MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer

MusclePharm’s latest Black Label series has been officially released, and the supplement community is raving about MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer.

I took a quick look at everything there is to know about this mass gainer, and here’s what I found. See if Combat Black Weight Gainer is worth checking out or if its just an overpriced weight gainer.

What’s Under the Lid

Like any mass gainer, MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer packs 1,100 calories per serving. For those that are looking to just add a bunch of calories to their diet, MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer has that going for it already.

Additionally, there are 150 g of carbohydrates in each serving of Combat Powder Weight Gainer. The source of these carbohydrates is maltodextrin. Maltodextrin is a quickly digested carbohydrate that is able to provide the body with sufficient amount of energy to improve workout performance. ^[1]

Eight scoops (1 serving) of Combat Black Weight Gainer include 55 g of protein, derived from whey concentrate and isolate. Whey protein improves lean muscle mass ^[2] and has been shown to enhance protein synthesis when supplemented with for an extended period of time. ^[3]

However, whey protein concentrate may give some people digestive discomfort as it contains more lactose than whey isolate.

An additional 2 g of creatine monohydrate is included in Combat Black Weight Gainer to optimize ATP regeneration for improved energy, which is especially beneficial during resistance exercise. ^[4]

How Should You Use Combat Black Weight Gainer?

MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer should be used for those looking to pack on some mass. Keep in mind, if you are just looking for a standard, high-protein powder, Combat Black Weight Gainer isn’t for you, as it is packed with carbs and calories.

Depending on your needs, you should mix 8 scoops (1 serving) in 12-16 ounces of skim/low fat milk or water, about 1-3 times per day. Like most mass gainers, each serving is packed with a bunch of powder. You may want to invest in a decent shaker cup so that you can mix Combat Black Weight Gainer well.

I mixed one serving with 14 ounces of water in a shaker cup. I wasn’t able to eliminate the settling and clumps completely. I also had to shake the bottle before every time I took a sip.

Overall, the vanilla flavor was just ok. It wasn’t anything special, it wasn’t gross, and it wasn’t amazing. If you like vanilla-flavored supplements, you’ll most likely enjoy this flavor.

Pricing and Availability

Each bottle provides only 8 servings and costs $63. Each serving essentially costs about $7.88. Also, as of right now, MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer is exclusively available at GNC.com.

Overall, MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer definitely provides a sufficient amount of protein, calories, and carbohydrates per serving. The big hang up is the price. If you are willing to look past the price, and if you aren’t sensitive to lactose, MusclePharm Combat Black Weight Gainer is definitely worth looking in to.

References

[1] Horton TJ, et al. “Fat and carbohydrate and overfeeding in humans: different effects on energy storage.” Am J Clin Nutr. 1995 Jul;62(1):19-29. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7598063

[2] Joy L Frestedt, et al. “A whey-protein supplement increases fat loss and spares lean muscle in obese subjects: a randomized human clinical study.” Nutr Metab (Lond). 2008; 5:8. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2289832/

[3] Tipton KD, et al. “Ingestion of casein and whey proteins result in muscle anabolism after resistance exercise.” Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Dec;36(12):2073-81. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15570142

[4] Creatine Monohydrate. WebMD. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-873-creatine.aspx?activeingredientid=873&activeingredientname=creatine