What many people don’t know is that Optimum Nutrition is actually owned by Glanbia, one of the leading whey manufacturers. What this means is that you can be assured that all products from Optimum contain some of the world’s highest quality ingredients. This is no exception with Optimum’s most hardcore weight gainer protein, Serious Mass.
What is it?
Serious Mass may not be one of the newest weight gain products on the market, but it is one of the most…serious. Containing a whopping 1250 calories per serve, Serious Mass is designed for the hardest of gainers, or people who really struggle to meet their daily calorie and/or protein requirements.
First Impressions
It would not do Serious Mass justice to refer to it as a mere protein powder, because it provides so much more than just protein. Considering that a meal for the average person is around 600 calories, the 1250 calories provided by one serve of Serious Mass is truly serious. If you think this isn’t enough, you can boost it by making the shake up with low fat milk, taking the total to a staggering 1640 calories. Each serve provides a generous serve of 50 g protein, which consists of blend of whey protein concentrates, calcium caseinate, egg albumen, and sweet dairy whey. This provides a moderate to slow release of proteins ideal for sustaining muscle growth over a long period of time. Being such a serious weight gainer, Serious Mass has a large carb component. In each serve, you get 252 g of carbs from maltodextrin. It’s good to see that only a very small fraction (20g) is from sugar. On top of all this, there is a very comprehensive spectrum of added vitamins, minerals, and even creatine.
Difference from the Competition
To this writer’s knowledge, Serious Mass is probably the weight gainer protein that contains the most number of calories per serve. Also notable is its relatively high carb content. It’s carb to protein ratio is 5:1, which is very high compared to similar products. The benefit of this ratio, is that it makes Serious Mass extremely effective as a weight gainer for those who really struggle to put on weight.
Of Particular Interest
Other than the huge number of calories provided by Serious Mass, it also contains a truly impressive and comprehensive nutritional profile. Containing over 25 vitamins and minerals, creatine, glutamine, glutamine peptides, choline, inositol, and medium chain triglycerides (MCT), Serious Mass really does contain pretty much everything you need for large gains.
Flavour & Mixability
Despite the large number of calories provided by Serious Mass, it still mixes effortlessly into a smooth shake. However, because of the large volume, it is recommended that a blender be used for best results. The flavour is good and characteristic of Optimum Nutrition’s quality, with no lingering after tastes or unpleasant flavours. My personal favourite for this product is chocolate.
Negatives
One thing that could be improved with Serious Mass is that instead of using maltodextrin, waxy maize starch would have been a superior source of carbs. Additionally, fat content of Serious Mass is relatively low. Considering the purpose of this product, the addition of some more fat, preferably from an unsaturated source would be highly beneficial. This would have the dual purpose of providing additional high density calories as well as essential fatty acids.
Who is it for?
Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass is perfect for the typical hardgainer or ectomorph looking to put on some weight. The high carb content of this is very beneficial for these individuals, though it makes this product less suitable for those who are more prone to putting on fat. Additionally, Serious Mass would also be suitable for those who are frequently on the road, and are after a good meal replacement.
