Are Weight Gainers Necessary? The Conclusion I Reached After Gaining 13kg from 55kg

Hello! I'm Torimune, and I've been doing home workouts for 8 years.

If I could talk to my skinny self back then, this is what I would say now.

"Is that weight gainer really necessary?"

I can't gain weight even when I eat. I want to gain weight, but it won't go up.
When I was struggling with a body type close to what's called a "hard gainer," I weighed 55kg.

I started strength training, but my weight wouldn't increase at all.

That's when I came across a "weight gainer".

I bought it, believing that "if I drink this, I'll gain weight!"

However, I don't buy weight gainers anymore.

What I use instead is "maltodextrin (powdered candy) + protein".

In this article, I will talk about the following based on my own experience:

• Are weight gainers really necessary?

• The difference between weight gainers and powdered candy

• Why I choose powdered candy + protein

• The reason I was able to gain 13kg from 55kg

I will discuss these points based on my actual experience.

The story of how I failed with weight gainers as a hard gainer

When I started home workouts, I was a skinny 55kg, and my arms were so thin that T-shirts looked baggy on me.

I started thinking, "If I do strength training, my body will change," but the first wall I hit was my diet.

Eating white rice. Eating pasta. Increasing snacks. Even so, my weight wouldn't increase much...

That's when I found a weight gainer.

Online, they are introduced as

• protein for gaining weight

• bulking protein

• for skinny people

, and I thought, 'Maybe this will help me gain weight.'

I felt a sense of security when I actually started drinking it. But even after a few weeks, my weight barely changed.

Looking back now, the reason is simple.

It was because I didn't understand the basics of bulking up.

• Total calorie intake

• PFC balance

• Calories burned

Without knowing anything, I was convinced that 'as long as I drink a weight gainer, I'll be fine.'

What you need to gain weight isn't a product name.

It's your calorie balance.

Understanding this first was crucial.

The true nature of a weight gainer is 'powder high in carbohydrates'

The name 'weight gainer' sounds somewhat reliable, doesn't it? Even when searching online, it is often introduced as '
protein that increases weight'.

But take a look at the ingredient list properly for once.

For example, the Kentai weight gainer I used to buy.

If you check this ingredient list, it breaks down like this.

Per 30g serving:

• Energy: 118kcal

• Protein: 5.9g

• Carbohydrates: 21.3g

Furthermore, when looking at the generic name rather than the product name, "maltodextrin-containing food" was written.

The majority of the ingredients are carbohydrates, specifically "maltodextrin (powdered starch syrup)."

In terms of protein content, it is quite low compared to regular protein powder.
Regular protein powder contains about 18-20g of protein per serving.

Yes, the true nature of a weight gainer is "carbohydrate powder with a little bit of protein added." That is what it is.

Of course, it is not a bad product. In fact, it makes sense for weight gain.

However, I thought to myself:

"Couldn't I just make this myself?"

What is maltodextrin (powdered starch syrup)?

Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate made from starch. In the bodybuilding community, it is sometimes called "powdered starch syrup."

Its features are as follows:

• Can efficiently supplement carbohydrates

• Mild sweetness

• Easily dissolves in water

• Fast digestion and absorption

• Relatively inexpensive

During a bulking phase, there are often cases where "you have enough protein, but not enough calories."

Powdered starch syrup is convenient for times like that.

Since it is a liquid, it is easier to consume than a meal, making it easier to add calories. I think it is a very easy-to-use carbohydrate source for people who cannot gain weight even when they eat.

I myself have been using it throughout my 8 years of home training.

I explain the detailed features and how to use powdered starch syrup in this article.

Who Weight Gainers Are For

I don't want to be misunderstood here, but I don't want to deny the existence of weight gainers.

There are people for whom they are suitable.

For example,

• Those who prioritize convenience above all else

• Those who find nutritional calculations troublesome

• Beginners who don't know what to buy

For people like this, choosing a weight gainer is a viable option. After all, you just put it in a shaker and drink it.

There is no doubt that it is convenient.

Who Weight Gainers Are Not For

On the other hand, I think people like this are better suited for powdered starch syrup plus protein.

• Those who prioritize cost-performance

• Those who want to gain weight over a long period

• Those who want to adjust their nutrition themselves

• Those who want to keep supplement costs down

Consistency is especially important for home training. You need to continue not just for one month, but for half a year or a year.

That is precisely why the ongoing cost cannot be ignored.

I compared the cost-effectiveness of weight gainers versus "maltodextrin + protein powder"

The biggest reason I stopped using weight gainers was cost-effectiveness.

I tried calculating it for myself.

◆ Weight Gainer

At 3,940 yen per 1kg

• 30g per serving, 5.9g protein, 21.3g carbohydrates

• Cost per serving: approx. 118 yen

Next, if I try to create the same nutritional value using the "maltodextrin + protein powder" I purchase regularly...

◆ Maltodextrin + Protein Powder

• Approx. 8g protein (equivalent to 5.9g protein) → approx. 26.5 yen

• 22g maltodextrin (equivalent to 21g carbohydrates) → approx. 17.5 yen

• Cost per serving: approx. 44 yen

118 yen vs 44 yen per serving.
The difference is 74 yen.

If we estimate based on drinking it twice a day,

• approx. 4,440 yen per month

• In one year, approx. 53,280 yen

is the difference.

With this much, you could buy additional protein or invest in training equipment.

The idea that "bulking up is expensive" can be solved with a little ingenuity.

The weight gain recipe I still drink today

So, how should you actually combine them?

This is the basic recipe I still drink every day.

[My Basic Recipe]

• Protein: 40g (28g protein / 155kcal)

• Powdered Candy (Maltodextrin): 60g (50g carbohydrates / 200kcal)

• Water: 200-250ml

Total 355kcal / Approx. 180 yen per serving

In this way, if you decide the combination yourself, you won't end up over-consuming protein by taking weight gainers, and you can freely decide and create the amount of protein and carbohydrates according to your goals.

Based on this recipe, I adjust it during the bulking phase by increasing the amount of powdered candy or adding bananas or bread.

Please read this article for the benefits and details of this recipe👇

If you are going to continue home training, you should consider the "ongoing costs"

While continuing home training for many years, I have seen people give up for various reasons.

There are various reasons for quitting home training.

• Became busy

• Lost motivation

• Got injured

And surprisingly common is, "couldn't keep up with the money".

Continuing to buy weight gainers every month, buying extra protein, getting supplements... before I knew it, over 10,000 yen a month was disappearing just on supplement costs.

When that state continues, one day you suddenly feel, "Why am I not changing even though I'm spending so much money?".

And then, you fade out.

Wasteful spending drains your motivation.

Conversely, if you can keep costs down, you can continue for longer on the same budget.

If you can continue, your body will definitely change.

Home training is not something that shows results in one or two months. True changes appear by continuing for half a year, a year, and beyond.

That is precisely why thinking of and implementing ways to keep going is important.

I don't want to completely dismiss weight gainers. They work for some people.

But I don't think it's a smart choice to keep paying high prices every month for something you can make yourself if you look at the ingredient list.

Weight gain is determined by knowledge, not products

When I relied on weight gainers, I had no knowledge. Not about PFC, calorie counting, or the concept of cost-performance.

But it's different now.

I combined maltodextrin and protein myself, calculated the necessary calories, and implemented ways to keep going.

As a result, I have been able to continue home training for eight years. I was able to gain 13kg from my skinny 55kg frame.

Taking the first step is not difficult. First, get a shaker, buy some maltodextrin, and try starting today.

Knowledge changes your body. Ingenuity creates consistency.

May your home training continue even further starting today.

Thank you for reading to the end this time as well!

✳️ For those who want to continue home training efficiently

▶ Summary of protein and supplement articles

Based on my 8 years of home training experience, I have compiled information on how to choose protein and supplements, recommended products, and cost-performance comparisons. This is recommended for those who are wondering, "Which one should I choose?" or "Are supplements really necessary?", and for those who want to choose only what is necessary and continue muscle training efficiently.

▶ Top 10 Home Workout Equipment I'm Truly Glad I Bought

Drawing from my 8 years of experience with home workouts, I have compiled a ranking of only the items I genuinely felt were worth buying among the many pieces of workout equipment available.
If you are looking to start building your home gym or are unsure about what to buy next, please use this as a reference.

※ This article contains Amazon Associate links. As an Amazon Associate, Torimune earns from qualifying purchases. The products introduced are those I have actually used myself or those I truly feel I can recommend after many years of continuing home workouts.