Gainers - effective builders of your muscles, the best in 2022

What are gainers?

You swing hard in the gym, do the right exercises, increase the mass, but the mirror is in no hurry to show you the desired rounded shapes. You put in even more effort, train until you lose heart rate, even try to eat more - and the result is a teaspoon per hour. And it wouldn’t be so insulting, but a friend who trains according to the same program as you has already seen radical changes in six months.

What's the matter? Do not rush to blame yourself and reproach yourself for not trying hard enough. Perhaps your body has a fast metabolism or is not building muscle mass well.Metabolic rate is an individual trait of a person, along with eye color or skin type. For a complete picture of your metabolic processes, you can make an appointment with an endocrinologist, but for now, you can make a verdict: your body quickly burns energy and almost does not accumulate muscle mass.

The solution lies on the surface: start consuming much more protein and carbohydrate foods. Protein is the building material for muscles, and carbohydrates are the energy an athlete needs for intense training. However, does everyone have the opportunity to eat hearty cereals, rich meat soups, buckwheat with chicken breast 4-5 times a day? Does everyone even have the opportunity to fully eat up to 4 times a day? Of course not.

Special formulations for athletes come to the rescue - gainers. These are powder mixtures that can be dissolved in water / milk / kefir and taken as an additional source of nutrition. Gainers consist of proteins (soy, milk, peas) and carbohydrates (“fast” and “slow”). Do not confuse mass gainers and regular protein shakes: the latter do not contain (or contain in very small amounts) carbohydrates, while in gainers they are present in a large percentage.

How do weight gainers help you gain muscle mass?

Protein, which is part of the gainers, is the building material for muscles. And carbohydrates provide the body with energy and do not allow the body to take energy from the already existing muscles. Thus, during intensive training in athletes taking gainers, muscle mass grows quickly and rapidly. Attention: the use of gainers without intensive training is highly undesirable: it leads to banal obesity of the body.This is another difference between gainers and protein shakes, which can also be taken for weight loss.

The recommended portion of the gainer contains from 350 to 1000 kcal. Therefore, they are also taken by those athletes who do not experience problems with weight gain, but who need to quickly get into the right shape before the competition. Wrestlers who want to move to a higher weight category are also accepted. However, gainers are always a temporary measure. After the desired weight is reached, it is necessary to switch to a regular protein shake in order to maintain the gained mass.

Recommendations for use

A portion of the powder 60-100 g, diluted with liquid, drink either an hour before training, or half an hour after it - for recovery. If the intensity of training has decreased or the athlete is forced to abandon training for a while, it is not necessary to take gainers, since the body will not grow or even maintain muscle mass without exercise.

More about the rules for taking gainers:

Benefits of Gainers:

• supplementary nutrition for athletes who simply do not have the opportunity to eat full meals often;
• fast set of muscle mass for bodybuilders and powerlifters;
• convenient release format - simply dilute the powder with water / milk / kefir in a shaker;
• quick recovery of the body after a hard workout;
• Convenient to take with you on the road or to the gym.

So, you have firmly decided to intensively build muscle mass and introduce a gainer into your diet. How to choose the one that is right for you? The rating of the best and most sought-after gainers 2022 will help you with this.

Best Gainers 2022

Name	The ratio of proteins and carbohydrates	Average price, rub.
DYMATIZE NUTRITION SUPER MASS GAINER	5 times more carbohydrates than proteins	3190
MUSCLE JUICE REVOLUTION 2600	Proteins 25%, carbohydrates, etc. - 75%	2700
UNIVERSAL NUTRITION REAL GAINS	Proteins 40%, carbohydrates, etc. - 60%	3650
UP YOUR MASS	Proteins 70%, carbohydrates, etc. - 30%	1430
WEIDER MEGA MASS 4000	3 times more carbohydrates than proteins	3000
OPTIMUM NUTRITION SERIOUS MASS 6LB	Proteins 30%, carbohydrates, etc. - 70%	2700
BSN TRUE-MASS	Proteins and carbohydrates - equally	3600
SAN MASS EFFECT REVOLUTION	Proteins 40%, carbohydrates, etc. - 60%	2900
MASS TECH PERFORMANCE SERIES	Proteins 80%, carbohydrates, etc. - 20%	3900

DYMATIZE NUTRITION SUPER MASS GAINER

This gainer contains a huge amount of carbohydrates, and as a percentage they are 5 times more than the proteins contained. So the product is more suitable for restoring the energy balance of the body after intense training. The manufacturing company decided to focus on the maximum reduction in the cost of the mixture (within reasonable limits), however, the composition still contains some vitamins, trace elements and creatine. This is just a godsend for slender ectomorphs, whose metabolism burns calories at the speed of sound. Per serving 1280 kcal.

Average price: 3190 rubles for 2722gr.

• effective suppression of catabolism, a strong increase in anabolism;
• the energy value is very high;
• a complex of minerals, vitamins, creatine;
• the price fully corresponds to the high quality of the goods.

• very low protein content. Not suitable for those who need to build muscle mass - more to restore the necessary energy level of the body.

Overview of the drug from a professional - in the video:

MUSCLE JUICE REVOLUTION 2600

The brand of nutrition often chosen by professional athletes.It contains several types of protein (its total content is 25%), a huge amount of amino acids. The rest are complex carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fatty acids, calcium, iron, glutamine and enzymes. Per serving (4 scoops) 1020 kcal, of which fat - only 80 kcal. The mixture is very well absorbed by the body and gives noticeable results.

Average price: 2700 rubles for a can of 2120g.

• excellent composition, the content of substances that help to assimilate proteins and carbohydrates;
• high protein content;
• very affordable price;
• there is packaging for 5040gr;
• strengthening the body.

• it is difficult to choose the right portion so as not to gain excess fat.

Overview of the drug - in the video:

UNIVERSAL NUTRITION REAL GAINS

This mixture actively suppresses catabolic processes in the body, enhancing - on the contrary - anabolic ones. Casein, a number of trace elements and inulin help slow down the metabolic process. A high content of various carbohydrates saturates the body with energy, and a complex of several different proteins and many amino acids contributes to efficient and rapid muscle growth during intense training. There are options with different food additives, which makes the mixture also tasty. In one serving - 605 kcal.

Average price: 3650 rubles for 3100gr.

• artificial suppression of catabolism and increased anabolism;
• in the composition of proteins of various origins and many amino acids;
• very affordable price;
• the presence of different tastes;
• there is a package of 4800 gr.

• carbohydrate, in fact, one - and this is ordinary sugar. With a decrease in the intensity of training in the body, fat reserves are immediately deposited;
• if a bodybuilder confines himself to some power loads, fat storage is inevitable - you need to introduce cardio loads, which not all “pitching” like.

UP YOUR MASS

The mixture contains a high amount of proteins for muscle growth and slow carbohydrates that do not form fat, but give the athlete a lot of energy. A distinctive feature of this gainer is the inclusion of a large number of vitamins and minerals in the composition, i.e. the mixture, among other things, is also a balanced vitamin complex. The gainer enhances anabolism and is generally suitable for both ectomorphs and endomorphs - the only difference is that they need a different amount of powder per dose. In one portion 520 kcal.

Average price: 1430 rubles for 908gr.

• slow (long) carbohydrates do not contribute to the accumulation of fat;
• amino acids and casein will quickly restore muscle tissue after training;
• suitable for people with any type of figure and metabolic rate;
• vitamin and mineral complex;
• there are packages of 908g, 2270g and 4540g.

• only soy protein, not the best;
• some flavors are sickening.

Details about the drug - in the video:

WEIDER MEGA MASS 4000

The composition of this gainer is such that it contains 3 times more carbohydrates than proteins (there are only 20g per serving). Hence the low price: carbohydrates are cheaper than proteins. The mixture is obviously not suitable for endmorphs, as it will be deposited in them with fat. But for ectomorphs, the mixture is very useful. Muscles will grow slowly but surely. In general, the gainer is aimed more at restoring strength after a workout. Contains a vitamin and mineral complex. In one portion 368 kcal.

Average price: 3000 rubles for 3000 gr.

• very quickly restores the body after an exhausting workout;
• affordable price;
• ectomorphs are gradually gaining mass;
• useful complex of vitamins and minerals.

• weight gain is extremely slow;
• low energy value per serving. Rapid consumption of the product.

More about the composition and action of the drug:

OPTIMUM NUTRITION SERIOUS MASS 6LB

This gainer contains a huge amount of carbohydrates, the powder has the highest energy value. In combination with intensive strength training, it provides rapid mass growth. You can take it before training as a supply of building materials for muscles, and after - to restore the normal energy level of the body. Great for ectomorphs, but completely unacceptable for endomorphs, as it will turn the latter into round koloboks. Per serving 1250 kcal.

Average price: 2700 rubles for 1360g.

• huge energy value;
• rapid saturation of the body with energy, recovery after exercise;
• affordable price;
• vitamin-mineral complex in the composition.

• contraindicated in endomorphs, as it intensively adds fat mass to the body.

BSN TRUE-MASS

Proteins and carbohydrates are perfectly balanced in this gainer, they are contained approximately equally, which ensures muscle growth with minimal risk of gaining excess fat. A complex of proteins of various origins actively nourishes and builds muscles even within half a day after a workout, and long carbohydrates practically do not go into fats, but help better absorption of proteins. In one serving 626 kcal.

Average price: 3600 rubles for 2610gr.

• a complex of proteins of different digestibility gives an effective increase in muscle mass;
• slow carbohydrates give almost no fat and help proteins to digest;
• complex of vitamins and minerals.

• the price is higher than for many other gainers, but it is justified by the composition.

Details about this gainer:

SAN MASS EFFECT REVOLUTION

The mixture contains a complex of several proteins combined with casein (for better digestibility) and a complex of slow and fast carbohydrates. The composition gives both a quick set of muscle mass and providing the body with a shock dose of energy. This mixture is just a godsend for thin and weak ectomorphs, it can be used with caution by mesomorphs and is contraindicated for endomorphs, as it will add fat to the latter on the sides. In one portion 1105 kcal.

Average price: 2900 rubles for 2993 gr.

• huge energy value;
• very high quality of the product;
• rapid growth of muscle mass;
• improvement of the general condition of the body.

• contraindicated in people with a tendency to be overweight;
• no vitamins, not enough minerals;
• as carbohydrates - ordinary sugar.

MASS TECH PERFORMANCE SERIES

The composition has a huge content of proteins and relatively few carbohydrates (and even those are slow) - if with caution, it will suit even endomorphs. Plus the highest content of creatine in comparison with analogues. The product is wonderfully suitable for those who want to rapidly build muscle mass without gaining fat. Moreover, the product contains Omega-unsaturated fats, which displace saturated fats. Per serving 1000 kcal with 63g of protein.

Average price: 3900 rubles for 3200gr.

• perfectly balanced composition, omega-fatty acids, slow carbohydrates - all this prevents the body from accumulating fat;
• huge energy value per serving of the product;
• high content of proteins and keratin, which increases the strength of the athlete;
• suitable even for endomorphs, if you do not exceed the recommended dose and train intensively.

• relatively high cost, however, fully justified.

It is important to remember that gainers should not be thoughtlessly used if you go to the gym a couple of times a week and perform standard sets of exercises of low and medium complexity.These are mixtures for athletes who have at least three enhanced workouts per week for at least 1.5 hours each, and you need to take a gainer only on training days. Without training, the gainer will simply bloat you, but not at the expense of muscles, but at the expense of fat. But even a professional can do without gainers, if it is possible to fully and often eat, and muscle mass grows well without additional stimulants.

Gainers are designed for those cases when a person does not have the opportunity to provide himself with proper nutrition, while the athlete actively competes or has global goals in sports. In general, protein-carbohydrate mixtures are contraindicated for people with a tendency to be overweight - they should use protein shakes with the lowest possible content of carbohydrates and fats.