Extreme Mass VS Heavy Weight Mass Gainer

In this episode, we uncover the difference between mass gainers. 
What's the difference, who should use it, and why. We asked Christine to reveal all.

• What’s the difference?
• Not for everybody 
• MCT oil and Omega Fats 
• Flavours
• International Protein's Supplement Guide

Muscle Talk - Bodybuilding podcast by International Protein

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If you'd like to learn more about International Protein, visit https://www.international-protein.com/product/extreme-mass/

A Thinkroom production.
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Transcript

Ash Horton:
Welcome to Muscle Talk, where you'll get world champion advice about nutrition and stacking on muscle. Our host, Christine Envall, she's a three time world champion bodybuilder and IFPB professional, a food scientist, and a founding co-owner of our podcast sponsor International Protein. In this episode, we uncover the difference between Mass Gainers, international protein stocks both Extreme Mass and the Heavy Weight Mass Gainer. So what's the difference, who should use them, and why? We asked Christine to reveal all.

Ash Horton:
All right Christine. Extreme Mass versus Heavy Weight? Obviously I do a little bit of marketing for you and they're similar products from my point of view, you want to put that weight on. But if I was someone that walked into a supplement store and had two products side by side, and it was International Proteins Extreme Mass versus Heavy Weight Mass Gainer, can you clarify? Because I'm sure there's a lot of people with the same question out there.

Christine Envall:
Yeah. So they're designed obviously for two different types of people. So my first question would be how old are you? Second question would be how active? What are your activities? What's the sport that you're doing? What are your goals? Another question I would then ask is what's your metabolism like? Have you got a very fast metabolism?

Ash Horton:
should we go through and should I actually answer these questions for you?

Christine Envall:
Yes you can.

Ash Horton:
And that will put you in the right direction?

Christine Envall:
Yeah. I can point you in the right direction. And then I can maybe expand on the alternative to point somebody else in the right direction.

Ash Horton:
Okay. Perfect.

Christine Envall:
Yep.

Ash Horton:
All right.

Christine Envall:
Cool.

Ash Horton:
I'm 37.

Christine Envall:
What activities are you doing?

Ash Horton:
Fitness activities.

Christine Envall:
Yes. So do you exercise every day?

Ash Horton:
Yes.

Christine Envall:
What do you do?

Ash Horton:
I will wake up. I'll do a 20 minute walk, and then I'll either go to the gym, do some strength training or some cardio.

Christine Envall:
Okay. So about how much time do you spend?

Ash Horton:
I do have obviously rest days as well.

Christine Envall:
Yeah. So total activity for a day?

Ash Horton:
Let's call it 90 minutes plus a 20 minute walk.

Christine Envall:
90 minutes plus a 20 minute walk. And your job is sedentary?

Ash Horton:
As sedentary as it comes.

Christine Envall:
Okay. And what are you actually trying to do? You're obviously trying to gain weight, but is it because you want to be super-ripped, big muscular, or what are you just trying to...

Ash Horton:
For me, personally, I'd like more lean muscle.

Christine Envall:
Okay. And how would you classify your metabolism and your body type? Do you gain fat easily?

Ash Horton:
I look at a piece of chocolate and it just immediately adds onto my ass. Straight away. I love it. But no, it all, definitely, I'm hard at, sorry. What's the right wording for it? I put weight on easily.

Christine Envall:
Okay. So in this instance I would steer you towards the Extreme Mass.

Ash Horton:
Okay.

Christine Envall:
But we'll come down to when you take it and how much you take. So obviously we have a serving size of 100 grams, and we recommend taking it with low fat-milk. But in your instance, potentially I would recommend that you still have it with water and maybe you take it back to a half serving and add it in quite gradually. The Heavy Weight on the other hand has a much larger carb to protein ratio. So essentially the way that I look at the difference between these two is that if you said to me, "I exercise three hours a day. And then my job is, I'm a builder and I'm up and down ladders all day long. And I have to eat so much food, and I'm still trying to gain weight, but I'm not." I would steer towards something like the Heavy Weight. I look at the Heavy Weight, like it's kind of like an energy/weight gainer. And Extreme Mass to me is purely more designed for weight gain.

Christine Envall:
So someone who potentially still wants to gain lean muscle, but like yourself, they tend to put on body fat quite easily. So their focus is more about still building, but building in the right places. Also again, Heavy Weight, without stereotyping, younger people do tend to have quicker metabolisms, they're out burning the midnight oil, doing a hundred million things at once. Often forget to eat, aren't quite as regimented. So something like the Heavy Weight where you've got the carbs and the protein, that type of product would be better for them where they have a higher energy requirement, as well as trying to put on some extra mass. So that's, I guess kind of in a nutshell, the difference where those two are.

Christine Envall:
So breaking that down, the Mass Gainer is literally like a one-to-one protein to carbohydrate. So it does have a lot more protein per 100 grams than what the Heavy Weight does, if you're just looking at the product, not with what we're adding it to or not what we're telling you the serving size is. Just looking at these two products, side by side, the protein content of the Mass Gainer Extreme Mass is 42 grams of protein. And the Heavy Weight's only 29 per 100 grams just off product. Obviously the serving size on the Heavy Weight is a lot larger. And again, that comes back to people who have that high energy requirement, super active, fast metabolisms, maybe they're playing a lot of sports. So that's kind of like the number one difference obviously is that the protein is one-to-one in Extreme Mass, and it's two to one carbs to protein in the Heavy Weight.

Ash Horton:
So if International Protein's products aren't available to some of our listeners, that's what they should be looking for in other products.

Christine Envall:
Yes. Yeah. So if you're a high burner, someone who burns a lot of calories, either through their job, through just their activities, their schedule, then something like a two to one would be a better option for them, because you're going to get that energy requirement satisfied by the carbohydrate. Remembering, protein will be used as an energy source in the lack of carbohydrate, but it's a very expensive way of giving your body energy. Yeah, protein's expensive, save it for growing muscle, not for providing energy. That's the way I look at it with that, very, very simple. Coming back to Extreme Mass. So it was developed as a product which would give you extra calories per gram. So a lot of the products on the market, including the Heavy Weight, when you look at them and what their composition is, they're basically like protein and carbohydrate, which have a similar calorie count, four calories per gram, 17 kilojoules. So, you eat protein, you eat carb, you're going to get the same energy amount, and energy ultimately is what determines whether you're going to gain weight or lose weight. Whether you're in energy surplus or energy deficit.

Christine Envall:
So you eat a product. And that's what I'm saying. It becomes an expensive way to get energy if you're taking it from protein. But if you're taking in the three to one of carbs, you're not going to get necessarily more calories in the less you eat a larger volume of it, but you might be using those calories... you don't want to use the protein as the energy source. As I said, it's an expensive way to do it. So if you've got a high energy requirement because you're super active, and you try to use a weight gainer which has a higher protein content, you're more than likely going to start to use some of that protein as an energy source, which is an expensive way to do it rather than using the carbohydrates.

Ash Horton:
Right. That makes sense.

Christine Envall:
So that's where Heavy Weight kind of is. As far as the Mass Gainer, that's focusing more on, not because you necessarily have a high requirement for calories because of what your activities are, but you want those calories that you do have to go towards muscle growth. So therefore we created a product which had more protein because protein is what's required for muscle growth. There are carbs in there obviously to support certain amount of activity, to support the heavyweight training, but it's the protein which is going to grow your muscle. And then it's the fats, which gives the extra calories. And in the extreme mass, we've used a blend of MCT oil and omega fats. So anyone who knows anything about MCT oils, because it's obviously quite a popular ingredient in a lot of keto diets, but MCT oils, they burn like a carbohydrate. So when I say that, fat is generally slow to digest and be used by the body as an energy source, it goes in and has to be broken down before you can use it. MCT oils can come in and be burned much more rapidly, much like a carbohydrate.

Christine Envall:
So instead of being slow like regular fats, they're very, very quick, but they carry the energy content of a fat. So that's why it's a really, really great thing in a weight gainer, because it gives you that, I guess the energy source from fat, which is quickly deliverable. To me, Extreme Mass is actually a perfect pre-workout type of a meal because you get good amount of protein and energy coming from your quick burning fats and your carbohydrates. As I said, the focus around that is more about muscle growth rather than fueling your energy as such. So the person who's taking that product maybe doesn't have a massive energy requirement like the person who would take the Heavy Weight. So they're less active, but still trying to grow some really, really good quality muscle. So that's kind of like the main, I guess difference from that point of view as to when you would use it.

Christine Envall:
And that's what I said, younger people tend to have either a busier lifestyle, faster metabolisms, greater requirement for carbohydrates, and then someone who's looking at lean muscle gains, but maybe they're only doing weight training, minimal cardio, trying to pack on some bulk to basically put on size. Some people might use it because they're trying to gain weight for sport. And then you could kind of go either way and then it might come down to your budget, because you've got to remember that whilst the Heavy Weight is a cheaper product to buy, you do need to eat more of it to get the same calories as what you would have the Extreme Mass. So me personally would use Extreme Mass, because I see that as a better value product because you're getting more calories per gram. So that's kind of the main differences there. Other things, differences between the products.

Christine Envall:
So the protein blend, I talk a lot about that with the Extreme Mass and how we have put more protein in than what's in the Heavy Weight. Whilst both are derived from a blend of not just one type of protein. They do have whey and casein and WPI. The mass has I guess a more even blend, if that makes sense. It's the same blend that we use in the Synergy. So I see that as a very premium blend of proteins, it also obviously has the egg albumin, whereas the Heavy Weight, whilst it does have a blend of proteins, it's more predominantly just the concentrate. So there is a difference there in the actual proteins that we're using as well. So the Mass is a much more time-released type of product, a much more rounded amino acid profile. Likewise, again, we do put MCTs into the Heavy Weight, but just not to the level, we've put a lot more into the Extreme Mass to really pump those calories up. What else is different? The Heavy Weight carries a full range of vitamins and minerals. We haven't put that into the Extreme Mass.

Christine Envall:
It has naturally high level of calcium coming from the proteins, but we actually went ahead and put extra vitamins and minerals to support fast metabolisms and support activity. Put that into that. And it also has a different blend of carbohydrates. So in the Mass, we have put glucose polymers in the rice starch. My theory on the rice being so easily digested, most people eat rice on a day-to-day basis. So why not use rice as the carbohydrate source? In the Heavy Weight, we've actually kind of put a more whole food blend. So we have like a little blend in there, which is, I guess, if you talk about whole grains being more healthy and that, we've kind of tried to balance out those carbohydrates by putting in some more whole food sources. We have gluten-free oats, we have quinoa and gosh, there's a whole bunch of them and I haven't got them in front of me, but there's about seven or eight different grains rather than just coming from the rice.

Christine Envall:
So we've kind of mixed up the carbohydrate source a little bit and made it a little bit more wholesome in that respect. They both have DigeZyme. So you've got your digestive enzymes to help obviously deal with that amount of protein because it is a large influx, but one of the main things really is that the amount that we recommend that you take, the 220 gram serve on the Heavy Weight is a pretty high serve. Because once you add it with your milk, you end up with about 63 grams of protein. So it does end up with a lot. But as I said, it's kind of like that person who, heavy activity, they do a lot, but they don't want to necessarily spend a fortune. So they will go and get the Heavy Weight gainer. That's what makes it popular is it's kind of meeting the needs of people who need a high level of carbohydrate, they can also of course get our Extreme Carbs, Amino Charged WPI or Synergy and make their own. But a lot of people don't like to mess around with that kind of thing.

Christine Envall:
So obviously to have it in a pre-made form, it's a lot more convenient for a lot of people. We did also bolster up that profile by adding some extra branched-chains and glutamine, whereas we rely on that to come naturally from the protein itself in the Extreme Mass. Yeah, there's just little subtle differences around the overall sort of nutrient profile. But the easiest thing to say is I call one the energy gainer and one just like a pure weight gainer.

Ash Horton:
It's interesting because I always thought personally, because I put on weight easily, that I would never touch those products, but you actually said that you would be more of an Extreme Mass person. So if I want to put on size, then I could still use Extreme Mass, it's full of calories and all those sorts of things, but it would actually be good for someone like me that's trying to lose body fat.

Christine Envall:
Yes. Yeah. Because it's looking at how you use it. When you're trying to gain weight, and gain a lot of weight, then you put a lot in excess, you eat a full serve, two thirds of that a day on top of what you're already eating, whereas you would potentially have a smaller serving, and work it into your diet. So you're getting a slight excess of calories, because you do need that to grow, but not so many that it's going to all just go straight to your butt or wherever it goes to.

Ash Horton:
This was the opportunity for my dumb question to come out.

Christine Envall:
That's right.

Ash Horton:
There it was.

Christine Envall:
There it was. My personal recommendation though, for people is to really, I guess try. Because some people, you see a 220 grams serve, and if you've got a big appetite, you want that, it doesn't mix up that thick, the Mass does mix up a bit thicker. So therefore, you might find that that's actually more filling for the 100 grams versus the other one for 220 grams. But, if you're definitely someone who is very active and you need those carbs, go for the Heavy Weight, no questions about it. If you're someone a little bit older, a bit more conservative, but still trying to put that lean size on, definitely that-

Ash Horton:
What do you consider old?

Christine Envall:
Ash, I'd definitely say you're in that bracket of being old, over 35.

Ash Horton:
35 is it?

Christine Envall:
35. There's almost like a 35 then 40, 45, 50, like every five years it's almost..

Ash Horton:
Perfect. On your website there's a little supplement guide where people can click on it. And the highest age bracket is 35-plus, isn't it?

Christine Envall:
Yes it is. And I was actually meaning to talk to you about that, because we definitely need to, if we can, extend that out a little bit, we might have to put a 30, so 35 to 50, and then I think we have to have a over 50's category on that as well.

Ash Horton:
Right. But that's a really good way for people that are listening, if they do want a specific product for a specific reason, they can go on and they can actually click on it. It's like, what's your goal? What's your age? And these are the products that we might recommend.

Christine Envall:
Correct. Yeah. So we've kind of broken it down for you and given that recommendation, and again, as I say, younger people, generally quicker metabolisms, busier lifestyles, need those extra carbohydrates. That's not to say that they can't take Extreme Mass, because as I said, you really do need to sometimes try it out for yourself. There is also a flavor preference, if you're looking at it and you're working it out, so you're going to eat equal amount of calories, okay. I'm going to have 220 grams of Extreme Mass or 220 grams of Heavy Weight. Of course you can't always do that, just because we recommend a certain serving doesn't mean to say that that's what you have to do. You just look at the macros and fit that into your diet.

Christine Envall:
Just a little bit of background information here. The Extreme Mass carries the same flavor profile as the Synergy, as it would because it has a similar protein profile and they tend to work quite well together. Whereas the Heavy Weight has the same vanilla, has the same profile as the Superior Whey, which is different to the rest of our products. So that's just a buy you buy. Sorry. The Extreme Mass vanilla is also the same profile as the Amino Charged WPI vanilla. But the Heavy Weight and the Mass have different vanilla flavors, if that makes sense.

Ash Horton:
People are just going to have to taste it.

Christine Envall:
They are going to have to taste it. But if you have tried our other products before, the Heavy Weight chocolate has the same chocolate profile as the Amino Charged WPI, but the Mass chocolate, the choc truffle has the same profile as the Synergy. So it has a slight back note of coconut in it.

Ash Horton:
Cool.

Christine Envall:
Yeah. So we know we talked about flavor in one of the other podcasts and that is such an important thing. Particularly if you are trying to get those extra calories and you have to eat this a lot, then that could be a deciding factor for some people. Again, the Mass is actually that delicious that I wish I had to gain more weight because it is actually so damn tasty. Really, really good. Sometimes I will have it as a meal, because I don't feel like cooking something or making something and it does have that good 50/50 ratio that I like and a little bit of healthy fat and a little bit of quick burning fat. So yeah, I will do that when I'm in a rush, sometimes take that, about 100 grams, but I'll do it as a meal.

Ash Horton:
I've been known to do that too. All your products tastes good.

Christine Envall:
But no, that is particularly good. Whereas like I say, the Heavy Weight, I would, again, me personally, it's a lot of carbs for me to have that ratio, two to one is too much carbs for me to have at once at my age and activity level now.

Ash Horton:
All right, Christine, thank you very much.

Christine Envall:
No problem. And again, if anyone is unsure, then they can always drop a comment in the Aussie Muscle Group. Join up and sort of say, "This is me. This is what I do. Which one do you recommend?"

Ash Horton:
Oh, and of course when we were mentioning the website before and the supplement guide on it, that was the International Protein website.

Christine Envall:
Correct.

Ash Horton:
Thank you very much.

Christine Envall:
Cool.

Ash Horton:
Words of wisdom. If you like what you've heard, recognize that these tips are free. So show your support by becoming a loyal International Protein customer by jumping online, hunt our product down and hit that buy now button. So once again, like, share, and subscribe to our podcast so we can continue to bring you these episodes from our one and only Aussie Muscle guru, three times world champion, Christine Envall.