My 3 Recommended Post Workout Supplements for Mass Gains
If you want to get the most muscle gains out of your workouts, you must give your body what it needs to recover and grow.
In this post, I’m going to give you my 3 best post-workout supplements for mass.
You’ll also learn why these supplements work so well for mass gains, and you’ll find that this will fit most any budget.
Post Workout Supplements for Mass Gains
I’m going to share some individual products and brands that I feel work best for post-workout. But more importantly, let’s talk about the types of supplements you need for mass gains.
The 3 best post-workout supplements for extreme mass gains are:
- BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids)
- Creatine monohydrate
- Carb supplement
These 3 post-workout supplements all complement one another. You have the carbohydrates that will help the creatine absorb better. And the BCAAs will also work in conjunction to prevent the breakdown of protein (and increase protein synthesis, which is needed post-workout).
Now keep in mind this doesn’t replace your post-workout meal. You’ll still need that in addition.
These supplements are just to kick-start the recovery process so you can essentially grow, faster. I’ll give you my entire post-workout supplement and meal program towards the end of this post.
When Exactly is Post Workout?
These are supplements you want to take immediately after your workout.
You can actually start sipping on this post-workout cocktail before you finish your workout, such as during your last exercise or two.
Or do what I do…I walk for 20-30 minutes after weight training and drink my post-workout supplement cocktail during that time.
Recommended Post Workout Supplements (and Brands)
Now let’s get into the recommended post-workout supplements and brands. Keep in mind that this is based on my personal experience. But I think the post-workout stack can work for almost anyone. Especially if you’re a hardgainer.
I’ll also go into detail about why each post-workout supplement below is important for helping you pack on more muscle mass.
There are also links to purchase these supplements from Amazon. And yes, I do get rewarded if you buy through my links below. So I you decide to do that, I appreciate you supporting my site! Thank you!
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate
The most effective post-workout supplement you can take for mass gains is creatine monohydrate. That’s why it’s listed first, as #1. And it’s also the cheapest supplement you can buy that actually works!
I recommend Optimum Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate. For starters, Optimum Nutrition is a reputable and trusted brand. More importantly, their creatine monohydrate doesn’t give me any stomach issues as some other brands have. So it’s ‘Jason Approved!’
Scivation Xtend
BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) should be part of every post-workout supplement stack, in my opinion. And it doesn’t matter if you’re goal is to gain mass or get lean.
BCAAs will help you recover faster, and can also provide muscle energy during workouts (I’ll talk more about this below).
Scivation Xtend has been my top go-to BCAA supplement for many years now. I’ve tried other products here and there, but I’ve always reverted back to Xtend simply because I’ve seen better results with Xtend.
Gaspari Nutrition GlycoFuse
Taking carbohydrates with your other post-workout supplements is optional, and that’s why this is last on my list. But if you can fit this in your budget, I think you’ll find it to be effective.
Gaspari Nutrition GlycoFuse consists of a type of carbs called dextrin. Dextrin is treated differently by your body than other types of carbs. In short, this means you get the benefits of carbs without the negative side effects.
And taking a carb source like GlycoFuse will help the uptake and absorption of the other supplements, especially the creatine monohydrate.
Video Version: 3 Best Supplements for Mass Gains
How to Take Post Workout Supplements (and Dose)
I’d like to now share the details of this post-workout supplement stack for mass gains. You’ll get the details of my timing and amounts (dose) of each supplement.
Again, I’ve tested this a few different ways, so I’m sharing what has worked best for me. Feel free to experiment with the timing and dose (though as a disclaimer, I must recommend that you follow the label for each product).
Timing and Amounts
Optimum Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate
I actually prefer to take creatine monohydrate before and after workouts.
You can play around with the dose here, but the serving size is 5 grams. I personally take a little more than that (as in rounded scoops!).
- Timing: Pre-workout mixed with protein or a pre-workout supplement, and immediate post-workout mixed with Xtend and GlycoFuse
- Amounts: 5 grams pre workout, 7-10 grams post workout
Scivation Xtend
Sometimes I’ll take 2 servings of Xtend – one pre-workout, and one immediate post-workout.
The label advises to also take a serving in during your workout, which is optional.
- Timing: Pre-workout mixed with creatine monohydrate and/or a pre-workout supplement, and immediate post-workout mixed with ON Creatine and GlycoFuse
- Amounts: 1 serving pre-workout, 1 – 1.5 servings post-workout
Gaspari Nutrition GlycoFuse
I ran a test doing 1 full serving versus 1/2 serving of GlycoFuse, and I did not see or experience any differences.
So I stuck with just 1/2 serving, which made the product last longer…it’s not cheap!
Experiment, and see what works best for you.
- Timing: Immediate post-workout mixed with ON Creatine Monohydrate and Scivation Xtend
- Amounts: 1/2 serving
Order of Importance Based on Your Supplement Budget
I covered this above when I listed my recommended post-workout supplement brands for mass gains. But I’d like to reiterate, and also some other options if your budget is tight.
- Creatine Monohydrate: Most anyone can afford creatine, and it’s truly the most effective post-workout supplement you can take for mass gains
- BCAAs: I’m personally a big fan of BCAAs, and of course specifically Xtend. Taking BCAAs is the best thing you can do to help your muscles recover, and recovery is needed for mass gains. It’s that simple.
- Carbs: Although very effective, GlycoFuse (and similar products) can be expensive. So if you were to skip something in this stack, this can be it.
TIP: You could also drink something like Gatorade for a carb source. It’s much cheaper, but it also has a lot of sugar. So just be aware of that. I’ve tried this and personally prefer GlycoFuse.
How to Mix Your Supplements
One question I’m often asked is:
‘Do you take all of these supplements to the gym with you?’
No, I don’t. Here’s what I do (and what you can do):
- 1Pour a serving of each into a small plastic container and put it in my gym bag
- 2After my weight training workout, I dump the contents into one of my many shaker cups (I’m sure you have a ton of these as well!)
- 3Then I fill it halfway full with water and shake it up
- 4Sip during my cardio session (or if I’m not doing cardio that day, I’ll do all of this before my final exercise)
For the most part, it’s inexpensive but very effective. And the only other supplements you’d really need are protein powder, vitamins, and maybe something for pre-workout energy.
I can say that my muscles look much fuller when I’m taking these 3 post-workout supplements for mass. And you’re not bloated or holding water with this stack. So it’s not that ‘fictitious’ mass to where you look big, but you’re really just retaining fluid!
Optional Mass Builder
If you want to take things to the next level (and fit it into your monthly supplement budget) you should consider taking some to help boost testosterone.
This will help you pack on more mass by ensuring your testosterone is elevated (and other hormones are balanced, like estrogen).
You can learn more about my recommended testosterone booster here: Jason’s #1 Test Booster for Mass Gains.
More Mass Building Tips
Lastly, I want you all to understand that supplements should not take precedence over your workouts and what you eat.
In fact, if you’re not consistent, I advise you to NOT take any supplements. You’re just gonna waste money and blame your no-results on the supplements.
On that note, here are some mass building tips that you should consider before taking any post-workout supplements:
- Make sure you’re eating enough quality calories! I can’t stress this enough. Read my post: EAT BIG TO GAIN MUSCLE: My Personal Story as a Hardgainer
- Be consistent with your workouts. Train heavy, train hard, and don’t skip leg day! For bodybuilding workouts, check out my post: 9 Bodybuilding Workouts for Mass Gains
- Have the right mindset, be patient, and never give up! Your gains will come in incremental phases, so embrace each phase!
I hope you enjoyed reading about my 3 best post-workout supplements for mass.
Now go hit the gym and pack on some mass!
Train with Passion,
Jason
