People sometimes encounter problems differentiating between protein supplements and weight gainers. While both protein supplements and weight gainers can help you achieve similar goals, they will actually take you down separate paths. The choice of which to use, if either, comes down to your body type and your immediate training goals.
What is a Weight Gainer?
A weight gainer is a meal replacement designed to provide you with easy and fast calories. The most common form for weight gainers is a powder mix.
Ingredients of Weight Gainers
Weight gainers will include a hefty dose of protein, as well as a high amount of carbohydrates and limited amounts of fats.
Ingredients of Protein Powder
Protein powder consists of almost pure protein. The mix may have a limited amount of carbohydrates for flavoring and consistency, but protein is the chief ingredient and main focus.
Nutritional Facts
A serving of protein powder may have roughly 100 to 150 calories, whereas a full meal replacement weight gainer may have upwards of 1,000 calories.
Uses for Weight Gainers
People that use weight gainers want to put on weight as fast as possible. Some people may have extremely fast metabolisms and will need to ingest far more calories than is typical to gain weight. Others may be bodybuilders that need vast amounts of protein and calories to pack on more muscle mass.
Uses for Protein Powder
Protein powder can be used by anybody looking for an additional boost of protein, a healthy snack or a quick meal. Because it is low in calories, it is commonly used to make protein shakes with ingredients such as juices, milks and yogurt.
Main Similarities and Differences
The main similarity is that protein powder and weight gainers deliver a load of protein that can be used to build new muscle mass. The main difference is the extra caloric content of weight gainers which is used to gain weight in any circumstance, as opposed to the low-calorie count in protein powder.
Tags: weight gainers, amount carbohydrates, gain weight, meal replacement, muscle mass, Powder Protein