The Top 4 Weight Gaining Supplements For Putting On Mass

If you are looking to pack on some extra muscle, then there’s a good chance you have tried to find the best weight gaining supplements that can help get the job done. It is no easy task, however, because there are literally THOUSANDS on the market at any given time. Just one walk through a health food store and your head will be spinning. Pills and potions as far as the eye can see, each one promising to make you ripped and give you more muscle than you ever thought possible, but, IS it possible? Are there any weight gaining supplements that actually work?

Up until just a few short years ago, the answer to that question would have been a resounding NO. Sure, there might be a few companies that would argue… actually, many of them are out of business, so they would stay pretty quiet, but the fact is much of what has been touted as weight gaining supplements has been little more than hype. It has really taken the harnessing of naturally occurring substances and marketing them in pill or powder form to get any real results. In other words, the power is in the food you eat. Let’s take a look at the top 4 best weight gaining supplements that have been proven to have a positive effect on helping to build muscle and gain weight:

1. A Balanced Diet – Ok, so this may not be a SUPPLEMENT, but it is EXTREMELY important. If you aren’t following a solid weight gain diet, then supplementing it really won’t do you much good. Lean meats, chicken, fish, plenty of veggies and PLENTY of water. You know what to do, just do it!

2. Protein Powder – When building muscle, you need to take in extra amounts of protein than someone who is more sedentary. Fitness experts recommend about 1.5 – 2 grams per pound of bodyweight. This can be difficult to eat all this protein through your regular meals alone so supplementing with whey protein powder can be a great way to get all that you need to build high quality muscle mass. Make sure to look for a powder that has plenty of protein, but is low in calories and sugar.

3. Creatine – Creatine, no surprise, is found in meat but it is hard to get enough to take your muscle building to the next level just by chowing on t-bones, so adding this supplement to your regimen can help you significantly. Creatine is a substance that allows your body to produce more ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate), which your muscles use for fuel. This will help you workout longer before your muscles get sore and fatigue and can add significant gains to both strength AND amount of muscle. It is important to drink plenty of water when supplementing with creatine as it can cause muscles to cramp if you’re not well hydrated.

4. Glutamine – Glutamine is another effective substance found in foods that are high in protein such as meat, fish, and beans (starting to see a connection here?) This one helps your cells to repair themselves after they become damaged… such as what happens to your muscles when you workout intensely. There are plenty of products out there that contain a mixture of creatine and glutamine as well. Glutamine also has an anti-catabolic effect so it’s good to take right after a workout when your muscles are starving. It’s also good to supplement with glutamine before you go to bed to protect your muscles during your 8 hour fast while you sleep.

So, while the above supplements can be effective in helping you build muscle, they all have one thing in common: the best weight gaining supplements are already found in the foods you eat! Remember, focus on your diet FIRST and only add supplements to get to the NEXT level… good luck!