it runs low on nutrients, which makes the following timings ideal for taking mass gainers:

• In the morning, on an empty stomach
• Before hitting the gym
• After workout

Your body is usually nutritionally deficient at these times and fueling it with a mass gainer enriched with all the essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and salts, will not only give you that much-needed jolt of energy to hit the gym or start your day but also put on some healthy muscle mass.

And no doubt, a mass gainer can help you build a lean physique in no time, but if you want to gain the most from a mass gainer, you need to pair it with the right workout as well.

You can take a mass gainer before or after the workout—but according to research studies and real-life experiences of those who have tried, post-workout is usually the best time to take it.

As you scroll down, I will unveil several research-backed reasons why taking mass gainer after a workout is considered more favorable.

Mass gainers are a blend of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats.

Studies have found that the timing of protein ingestion does not influence your muscle protein synthesis. But, the timing of carbohydrates does have an impact on muscle growth.

According to an article published by the National Library of Medicine, carbohydrates intake right after exercise results in a super-compensation of glycogen stores while delaying consumption by just 2 hours reduces the rate of muscle glycogen re-synthesis by up to 50%.

You might be wondering what glycogen has to do with weight gain.

Well, a significant quantity of water is held by glycogen; 1 g of glycogen contains 2.7 g of water. As a result, if you consume more carbohydrates, your body will retain more water.

This extra water is not the same as water retention, in which excess water is stored between cells; the water bound to a glycogen molecule is inside the cells, making them healthy.

Nonetheless, it can boost your body weight by 3 to 5 pounds. Because this weight gain is only water weight and not fat weight, the athlete or fitness enthusiast who encounters it should not fret.

No wonder why carbohydrate to protein ratios of 2:1 or 3:1 are also typically used for post-workout recovery.

This is what makes mass gainer a perfect drink after a workout.

But all this does not negate the wonders protein does in reducing muscle damage and enhancing muscle growth.

Some brands also add electrolytes in their mass gainers, and our body is in dire need of them after a workout, So it replenishes our body with electrolytes.

Moving forward, let’s find out if you can take mass gainer while doing a workout.

Can I take a mass gainer during a workout?

Well, the answer to this question is a resounding yes!

You might find it strange, but it is not a bad idea to fuel up your body during long strenuous exercise with a high-calorie supplement.

But don’t forget your body is a machine, and the machine needs PRECISELY the right amount of fuel to keep running. If you try to overfill it, it will spill out the excess. So taking it within a limit is a key to avoiding puking.

However, if you have a weak gut, it is recommended to avoid taking mass gainer during exercise because it may cause gastrointestinal distress as it is rich in carbohydrates.

Best Mass Gainer to take Before or After Workout

For this section, we’ve compiled a list of mass gainers you can take before or after a workout to make your gaining journey much more effortless.

1. Crazy nutrition’s Mass gainer

Some of the world’s finest nutritionists and fitness professionals collaborated to design the only gains formula manufactured with wholesome, natural components found to build and repair faster than any other gains formula on the market today!

Let’s see why this supplement deserved all that praise.

Crazy Nutrition’s MASS GAINER contains 695 calories, 50 g of protein, and 100 g of healthy carbs to help you pound on muscle quickly without creating abnormal blood sugar spikes or bloating.

The best thing about crazy nutrition’s mass gainer is it does not have “maltodextrin,” a cheap carb filler.

It has high-quality Gluten-free oat flour, which makes it stand out.

Studies have shown that it does not affect insulin sensitivity. And in addition to oat flour, this mass gainer has Carb 10, a low glycemic carbohydrate derived from pea starch. So, it’s safe to say that diabetics can have this mass gainer without having to worry about spiking blood glucose levels later on.

Furthermore, it contains Astragin, a plant-derived compound well known to promote the absorption of nutrients.

Then there’s Digezyme which prevents bloating. It is a blend of enzymes that help absorb nutrients in the body.

Senactin in it is a powerful antioxidant that enhances the efficacy of other ingredients in this mass gainer.

Cost

• $34.99

Pros

• It Mixes readily and does not leave any chalky residue.
• It tastes fantastic.
• It does not have any cheap carb fillers like Maltodextrin.
• It does not have stimulants
• 60-day, 100% money-back guarantee
• No side effects

Cons

• It has a noncaloric sweetener, sucralose.
• You can get it through only its official website.

So my final thoughts looking at its top-notch ingredients, I would highly recommend you to try this out.

2. Serious mass by optimum nutrition

Serious mass by optimum nutrition is a heavy-duty mass gainer. It gives 1,250 calories per serving.

Just like crazy nutrition’s mass gainer, it has 50g of protein in each serving and is packed with many essential nutrients.

Calcium caseinate, a protein derived from casein, slows down protein breakdown. Due to the presence of this compound, serious mass by optimum nutrition has higher calcium content than any other mass gainer on the market.

It provides the body with all the essential amino acids required for muscle growth.

Para-aminobenzoic acid is a non-protein amino acid that helps tissue buildup.

The turn-off point about it is the presence of Maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is a plant-based component. It may cause a surge in insulin levels and alter the gut microbiome.

Cost

• $48.99

Pros

• It comes in many flavors.
• It has 25 vitamins and minerals in it.
• It has a very nice texture and mixes quite well.
• Keeps you full for a longer period than most of the mass gainers.

Cons

• It has Maltodextrin, a cheap carbohydrate.
• It gives you no money-back guarantee.
• Has allergens, i.e., egg, milk.

3. Naked Nutrition weight gainer

Unlike many other mass gainers, Naked chocolate mass weight gainer has only five ingredients– Naked whey, Naked casein, organic coconut sugar, organic Maltodextrin, and raw organic cacao powder.

It has Maltodextrin derived from tapioca. The word Maltodextrin may have spooked you, but let me get this straight. Tapioca maltodextrin is a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) food ingredient, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This product is free from all artificial ingredients, and each serving gives 1,360 calories.

 Cost

• $69.99

Pros

• It provides a great source of proteins.
• It has no artificial additives.
• Very easy on the stomach.

Cons

• It is High in saturated fats.
• Very mediocre taste.
• Limited flavor options.

4. Dymatize super mass gainer

Dymatize super mass gainer is very reasonably priced, and this product outperforms many other pricey mass gainers – The main reason why it is on our list of the best mass gainers.

Each serving provides 1,310 calories and 52g of protein.

It has a combination of 5 essential vitamins and 11-12g of BCAAs, which induce muscle gain.

This product’s sweetness is provided by acesulfame, potassium, and sucralose.

Cost

• $38.44

Pros

• It tastes exceptionally well.
• Mixes quite easily.
• Does not affect bowel movements.
• It comes in different flavors.
• Reasonably priced, great value for money.

Cons

• It has artificial sweeteners.
• It has Maltodextrin, a cheap filler carbohydrate.

5. BSN true-mass weight gainer

The BSN True-Mass Weight Gainer ranks fifth on our list of the top mass gainers.

This mass gainer is easy to prepare and has a great texture and flavor.

Every 700 calories per serving contain 46 g of protein and 215 g of high-quality carbs.

It has 8 different proteins. This protein combination provides both slow, medium, and fast digesting protein sources, allowing you to benefit from the rapid and sustained supply of muscle-building amino to your body.

BSN True mass gainer contains medium chain triglycerides, which add great nutritional value to it.

It seems to be meant for casual gainers who don’t need a lot of calories in their mass gain smoothie.

One of its users said he is only using it to satisfy his daily calorie needs when he can’t fit meals into his diet, and it’s working great so far for him.

Cost

$48.46

Pros

• Good flavor profile.
• It provides low calories to build lean muscles.

Cons

• It is a bit pricey.
• Low calorie and carbohydrate level.

Conclusion

A mass gainer contains proteins and a high concentration of complex carbohydrates. You can also have it for breakfast to get your day started.

It can also be taken between the meal and 30-40 minutes before bed. It is completely an individual’s choice, but studies have shown taking mass gainers post-workout is more helpful.

I hope our recommendation on mass gainers makes it easier for you to choose the right supplement for yourself.