Which is the best weight gainer for skinny guys? This is the question I’m about to answer for you. Welcome to my guide to the best weight gainer supplements for skinny guys written by a former skinny guy.

At one point in my adult life, I weighed a mere 125 lbs. During that period of my life, partying came first – hardcore partying that is. When I look at old pictures of myself, I can’t believe how skinny I was.

Then, one day I woke up. I wanted to gain weight. I tried all sorts of supplements, protein powders, weight gainers, and work in the gym. Nothing worked! I bet you know exactly how frustrating it feels to work your tail off and still look scrawny in the mirror.

That was me. The keyword is “was.”

In this guide, I share the 5 best weight gainer supplements that actually work, briefly explain why they work, share several tips for bulking up in the gym, and my special weight gainer shake recipe.

Once I figured out what actually works, I gained over 40 lbs! I couldn’t believe that I had finally broken past the 160-lb mark.

Best Weight Gainer for Skinny Guys

How to Choose the Best Weight Gainer for Skinny Guys

Rule #1 Carbs > Protein

I put the number of carbs in each supplement in bold for a reason. The biggest mistake I made when shopping for a weight gainer supplement – after I already knew what works – is I once again bought into glamorous protein marketing.

My wrong decision occurred earlier this year.

I made the mistake of buying Mass Tech, and it did nothing for me. By this time, I had already learned that protein powders are just about worthless.

The bottom line is liquid carbs are essential to a successful weight-gaining program. You need all the carbohydrate fuel and calories you can get to gain weight. I know it’s difficult because everyone preaches, “protein, protein, protein, and more protein!”

You end up hearing protein so many times that it’s the only thing you consider when buying a weight gainer supplement. This is a BIG mistake, carbs first.

Rule #2 Bags Not Tubs

When you buy a mass gainer powder, it comes in a massive bag, not a tub. Why? If you buy a small tub of weight gainer powder, you’re more prone to skip buying another tub, and then another tub.

When I buy a bag of mass gainer, I go all in. I don’t want to keep ordering more or going back to the store to buy more. By investing in a massive bag, it’s a lot easier to take the mass gainer every day without any breaks. Consistency is crucial when gaining mass.

If you go into a caloric deficit for even just one day during a bulking cycle (especially at the beginning), it’ll set you back.

Gaining weight is all about momentum. Once you train your body to know it’s getting more than enough calories every day, it no longer reaches to existing mass for energy.

Flooding the body with dense slow-release carbs, protein, and adequate amounts of healthy fat is the name of the game.

With a bag, it’s easier to flood the body. The key takeaway is to go all in. When I first realized how well mass gainers actually work, I was buying 20-lb bags of Elite Labs.

Rule #3 Skip the High Dosage of Creatine and Vitamins in a Weight Gainer

A weight gainer supplement is not a primary source of nutrition. Also, it’s not the best way to take creatine. When I go into a bulking cycle with a mass gainer, I’m all in for two months before I take a break and start again.

During this period, I also eat a ton of veggies, chicken, eggs, fish, fresh fruits, fresh juice, milk, nuts, and take fish oil. That’s where my nutrients come from, not the weight gainer powder.

The key is to view the weight gainer powder as what you use to break through the barrier of being a skinny guy. Before I figured out how to gain mass rapidly, I gave up. I told myself that I was a hard gainer and would always be skinny.

This was before I realized just how much I actually needed to eat and lift to get real results quickly. I turned into an eating machine.

The beauty of a weight gainer is it allows you to chug a massive number of liquid carbs. Even the fastest metabolisms will have a heck of a time trying to process all those dense carbohydrate calories before more food enters.

Once I realized that I had to beat my own metabolism in a race, that’s when I started to figure it all out.

How to Gain Serious Muscle Mass in the Gym

The advantage of bulking and going big on calories with a mass gainer is that you can go as hard as you want in the gym! Your gym sessions should consist of lifting bigger and bigger each session.

The thought of dumbbells shouldn’t enter your mind during the initial bulking phase. Machines turn into that friend you’d rather not talk to anymore.

To gain serious mass, you have to do serious lifts.

Barbell squats, deadlifts, overhead press, bench press, and rows are your new life.

Mix those lifts with pullups, diamond pushups, dips, sprints, and hanging leg raises.

Now you have yourself a routine that’s built for quick mass and strength gains.

Take notes for how much you lift each session because while you’re bulking, it’s critical to reach new personal records (PRs) every session or almost every session.

The more weight you gain the more you’ll be able to lift. It’s that simple. Don’t worry about getting cut, focus on lifting more weight and flooding your body with nutrient-dense calories.

The Best Time to Take a Mass Gainer Supplement

I get the best results when I drink my mass gainer shake right after my workout. I usually hit the sauna for about 15-20 minutes after a hard workout, then have a quick cold shower.

By this point, I’m ready to relax and drink a massive weight gainer shake before a nap. I get the best results when I take the full mass gainer serving as one shake instead of breaking it into multiple parts throughout the day.

After a hard workout with squats and heavy lifts, I’m ready to flood my body with an overload of macronutrients. I don’t want my body searching for anything. A long nap also gives my body the chance to recover quicker while also absorbing the weight gainer in my sleep.

On my off days, I take the weight gainer in the afternoon or before bed for best results.

The reason I don’t break it into multiple parts is that I prefer to eat real food and lots of it when I’m bulking. Remember, the weight gainer is a supplement, not your main course for the day.

My Weight Gainer Shake Recipe

Since all mass gainers aren’t the healthiest food on the planet, it’s important to make sure your body has some help digesting them. What I do is add a couple of special ingredients.

The first one is fermented bee pollen with papaya enzymes.

I also add plain or blueberry greek yogurt for added probiotics.

Ingredients

I don’t use a blender. I use a large protein shaker bottle.

Directions

When I do it this way, I don’t get any clumps, just a thick even consistency. The thicker the shake the better. The thinner the shake the easier it is for your metabolism to run through it.

FAQ

Are mass gainers safe?

When selecting a mass gainer, I try to stay away from weight gainers that contain large dosages of vitamins and creatine. I’ve never experienced any adverse side effects with weight gainers.

If you choose a weight gainer with high creatine content be sure to drink plenty of water. In reality, it’s best for skinny guys to learn how to supplement creatine separately instead of selecting a weight gainer with creatine.

Will weight gainer make me fat?

If you’re worried about gaining some fat while bulking, then you have the wrong goal. Skinny guys who take bulking seriously should want to gain fat. Your body needs all the calories it can get to gain mass. That includes fat.

Worry about bulking first and getting cut second. The good news is since you’re a skinny guy, you most likely have a fast metabolism. Once it comes time to diet down, it’ll be much easier for you than an easy gainer.

The bottom line is that “clean” bulking isn’t a reality for skinny guys and super hard gainers. Once I realized this, gaining muscle became a lot easier.

After you break past the barrier of being a full-time skinny guy, clean bulking is more of a possibility the second or third time around because of muscle memory.

Which is better: mass gainer or whey protein?

The answer is mass gainer hands down. Remember, we skinny guys need to focus on total calories and carbs, not total grams of daily protein. Get most of your protein from your food, and let those liquid carbs in your mass gainer shake bulk you up.

You’ll get enough whey protein from your mass gainer powder anyway.

How many scoops of mass gainer should I take?

Always follow the directions on the bag and don’t go over or under the recommended daily dose.

How long does it take mass gainer to work?

Depending on your diet and gym routine, you’ll start to see results on the scale after 1-2 weeks. Once you gain momentum and consistently add weight to the barbell, you’ll be able to gain weight faster.

How many times should I take weight gainer in a day?

As I mentioned earlier, it’s best to drink the entire serving in one go after your workout. On your off days, it’s best taken in the afternoon or before bed.

Can I take mass gainer before a workout?

Never take a mass gainer supplement before a workout unless you want to fall asleep in the gym. I normally eat a light breakfast before the gym with my morning green tea even when I’m bulking.

Some guys recommend eating a large breakfast before the gym, but it depends on how long you plan to stay in the gym and how much cardio you do. When you’re bulking, a gym routine shouldn’t last more than an hour or so.

I go in there, stretch out, then jump right into my sets of barbell lifts. If you’re active enough outside the gym, there’s no point in doing additional cardio while bulking. Bulking is all about lifting heavy and adding weight.

The reason I add pullups, pushups, hanging leg raises, and dips is that those exercises work the entire body and keep my muscles confused. I know a lot of people say muscle confusion is a myth, but the most ripped guy I know, who’s also one of my best buddies, taught me that concept.

He was a state championship wrestler, knows judo, and has a superhero build. I’ll take his word for it. Plus, my body responds well to it.

Bottom Line

Now you know 5 of the best weight gainer supplements for skinny guys and how to effectively gain mass in the gym. The best tip I can give you is to take your training & bulking seriously if you want tangible results.

Ya gotta go in all to get the most out of it. Breaking out of your comfort zone in the gym is just as important as your diet. Lift big to get big results. Start slowly and work on your form first.

Finally, remember, that weight gainer shake should be like pudding.

Need more motivation? I recommend my guide to the best Tongkat Ali supplements