Weight Gainer Question

[MC428]

Looking for some supplement advice-

I'm following the mass gaining workout outlined in New Rules and I've been taking BNC's True Mass to get extra calories. I usually have one shake a day directly post-workout which is about 500 calories total. In the three months I've been following the program and using this supplement I've gone from 165 ish to 180 ish. And I was shooting to get up to around 185 (I'm about 6'3"). Of course some of this is in the form of fat so my question is now that I'm getting close to my target should I dump the weight gainer and just use a good quality whey protein? Anybody been in the same boat?

Thanks for the help!

[fred]

Weight gainer simply is a powdered meal so you'll get carbs/fat/protein from it. Whey only has a small amount of the first two compared to the protein, obviously. A serving of wg is about 400kcals compared to that of whey of 120kcals so you would have to compensate the calories, not to hard if you use some olive/fish oil, if you wanted to grow bigger.

[McB]

I'm 5'9", 154lb right now. Throughout a day, I take about 4-5 scoops of whey protein, each with about 120 calories and 23g protein. Been doing that over the winter. I think I've gained about 5 lbs. in that time. (Four/Five years ago I was only 137lbs...) Working out hard too. Switched over to NROL about 3 weeks ago or so. Generally I think I need to eat more. Duh. Trying to eat 4-5 times a day too. Two of those "meals" might be just a shake with maybe some oatmeal or yogurt. Hardgainers get little sympathy.

[Lost Dog]

"Hardgainer" usually means you're not hungry.

I have several friends at my gym who are "hardgainers." When I tracked their food with them, they were eating only 2000-2500 calories a day. My gf loses weight on that amount and she's little bitty.

I'm not saying it's not a problem, but the problem is not wanting to eat/feeling full too quickly/easily. Liquid meals can help with that, so you're on the right track.

To MC428... Gainers are just (usually) sugar/maltodetrin and protein (and expensive). Protein powder and food is cheaper and provides more nutrients. Even protein power and milk or juice is nutritionally superior if you need a liquid meal.

[Alcoholiday]

it's up to you on how much fat you have put on, but at 185 and 6'3", you're definitely not overweight.

if you want to gain weight, just drink 1/2-1 gallon of whole milk or 2%. It's cheaper than gainers. Then, the rest of your meals, just eat some quality proteins, veggies, and some carbs or fat. Adjust accordingly to how fast you're gaining.

You would do well with just trying to eat over a surplus, and lifting heavy rather than setting x weight to get by y time. Doing it like this is good to reach a goal, but sometimes you compromise and put on more fat simply for the fact on trying to reach your goal weight.

[McB]

Mark Rippetoe says to drink lots of milk too. Good company.