1 product
Sort by:
1 product
1 product
What is IO Genix Protein Mass?
It is a mass-gain powder to be mixed with liquid, with a reference serving of 50 g for 195 kcal, combining protein, carbohydrate, creatine and glutamine. The flavours listed: Intense Chocolate, Original Black Cookies, Vanilla-Hazelnut, Crema Rica Cookies and Petit Yogurt.
Let us set the right expectations straight away, because the name can be misleading. With 16 g of protein and 28 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal, this product belongs to the lean gainer family, not to the heavyweight gainers. A true hard gainer delivers 400 to 600 kcal per serving. That is not a flaw: it is a different category, and it is better to know before you buy.
The first ingredient on the list is oat flour, not maltodextrin or sugar — which explains the mere 2 g of sugars for 28 g of carbohydrate. Then come maltodextrin, a LACTOMIN® whey protein concentrate, L-glycine, Kyowa L-glutamine, creatine monohydrate, flavourings, sucralose, a colour (azorubine), the DigeZyme® enzyme complex and vitamin B6. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix aisle.
What does a 50 g serving contain?
| Nutrient | Per 50 g serving | Per 100 g* |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 195 kcal | 390 kcal |
| Protein | 16 g | 32 g |
| Carbohydrate | 28 g | 56 g |
| of which sugars | 2 g | 4 g |
| Fat | 1.5 g | 3 g |
| Salt | 0.15 g | 0.3 g |
| Creatine monohydrate | 3,000 mg | 6,000 mg |
| Kyowa L-Glutamine | 6,000 mg | 12,000 mg |
| DigeZyme® complex | 100 mg | 200 mg |
* Column calculated from the values declared for 50 g. Not included in the data supplied: the energy value in kilojoules, the "of which saturates" line, the "fibre" line, the vitamin B6 content and the net weight of the pack — so we cannot calculate the number of servings per tub. Divide the weight printed on the packaging by 50 g.
The most interesting figure in this table is not the protein, it is the creatine: 3,000 mg per serving. That is exactly the daily maintenance dose, the one on which the only authorised claim on this entire product rests: creatine increases physical performance in successive bursts of short-term, high intensity exercise, a claim valid from 3 g per day. One serving puts you right on it. If you take two, you are at 6 g, which brings nothing further.
The second figure is the sugars: 2 g for 28 g of carbohydrate. That is what genuinely sets this powder apart from a cheap gainer loaded with dextrose. The oat flour at the top of the list is not a marketing line: you can see it on the "of which sugars" row, and it is verifiable.
A third reading, less flattering: 16 g of protein per serving is not a lot. An ordinary whey shake delivers 22 to 25 for 120 kcal. Here, the protein comes with 28 g of carbohydrate. That is the very principle of a gainer, but it does mean you should stop comparing this product to a protein: it is not the same use.
On the glutamine and the DigeZyme® complex we shall be brief: no health claim is authorised in Europe for either glutamine or an enzyme complex. We mention them because they appear on the label, without attributing any effect to them.
How do you take Protein Mass?
Serving: 50 g, that is two scoops. Liquid: 300 to 400 ml of water or skimmed milk. Timing: between meals, or after training. Frequency: up to two servings a day depending on your bodyweight and your needs. Duration: ongoing, as no course duration is set.
The manufacturer's advice, which we are happy to repeat: start with a half serving for the first week. Twenty-eight grams of carbohydrate, creatine and glutamine all at once, in a stomach that is not used to it, makes itself felt. Building up gradually avoids the discomfort that makes people give up after three days.
Shake vigorously for thirty seconds, pouring the liquid in before the powder. With oat flour in the formula, the texture is thicker than a whey shake: that is normal, and 400 ml rather than 300 makes it considerably easier to drink if you have to get it down between two meals.
Creatine brings one further instruction, and it is not decorative: increase your water intake throughout the period of use. That applies to any product containing creatine monohydrate.
A final word on timing. The manufacturer suggests four slots; in practice, a gainer is there to add calories where you cannot manage to eat them. Take it at the point in the day when you usually skip a snack, not on top of a meal you are already eating.
Who is Protein Mass right for, and who is it not right for?
It is aimed at those who cannot get their calories up at the table: limited appetite, short days, a metabolism that burns through everything. Drinking 195 kcal is far easier than getting the equivalent down in rice and chicken. It also suits those already taking creatine who appreciate not having one more product to juggle.
The product contains GLUTEN (oat flour) and MILK. Note a discrepancy in the labelling supplied: the ingredient list mentions SOYA among the possible traces, while the warning places it among the allergens present. If you are allergic to soya, work on the more cautious assumption and check the packaging. Traces of WHEAT, EGG and FISH are also possible. The manufacturer advises against it for children, adolescents and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
It contains azorubine (E122), an azo colour that requires the following regulatory wording: may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. We reproduce it because it is mandatory, and because it appears nowhere else on this page.
It is not suitable if you are coeliac: oat flour is the first ingredient, and here gluten is a component, not a trace. Nor is it suitable when cutting, or if your aim is simply to raise your protein intake — in that case, a whey shake does better for fewer calories.
What you should not expect from it: mass gain without eating. 195 kcal is a snack, not a meal, and two servings a day represent 390 added calories. If your diet does not follow, this product will do nothing at all. The phrase "rapid muscle development" should not lead you to hope for anything other than a well-composed calorie supplement.
Protein Mass or a hard gainer?
That is the choice that really matters, and it comes down to a single line: calories per serving.
A hard gainer delivers 400 to 600 kcal per serving, with a carbohydrate-to-protein ratio often of 3:1 or 4:1 and a lot of maltodextrin. It is the better choice if you genuinely struggle to put on weight and need to add 800 to 1,000 kcal a day. Its drawback is well known: the volume is enormous, the taste quickly becomes sickly, and part of the calories come from simple sugars.
Protein Mass is the better choice for measured mass gain, where you want to add 200 to 400 clean calories without sending your sugars through the roof. The protein-to-carbohydrate ratio here is 1:1.75, which is far more balanced than a conventional gainer, and the 3 g of built-in creatine saves you a further product. It is also a shake you can drink every day without coming to hate it after a week.
A third route exists, and it is often the most economical: buy a protein, an oat flour and creatine separately, and put it together yourself. You control every dose and the cost per gram falls. What you lose is the convenience of a single powder — it is up to you to decide what matters most.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a gainer or a protein?
Not quite one and not quite the other: it is a lean gainer. With 16 g of protein and 28 g of carbohydrate for 195 kcal, it delivers less protein than a whey and far fewer calories than a hard gainer. Its place is that of a solid, well-composed snack, not a protein shake nor a massive calorie top-up.
Should you take creatine alongside it?
No, if you take one serving a day: the 3 g it contains correspond exactly to the daily maintenance dose, and that is the threshold on which the authorised claim rests. Adding more on top will do nothing further. On the days you do not take a shake, however, your creatine intake drops to zero.
Does the product contain gluten?
Yes, and not merely as traces. Oat flour is the first ingredient on the list, and traces of wheat are flagged as well. In cases of coeliac disease this product is not indicated — that is a point better read here than after the purchase.
How many servings per tub?
The net weight of the pack does not appear in the labelling data supplied by the manufacturer, so we cannot calculate it. Divide the weight printed on the packaging by 50 g, which is the reference serving for every value on this page.
Water or milk?
The manufacturer allows both, with skimmed milk. With water, you stay at 195 kcal, which is the honest calculation. With milk, allow 100 to 130 kcal more depending on the volume: that is useful if your aim really is to raise your calories, and it needs to go into your total if you are counting them.
Why start with a half serving?
Because 28 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of creatine and 6 g of glutamine all at once often cause bloating in the first few days. A week at 25 g is enough to let the body get used to it. It is common-sense advice, given by the manufacturer itself, and rarely followed.
Which flavour should you choose?
Intense Chocolate and Original Black Cookies are the boldest, Crema Rica Cookies and Vanilla-Hazelnut are milder, Petit Yogurt is noticeably lighter and tangier — it is the one that goes down best if you have to drink two servings a day, boredom being the number one reason a gainer gets abandoned. All of them contain sucralose and a colour.
Where to buy IO Genix Protein Mass?
The flavours can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. If this is your first gainer, pick a flavour you know you can drink every day: that is the most decisive criterion.
At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always start with the same question in front of this aisle: how many calories are you eating at the moment? Nine times out of ten, the answer shows that a meal is missing, not a supplement — and a lean gainer like this one solves exactly that problem, no more and no less. The rest of the aisle can be compared in our sports nutrition range.
What is a lean gainer?
A lean gainer is a gainer with a tight ratio: significantly more protein and fewer carbohydrates than a classic mass gainer. While a "mass gainer" boasts 4 to 6g of carbohydrates for 1g of protein, a lean gainer typically falls between 2:1 and 3:1. Specifically, a powder with around 55 to 65g of carbohydrates and 25 to 30g of protein per 100g, for approximately 380 kcal.
The second difference lies in the nature of the carbohydrates. An inexpensive gainer often relies on maltodextrin and dextrose, which cause blood sugar to rise very quickly. A well-formulated lean gainer incorporates oats, barley, rice cream, or slower starches, and limits simple sugars. This composition doesn't change the total caloric intake, but it makes the shake more filling and easier to digest.
Finally, the portions are reasonable. A lean gainer is taken in doses of 50 to 100g, or 200 to 400 kcal, not in 300g doses with a liter of milk. It's a meal supplement, not a meal replacement.
Lean gainer or classic gainer: which one suits your profile?
The decision hinges on a single criterion: how easily you gain fat.
- You stay lean no matter what you eat, and you struggle to meet your calorie goals — the classic gainer is more effective because it provides more kilocalories per shake. See our hard gainer page.
- You easily gain waist size as soon as you increase portions — the lean gainer is for you. The surplus remains moderate, satiety is better, and the gain is slower and cleaner.
- You already eat well and primarily need more protein — neither. A simple protein powder will suffice, for less money.
A useful guideline: if you have to force yourself to finish your plate, take a classic gainer. If you finish your plates effortlessly and would like more, take a lean gainer — or nothing at all.
Is a lean gainer better than a whey + oat mix?
To be clear: the line between the two is thin. A lean gainer is a whey protein to which a manufacturer has added carbohydrates, sometimes a few lipids, digestive enzymes, or vitamins. Nothing that cannot be replicated in a homemade shake.
The numerical comparison for one serving:
- Lean gainer, 80g — approximately 300 kcal, 45g carbohydrates, 22g protein. One jar, one dose, no preparation.
- Homemade: 50g oat flour + 30g whey concentrate — approximately 300 kcal, 30g carbohydrates, 30g protein. 1:1 ratio, more fiber, and complete control over the ingredients.
For equal calories, the homemade mix is therefore higher in protein, and its price per kilo is almost always lower, especially if you buy oats in bulk. What you're buying with a lean gainer is convenience: one jar, one scoop, a developed flavor, and a texture that mixes well in a shaker without a blender. For a shake on the go, this convenience has real value. For a shake prepared at home, it has much less.
Our in-store position is consistent: if you're a beginner or want something simple, a lean gainer does the job very well. If you're already tracking your macros, buy the ingredients separately.
How to dose a lean gainer without gaining fat?
The basic principle remains unchanged: it's the total caloric surplus that determines the gain, not the product. Commonly used benchmarks are a surplus of 300 to 500 kcal per day, for a progression of about 0.25 to 0.5% of body weight per week.
- Start with a single dose per day, usually after training or as an afternoon snack, during times when appetite is lacking.
- Do not add it just before a meal: it suppresses hunger, and the total for the day does not increase.
- Weigh the powder rather than relying on the scoop. The provided scoops are often larger than imagined.
- Re-evaluate every three weeks based on the average of weigh-ins, never on an isolated figure. If weight climbs too quickly, reduce the dose by half before adjusting anything else.
- Water or milk: with water to stay as close as possible to the stated values, with milk to add 100 to 140 kcal and additional protein.
A point too often overlooked: a lean gainer does not exempt you from eating. On rest days, if you're not hungry, the dose is still useful; on days when you've eaten well, skipping it poses no problem.
What should you not expect from a lean gainer?
"Lean" does not mean that the gain will be exclusively muscle. No formula controls the distribution between muscle and fat: training, protein intake, and the rate of gain do. A lean gainer simply helps maintain a measured surplus.
It's also not a cutting product, despite what the name sometimes suggests. For a caloric deficit, look for whey isolate and the weight loss section.
Regarding tolerance, digestive discomfort most often comes from the lactose in whey concentrate or an overly large dose at once. Fractioning is sufficient in most cases. If you are diabetic or on medication affecting blood sugar, your doctor's advice is a prerequisite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gainer?
A powder that combines carbohydrates and proteins in a single container, designed to provide many calories in liquid form. It is neither a protein, nor a doping product, nor an anabolizing agent: it is a convenient caloric food, most of which consists of sugar or starch. Its only role is to solve an appetite problem — drinking 600 kcal takes five minutes, chewing them takes forty. The word "gainer" comes from the English "to gain": it describes an intention, not a mechanism.
What's the difference between a lean gainer and a mass gainer?
The carbohydrate/protein ratio and the serving sizes. A mass gainer aims for maximum calories per shake, with 4 to 6g of carbohydrates for 1g of protein and doses that can exceed 200g. A lean gainer is between 2:1 and 3:1, in doses of 50 to 100g, with less refined carbohydrates. The latter is better suited for people who gain fat easily, the former for those who cannot eat enough.
What's the difference between whey and gainer?
Whey is a protein — about 80% protein, 110 to 120 kcal per serving. A gainer is a predominantly carbohydrate mix — often only 20 to 30% protein, for 300 to 1,000 kcal per serving. They therefore do not address the same problem: whey makes up for a lack of protein, gainer a lack of calories. If you eat enough but lack protein, take a whey; if your protein needs are met but the scale isn't moving, take a gainer — or simply more rice. Buying a gainer when you lack protein is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category.
Why take a gainer?
For one valid reason: you can't meet your calorie goals through diet, because appetite or time is lacking. A gainer solves a logistics problem, not a genetic one, and it builds nothing on its own — without progressive overload training, a surplus largely turns into fat. If you already eat enough, it's useless; and if you only want a few hundred more kilocalories, rice, nuts, or a spoonful of peanut butter cost much less.
What is the best gainer?
The one you will drink every day for three months: consistency matters more than composition here. That said, four lines of the label distinguish two jars. The carbohydrate/protein ratio, to be chosen according to your profile. The nature of the carbohydrates: oats, barley, or slow starches rather than an entirely maltodextrin and dextrose base. The protein source, an identified whey rather than an unspecified "protein blend." And the price per 1,000 kcal, the only honest comparison between two formats. A sickening gainer that ends up in the cupboard remains the worst purchase, regardless of its technical specifications.
Which gainer for an ectomorph?
A mass gainer rather than a lean gainer, if the word accurately describes your situation: genuine difficulty gaining weight despite complete meals, waist size that doesn't change. In this case, the limiting factor is the amount of calories you can ingest, and a very dense formula solves exactly this problem. An honest clarification, however: "morphotypes" have no established scientific value, and the vast majority of people who call themselves ectomorphs simply eat less than they think — appetite self-regulates without us noticing. Before buying, weigh what you eat for seven days: that's often where the answer lies.
How to use a gainer?
One dose per day to start, diluted in 300 to 500 ml of water or milk, between meals — mid-morning, mid-afternoon, or after your session. Taking it just before a meal suppresses hunger and negates the benefit: you're replacing food with powder instead of adding calories. Weigh the powder rather than relying on the scoop, which is often larger than imagined. Re-evaluate every three weeks based on the average of weigh-ins: if the gain exceeds 0.5% of body weight per week, reduce the dose by half. And keep taking it on rest days, where building continues.
When to take a lean gainer?
After your workout or as a snack, at the time of day when you eat the least. The exact time matters little compared to the daily total.
Does a lean gainer make you gain weight?
It makes you gain weight if, and only if, it creates a caloric surplus over the day. Added to an already sufficient diet, it will cause weight gain; replacing an equivalent snack, it will change nothing.
Can a lean gainer replace a meal?
Occasionally, yes. Routinely, no: a shake provides neither the fiber, nor the micronutrients, nor the satiety of a real meal. It complements the diet, it does not substitute for it.
Lean gainer or whey plus carbohydrates?
The nutritional result is comparable. A lean gainer generally costs a little more per kilo but avoids two containers and separate dosing; a homemade mix is more economical and more flexible.
Does a lean gainer contain creatine?
Some formulas add it, often in amounts below an effective dose. If you want to take it, it is safer and cheaper to dose your creatine monohydrate separately.
Is it suitable for women?
Yes, with no difference in function. Caloric needs are simply lower on average: half a dose is often a good starting point.
What ranges do we offer?
We prioritize formulas that clearly state their ratio and have a short ingredient list, especially from IO Genix, Sinob, ESN, and TrainedByJP. The full range can be found on our mass gain page, and ingredients for mixing your own in the categories oat flour, rice cream, and casein, the latter being useful for a more satiating evening shake.
Looking for advice near Montpellier?
The choice between a lean gainer, a classic gainer, and a custom mix is best made in three minutes of discussion rather than three hours of reading. Visit our store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, with your weekly figures: we will look together at what is truly missing. We also ship throughout France and Europe.
Sources
- ANSES — Opinion on the update of recommended nutritional intakes for carbohydrates
- ANSES — Ciqual table of nutritional composition of foods
To be integrated into a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Retrait au magasin sous 2 h
À Vendargues, près de Montpellier. Vous êtes prévenu dès que la commande est prête.
Commandé avant 14 h, expédié le jour même
Du lundi au samedi. Le délai d'acheminement appartient ensuite au transporteur.
Livraison offerte dès 69 €
En France métropolitaine, et dès 100 € en Europe. Modes et délais.
Une question avant de commander ?
Écrivez-nous ou passez au magasin : on connaît les produits qu'on vend.
What is a lean gainer?
A lean gainer is a gainer with a tight ratio: significantly more protein and fewer carbohydrates than a classic mass gainer. While a "mass gainer" boasts 4 to 6g of carbohydrates for 1g of protein, a lean gainer typically falls between 2:1 and 3:1. Specifically, a powder with around 55 to 65g of carbohydrates and 25 to 30g of protein per 100g, for approximately 380 kcal.
The second difference lies in the nature of the carbohydrates. An inexpensive gainer often relies on maltodextrin and dextrose, which cause blood sugar to rise very quickly. A well-formulated lean gainer incorporates oats, barley, rice cream, or slower starches, and limits simple sugars. This composition doesn't change the total caloric intake, but it makes the shake more filling and easier to digest.
Finally, the portions are reasonable. A lean gainer is taken in doses of 50 to 100g, or 200 to 400 kcal, not in 300g doses with a liter of milk. It's a meal supplement, not a meal replacement.
Lean gainer or classic gainer: which one suits your profile?
The decision hinges on a single criterion: how easily you gain fat.
- You stay lean no matter what you eat, and you struggle to meet your calorie goals — the classic gainer is more effective because it provides more kilocalories per shake. See our hard gainer page.
- You easily gain waist size as soon as you increase portions — the lean gainer is for you. The surplus remains moderate, satiety is better, and the gain is slower and cleaner.
- You already eat well and primarily need more protein — neither. A simple protein powder will suffice, for less money.
A useful guideline: if you have to force yourself to finish your plate, take a classic gainer. If you finish your plates effortlessly and would like more, take a lean gainer — or nothing at all.
Is a lean gainer better than a whey + oat mix?
To be clear: the line between the two is thin. A lean gainer is a whey protein to which a manufacturer has added carbohydrates, sometimes a few lipids, digestive enzymes, or vitamins. Nothing that cannot be replicated in a homemade shake.
The numerical comparison for one serving:
- Lean gainer, 80g — approximately 300 kcal, 45g carbohydrates, 22g protein. One jar, one dose, no preparation.
- Homemade: 50g oat flour + 30g whey concentrate — approximately 300 kcal, 30g carbohydrates, 30g protein. 1:1 ratio, more fiber, and complete control over the ingredients.
For equal calories, the homemade mix is therefore higher in protein, and its price per kilo is almost always lower, especially if you buy oats in bulk. What you're buying with a lean gainer is convenience: one jar, one scoop, a developed flavor, and a texture that mixes well in a shaker without a blender. For a shake on the go, this convenience has real value. For a shake prepared at home, it has much less.
Our in-store position is consistent: if you're a beginner or want something simple, a lean gainer does the job very well. If you're already tracking your macros, buy the ingredients separately.
How to dose a lean gainer without gaining fat?
The basic principle remains unchanged: it's the total caloric surplus that determines the gain, not the product. Commonly used benchmarks are a surplus of 300 to 500 kcal per day, for a progression of about 0.25 to 0.5% of body weight per week.
- Start with a single dose per day, usually after training or as an afternoon snack, during times when appetite is lacking.
- Do not add it just before a meal: it suppresses hunger, and the total for the day does not increase.
- Weigh the powder rather than relying on the scoop. The provided scoops are often larger than imagined.
- Re-evaluate every three weeks based on the average of weigh-ins, never on an isolated figure. If weight climbs too quickly, reduce the dose by half before adjusting anything else.
- Water or milk: with water to stay as close as possible to the stated values, with milk to add 100 to 140 kcal and additional protein.
A point too often overlooked: a lean gainer does not exempt you from eating. On rest days, if you're not hungry, the dose is still useful; on days when you've eaten well, skipping it poses no problem.
What should you not expect from a lean gainer?
"Lean" does not mean that the gain will be exclusively muscle. No formula controls the distribution between muscle and fat: training, protein intake, and the rate of gain do. A lean gainer simply helps maintain a measured surplus.
It's also not a cutting product, despite what the name sometimes suggests. For a caloric deficit, look for whey isolate and the weight loss section.
Regarding tolerance, digestive discomfort most often comes from the lactose in whey concentrate or an overly large dose at once. Fractioning is sufficient in most cases. If you are diabetic or on medication affecting blood sugar, your doctor's advice is a prerequisite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gainer?
A powder that combines carbohydrates and proteins in a single container, designed to provide many calories in liquid form. It is neither a protein, nor a doping product, nor an anabolizing agent: it is a convenient caloric food, most of which consists of sugar or starch. Its only role is to solve an appetite problem — drinking 600 kcal takes five minutes, chewing them takes forty. The word "gainer" comes from the English "to gain": it describes an intention, not a mechanism.
What's the difference between a lean gainer and a mass gainer?
The carbohydrate/protein ratio and the serving sizes. A mass gainer aims for maximum calories per shake, with 4 to 6g of carbohydrates for 1g of protein and doses that can exceed 200g. A lean gainer is between 2:1 and 3:1, in doses of 50 to 100g, with less refined carbohydrates. The latter is better suited for people who gain fat easily, the former for those who cannot eat enough.
What's the difference between whey and gainer?
Whey is a protein — about 80% protein, 110 to 120 kcal per serving. A gainer is a predominantly carbohydrate mix — often only 20 to 30% protein, for 300 to 1,000 kcal per serving. They therefore do not address the same problem: whey makes up for a lack of protein, gainer a lack of calories. If you eat enough but lack protein, take a whey; if your protein needs are met but the scale isn't moving, take a gainer — or simply more rice. Buying a gainer when you lack protein is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category.
Why take a gainer?
For one valid reason: you can't meet your calorie goals through diet, because appetite or time is lacking. A gainer solves a logistics problem, not a genetic one, and it builds nothing on its own — without progressive overload training, a surplus largely turns into fat. If you already eat enough, it's useless; and if you only want a few hundred more kilocalories, rice, nuts, or a spoonful of peanut butter cost much less.
What is the best gainer?
The one you will drink every day for three months: consistency matters more than composition here. That said, four lines of the label distinguish two jars. The carbohydrate/protein ratio, to be chosen according to your profile. The nature of the carbohydrates: oats, barley, or slow starches rather than an entirely maltodextrin and dextrose base. The protein source, an identified whey rather than an unspecified "protein blend." And the price per 1,000 kcal, the only honest comparison between two formats. A sickening gainer that ends up in the cupboard remains the worst purchase, regardless of its technical specifications.
Which gainer for an ectomorph?
A mass gainer rather than a lean gainer, if the word accurately describes your situation: genuine difficulty gaining weight despite complete meals, waist size that doesn't change. In this case, the limiting factor is the amount of calories you can ingest, and a very dense formula solves exactly this problem. An honest clarification, however: "morphotypes" have no established scientific value, and the vast majority of people who call themselves ectomorphs simply eat less than they think — appetite self-regulates without us noticing. Before buying, weigh what you eat for seven days: that's often where the answer lies.
How to use a gainer?
One dose per day to start, diluted in 300 to 500 ml of water or milk, between meals — mid-morning, mid-afternoon, or after your session. Taking it just before a meal suppresses hunger and negates the benefit: you're replacing food with powder instead of adding calories. Weigh the powder rather than relying on the scoop, which is often larger than imagined. Re-evaluate every three weeks based on the average of weigh-ins: if the gain exceeds 0.5% of body weight per week, reduce the dose by half. And keep taking it on rest days, where building continues.
When to take a lean gainer?
After your workout or as a snack, at the time of day when you eat the least. The exact time matters little compared to the daily total.
Does a lean gainer make you gain weight?
It makes you gain weight if, and only if, it creates a caloric surplus over the day. Added to an already sufficient diet, it will cause weight gain; replacing an equivalent snack, it will change nothing.
Can a lean gainer replace a meal?
Occasionally, yes. Routinely, no: a shake provides neither the fiber, nor the micronutrients, nor the satiety of a real meal. It complements the diet, it does not substitute for it.
Lean gainer or whey plus carbohydrates?
The nutritional result is comparable. A lean gainer generally costs a little more per kilo but avoids two containers and separate dosing; a homemade mix is more economical and more flexible.
Does a lean gainer contain creatine?
Some formulas add it, often in amounts below an effective dose. If you want to take it, it is safer and cheaper to dose your creatine monohydrate separately.
Is it suitable for women?
Yes, with no difference in function. Caloric needs are simply lower on average: half a dose is often a good starting point.
What ranges do we offer?
We prioritize formulas that clearly state their ratio and have a short ingredient list, especially from IO Genix, Sinob, ESN, and TrainedByJP. The full range can be found on our mass gain page, and ingredients for mixing your own in the categories oat flour, rice cream, and casein, the latter being useful for a more satiating evening shake.
Looking for advice near Montpellier?
The choice between a lean gainer, a classic gainer, and a custom mix is best made in three minutes of discussion rather than three hours of reading. Visit our store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, with your weekly figures: we will look together at what is truly missing. We also ship throughout France and Europe.
Sources
- ANSES — Opinion on the update of recommended nutritional intakes for carbohydrates
- ANSES — Ciqual table of nutritional composition of foods
To be integrated into a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Questions fréquentes — Lean Gainer
C'est quoi un gainer ?
Une poudre qui associe des glucides et des protéines dans un même pot, conçue pour apporter beaucoup de calories sous forme liquide. Son rôle est de régler un problème d'appétit : boire 600 kcal prend cinq minutes, les mastiquer en prend quarante. Le mot « gainer » vient de l'anglais to gain, prendre.
Quelle différence entre lean gainer et mass gainer ?
Le ratio glucides/protéines et la taille des doses. Le mass gainer vise le maximum de calories par shaker, avec 4 à 6 g de glucides pour 1 g de protéines et des doses pouvant dépasser 200 g. Le lean gainer se situe entre 2:1 et 3:1, en doses de 50 à 100 g, avec des glucides moins raffinés. Le second est plus adapté aux personnes qui prennent du gras facilement, le premier à celles qui n'arrivent pas à manger assez.
Quelle différence entre la whey et le gainer ?
La whey est une protéine — environ 80 % de protéines, 110 à 120 kcal par dose. Un gainer est un mélange majoritairement glucidique — souvent 20 à 30 % de protéines, pour 300 à 1 000 kcal par dose. Ils répondent à deux besoins différents : la whey comble un manque de protéines, le gainer un manque de calories. Si vous mangez assez mais manquez de protéines, prenez une whey ; si vos protéines sont couvertes mais que la balance ne bouge pas, prenez un gainer. Beaucoup de pratiquants ont les deux au placard et alternent selon la période.
Dans quel cas un gainer est-il le bon produit ?
Quand atteindre ses calories par l'alimentation seule est difficile, parce que l'appétit ou le temps manquent : le gainer règle ce point de logistique en un shaker. Il se combine avec l'entraînement en surcharge progressive, qui orientera le surplus vers le muscle. Pour quelques centaines de kilocalories de plus, le riz, les oléagineux ou une cuillère de beurre de cacahuète font aussi le travail, et beaucoup de pratiquants combinent les deux.
Quel est le meilleur gainer ?
Celui que vous boirez tous les jours pendant trois mois : la régularité pèse ici autant que la composition — d'où l'importance du goût. Trois lignes d'étiquette départagent ensuite deux pots. Le ratio glucides/protéines, à choisir selon votre profil. La nature des glucides : avoine, orge ou amidons lents plutôt qu'une base intégralement maltodextrine et dextrose. Et la source de protéines, une whey identifiée plutôt qu'un « mélange de protéines » non détaillé.
Quel gainer pour un ectomorphe ?
Un mass gainer plutôt qu'un lean gainer, si le mot décrit bien votre situation : difficulté réelle à prendre du poids malgré des repas complets, tour de taille qui ne bouge pas. Dans ce cas, le facteur limitant est la quantité de calories que vous arrivez à ingérer, et une formule très dense règle exactement ce problème. Une précision utile : les « morphotypes » n'ont pas de valeur scientifique établie, et l'appétit s'autorégule souvent sans qu'on s'en aperçoive. Pesez ce que vous mangez pendant sept jours : c'est souvent là que se trouve la réponse.
Comment utiliser un gainer ?
Une dose par jour pour commencer, diluée dans 300 à 500 ml d'eau ou de lait, en dehors des repas — milieu de matinée, milieu d'après-midi ou après la séance, de façon à ce qu'il s'ajoute aux repas. Pesez la poudre plutôt que de vous fier à la dosette. Réévaluez toutes les trois semaines sur la moyenne des pesées : si la prise dépasse 0,5 % du poids de corps par semaine, réduisez la dose de moitié. Et gardez-le les jours de repos, où la construction se poursuit.
Quand prendre un lean gainer ?
Après la séance ou en collation, au moment de la journée où vous mangez le moins. L'horaire exact importe peu comparé au total quotidien.
Le lean gainer fait-il grossir ?
Il fait prendre du poids si, et seulement si, il crée un surplus calorique sur la journée. Ajouté à une alimentation déjà suffisante, il fera prendre du poids ; en remplacement d'une collation équivalente, il ne changera rien.
Peut-on remplacer un repas par un lean gainer ?
Ponctuellement, oui, et c'est bien pratique quand le temps manque. En routine, il complète l'alimentation : les fibres, les micronutriments et la satiété d'un vrai repas viennent de l'assiette.
Lean gainer ou whey plus glucides : comment choisir ?
Le résultat nutritionnel est comparable. Le lean gainer évite deux pots et un dosage, le mélange maison est plus modulable : c'est un choix de confort, pas de performance.
Un lean gainer contient-il de la créatine ?
Certaines formules en ajoutent, généralement en quantité d'appoint. Pour une dose complète, ajoutez votre créatine monohydrate au même shaker : c'est la méthode la plus précise.
Convient-il aux femmes ?
Oui, sans aucune différence de fonctionnement. Les besoins caloriques sont simplement plus bas en moyenne : une demi-dose est souvent le bon point de départ.
