Maltodextrin for weight gain/add'l calories

[Miramonti]

I need additional calories for working out (as a result of working out that is) and researched weight gain products. It seems most use maltodextrin for the added calories, a product generally derived from corn.

There are 380 calories per 100g (~1 cup) of maltodextrin, @ roughly 4.5 cups per pound, 1710 calories per pound.

Amazon sells Now Foods Carbo Gain, 100% maltodextrin, 12 pounds for $32.

Has anyone tried buying maltodextrin in bulk? Here it's only $60/50lb, much better than Now Foods' price on amazon.

 

[classy]

In theory calories are calories. I would look toward a protein type powder rather than straight carbs like this. Especially for weight gain. You really wanna add lean muscle and a good solid protein powder will supply better nutrition throughout your workout. It is a complex carb, but I think for weight gain a protein powder will provide a much better calorie.

 

[Miramonti]

In theory calories are calories. I would look toward a protein type powder rather than straight carbs like this. Especially for weight gain. You really wanna add lean muscle and a good solid protein powder will supply better nutrition throughout your workout. It is a complex carb, but I think for weight gain a protein powder will provide a much better calorie.

I use a decent protein supplement each day as well, but all that I've read, you need carbs too (for energy and recovery.) I don't get nearly enough from my current diet tho.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Maltodextrin is just filler calories and are, quite honestly, pretty terrible for you. People specifically use them for their insulin response for things like creatine. Consistent large insulin responses are typically viewed as bad and lead to insulin resistance, which can eventually lead to diabetes. A protein shake with milk+protein power+peanut butter+olive oil will pack a ton of calories and be a lot healthier for you. In addition, it will also provide all basic building blocks for the body (amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates) as opposed to just carbohydrate.

 

[Miramonti]

Maltodextrin is just filler calories and are, quite honestly, pretty terrible for you. People specifically use them for their insulin response for things like creatine. Consistent large insulin responses are typically viewed as bad and lead to insulin resistance, which can eventually lead to diabetes. A protein shake with milk+protein power+peanut butter+olive oil will pack a ton of calories and be a lot healthier for you. In addition, it will also provide all basic building blocks for the body (amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates) as opposed to just carbohydrate.

Sounds like you're suggesting additional calories from fats/oils instead of carbs are the way to go instead...hmmm.

 

[Pantlegz]

In theory calories are calories. I would look toward a protein type powder rather than straight carbs like this. Especially for weight gain. You really wanna add lean muscle and a good solid protein powder will supply better nutrition throughout your workout. It is a complex carb, but I think for weight gain a protein powder will provide a much better calorie.

Actually there is a lot of research that says calories aren't just calories and carbs are better for weight gain that protein, since it is more readily available for the body to use for energy, or store as either muscle or fat. But as SC said Maltodextrin is pretty bad for you when it comes to spiking insulin levels which over time can lead to problems. I make a shake similar to what he suggests and I can easily drink 2000 calories about a minute. You don't have to load up on just fat. I add icecream(yay sugar!) and between .5-1c of oatmeal with fruit in mine so I've got a higher carb:fat ratio.

Complex whole grain carbs are going to be 1000% better for you than anything processed.

 

[Miramonti]

I'm on a pretty restricted diet, avoiding allergens, which unfortunately include dairy and grains, so those are out. Lately I've been trying to eat lots of rice and corn (corn meal). Would those be considered better than maltodextrin for carbs? I'll start adding olive oil and eating more nuts, maybe some peanut butter too.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Sounds like you're suggesting additional calories from fats/oils instead of carbs are the way to go instead...hmmm.

No, I'm saying you need a balanced diet. Get your calories from all three sources - one macronutrient isn't the answer.

 

[Pantlegz]

What do you supplement protein with since you can't have dairy?

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[Miramonti]

What do you supplement protein with since you can't have dairy?

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Good question...I've tried alternatives but can't get away from dairy here. Others don't work well for me, the latest I tried was spirutein. Syntha-6 is the one I currently use, which is dairy-based.

 

[classy]

Actually there is a lot of research that says calories aren't just calories and carbs are better for weight gain that protein, since it is more readily available for the body to use for energy, or store as either muscle or fat. But as SC said Maltodextrin is pretty bad for you when it comes to spiking insulin levels which over time can lead to problems. I make a shake similar to what he suggests and I can easily drink 2000 calories about a minute. You don't have to load up on just fat. I add icecream(yay sugar!) and between .5-1c of oatmeal with fruit in mine so I've got a higher carb:fat ratio.

Complex whole grain carbs are going to be 1000% better for you than anything processed.

Notice I said in theory a calorie is a calorie. The problem is to gain weight you need calories, but to gain lean muscle mass which is what you should strive for, you need a healthier calorie. A scoop of whey is loaded with protein, some carbs, which will break down and feed muscle growth. As challenge also suggested adding some fat will also help and slow down a fast absorbing protein. Bulking up is really very outdated and over a long haul will not produce better results for good weight gain. The kinda carbs he is looking to consume would be great for a marathon or some type of aerobic excercise. But to gain muscular weight IMO I think that would be the wrong approach.

 

[classy]

Good question...I've tried alternatives but can't get away from dairy here. Others don't work well for me, the latest I tried was spirutein. Syntha-6 is the one I currently use, which is dairy-based.

Consume egg or beef. Almond milk is excellent, I use that now myself to mix my protein in.. The sweeten 90 calorie Almond Breeze is pretty good, vanilla. And there a lot of whey proteins that are lactose free or contain low lactose.

 

[Pantlegz]

Good question...I've tried alternatives but can't get away from dairy here. Others don't work well for me, the latest I tried was spirutein. Syntha-6 is the one I currently use, which is dairy-based.

Truenutrition has a few varieties that aren't dairy based.

http://truenutrition.com/p-945-soy-protein-isolate-non-gmo-1lb.aspx?t=n

http://truenutrition.com/p-1115-gemma-pea-protein-isolate-non-gmo-1lb.aspx?t=n

http://truenutrition.com/p-949-hemp-protein-powder-1lb.aspx

I'm sure there are other companies out there too, but it may be something to look into.

 

[Miramonti]

Maltodextrin is just filler calories and are, quite honestly, pretty terrible for you. People specifically use them for their insulin response for things like creatine. Consistent large insulin responses are typically viewed as bad and lead to insulin resistance, which can eventually lead to diabetes. A protein shake with milk+protein power+peanut butter+olive oil will pack a ton of calories and be a lot healthier for you. In addition, it will also provide all basic building blocks for the body (amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates) as opposed to just carbohydrate.

I bought a small amount of Carbo Gain (maltodextrin) locally to use for a post-workout recovery drink ($22 instead of a bulk $60 investment). From what I've read, it's recommended to drink right after working out for replenishing glycogen stores in the muscles (iirc the terminology.) But I appreciate the information on insulin response and associated diabetes issues, and decided not to use it to for general daily calorie increases.

 

[Miramonti]

Consume egg or beef. Almond milk is excellent, I use that now myself to mix my protein in.. The sweeten 90 calorie Almond Breeze is pretty good, vanilla. And there a lot of whey proteins that are lactose free or contain low lactose.

All 3 are allergens - egg, beef, and almonds, lol. Allergens = fatigue to me, altho fortunately no issues with digestion etc. However I've been so starved for extra non-supplement protein lately that I've eaten all 3 because they've been available. I've got to cook more chicken and fish.

Truenutrition has a few varieties that aren't dairy based.

http://truenutrition.com/p-945-soy-protein-isolate-non-gmo-1lb.aspx?t=n

http://truenutrition.com/p-1115-gemma-pea-protein-isolate-non-gmo-1lb.aspx?t=n

http://truenutrition.com/p-949-hemp-protein-powder-1lb.aspx

I'm sure there are other companies out there too, but it may be something to look into.

Thanks much for the links, I never heard of this shop before. They are reasonably priced so I'm going to give vegan proteins another shot. Looks like maltodextrin is cheaper than I paid locally too, ~2/lb. I would really like to stop whey and casein etc., but muscles have been too sore with vegan proteins. I'm going to go with a blend, and maybe protease added with hopes it will digest/absorb them more efficiently (perhaps a waste of money...:hmm Proteins like rice hemp apparently take longer to break down.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I bought a small amount of Carbo Gain (maltodextrin) locally to use for a post-workout recovery drink ($22 instead of a bulk $60 investment). From what I've read, it's recommended to drink right after working out for replenishing glycogen stores in the muscles (iirc the terminology.) But I appreciate the information on insulin response and associated diabetes issues, and decided not to use it to for general daily calorie increases.

Unless you're going to be completing rigorous endurance exercise, you don't have to worry about your glycogen stores at all. They'll be restored via your typical diet. If you're mainly lifting, you use very little carbohydrate and really don't use more glycogen than if you didn't exercise at all. It's not a great product unless you're a serious endurance athlete.

 

[destrekor]

Notice I said in theory a calorie is a calorie. The problem is to gain weight you need calories, but to gain lean muscle mass which is what you should strive for, you need a healthier calorie. A scoop of whey is loaded with protein, some carbs, which will break down and feed muscle growth. As challenge also suggested adding some fat will also help and slow down a fast absorbing protein. Bulking up is really very outdated and over a long haul will not produce better results for good weight gain. The kinda carbs he is looking to consume would be great for a marathon or some type of aerobic excercise. But to gain muscular weight IMO I think that would be the wrong approach.

It isn't out-dated so much, but has been changed.

For recovery after anaerobic exercise, carbs do serve a purpose. But limited, and your physique and how damage you did will play a factor. If a body builder and looking to pack on muscle, carbs are necessary as they'll provide the fuel the body needs to get things done. But what actually gets done is entirely related to proteins and fats. Proteins, well, for obvious reasons, and fats because quality unsaturated fats are used in various ways, like cellular construction or are broken down for various important tasks in the body (hormones and other chemicals, for example).

 

[Miramonti]

Workouts the last few days seem to have been significantly improved taking maltodextrin after finishing compared to last week w/o taking any. In this, the 2nd week of p90x, I could complete most sets, without pain and without soreness the next day.

Last week (the program's first week), workouts were some of the hardest most painful things I've ever done. Warming up was even painful.

Not to say I had enough strength/endurance to accomplish as many reps as I want to, but was much improved over the same workouts a week ago and could slowly push thru the last couple reps sometimes.

It's a combination of a week of strengthening, but also much better post-workout recovery management imo.