People seeking to gain more muscle often combine intense weight training with the consumption of regular weight-gain shakes. If being underweight endangers your health, you might turn to these weight gain shakes as a convenient way to add extra calories to your diet. Although you do not have to lift weights or exercise to gain weight when taking the shakes, the supplements in these shakes are designed for people who do.
About Weight Gain Shakes
Weight gain shakes come in powdered forms that you mix yourself or may come in premixed cans, bottles or cartons. The shakes usually contain a mixture of whey protein powder, carbohydrates, sugars and, sometimes, supplements such as creatine and added vitamins and minerals. A typical weight gain shake contains a minimum of 300 calories per serving. Mixing powdered weight gainers with juice or milk inflates the calorie count.
Considerations
While you often find weight gain shakes or mass builders at gyms and supplement stores, you can consume them even if you do not spend hours at the gym. Many of the supplements in weight gain shakes are intended to help you recover, repair and grow after strength training, however. These supplements may be unnecessary if you simply seek to gain weight.
Gaining Weight
Gaining weight requires you to eat more calories than you burn daily. Adding between 500 and 1,000 calories per day will yield a 1- to 2-lb. weekly gain. Obtain these calories from quality foods, rather than junk, to promote healthy weight gain. Gaining weight too quickly puts you at risk of adding mostly fat rather than muscle. If you are underweight due to a wasting disease or an eating disorder, you may seek to gain any type of weight to boost your health. If you simply want to gain weight to improve your appearance, consider combining your higher-calorie diet with exercise.
Alternatives
If you do not intend to exercise, a weight gain shake is probably unnecessary. Use other high-calorie foods to add calories. Nuts, trail mix, granola, whole milk, whole grains and healthy fats, such as avocados and plant oils, are calorie-dense foods that also provide vitamins and minerals. You can also blend together a homemade, natural shake using whey protein, nut butter, fruit and milk. If you like the convenience of weight gain shakes, look for bottled smoothies that contain fresh fruit juice and soy protein. These options do not contain added supplements and sugars.
Member Comments