Differences Between a Weight Gainer and Muscle Gainer

Body builders and athletes often incorporate weight gainers or muscle gainers into their daily dietary routine in order to enhance and increase their strength and muscle growth. Though the two products may sound similar, there are differences between the two.

Purpose of supplements

The end goal or purpose of either a muscle gainer supplement or a weight gainer supplement is to add mass to the user's body. The difference, as can be ascertained from their names, is that a muscle gainer is specifically formulated to aid the body in increasing muscle tissue while a weight gainer assists the body in increasing mass in a more general capacity. To this effect, people who take weight gainers can expect to increase in muscle, fat and water as their weight increases. People who take muscle gainers, on the other hand, will increase in overall weight but will gain more in specifically muscle mass. The difference in formulations - the amount of protein, carbohydrates and fat - in each supplement will determine whether the body gains in overall mass or in muscle mass specifically.

Importance of protein

Both types of supplements, weight and muscle gainers, contain proteins. Hence, the general product type "protein shake" encompasses both muscle or weight gainers. The protein base will differ with each brand and type, but it is typically mixed with water, milk or some type of juice. This protein component helps the athlete rebuild muscle during intensive workouts and also helps boost the metabolism. This benefit is why a great number of body builders will specifically incorporate protein powders into their daily drinks and foods as an additional supplement.

Importance of carbohydrates

The biggest difference, then, between weight and muscle gainers is not in the protein but in the amount and type of carbohydrates that are in the formula. A weight gainer will have much more sugary carbs helping the body to increase not just muscle but also fat. In contrast, a muscle gainer will typically have about 20 - 40% the amount of carbs as that found in a weight gainer. This makes for a leaner protein shake formula, allowing the user to still gain muscle but less fat.