GNC AMP Wheybolic

Let’s be honest. Some protein powders and supplements are gross. There are some pre-mixed beverages that are nasty, some powders that have more carbohydrates than they do actual protein, and even a few products out there are completely inedible for most of us.

Others, however, have a decent set of ingredients, a good consistency, and might even taste OK. This GNC AMP Wheybolic review talks about whether the line falls into the former or latter category.

Wheybolic has a good set of ingredients, a decent consistency, and even a few unicorn flavor profiles, all aimed at helping you with muscle growth.

The Wheybolic line is a good middle of the road protein, but it does have a few negatives.

Key Ingredients

This is what the label looked like in today, August 2023. That isn’t to say they won’t change it tomorrow.

The 20 grams of protein per scoop is about on par with other brands and products provide.

Nothing extraordinary on the label, but the lineup does seem to make more sense than a few other brands do with their own proprietary mixtures.

An older label showed that there are a decent amount of BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) in the formula but has since been replaced with the current label. According to the older label, they somewhat followed the 2:1:1 rule in terms of leucine, isoleucine, and valine which is great when you consider how each of them work and take into consideration limiting factors and what not. The newer label only shows Leucine.

The chromium is also a nice add, as chromium helps the body to better absorb glucose, instead of having it recirculate back to the liver for eventual conversion to fatty tissue. Considering that the recommended intake is somewhere around 130mcg or so for the average (read: sedentary) person, this is nice to see from an active standpoint as our needs are higher.

Otherwise, some of the other things in there are pretty standard (potassium, calcium). There is also the proprietary blend area listing Velositol (whatever that is) and an enzyme blend.

Quality of the Flavor and Texture

I have had some pretty gritty powders before, even when shaken well. Others have a horribly fake flavor that makes you grit your teeth and choke it down, hoping you finish the tub quickly. The faster you can get away from those the better!

Some are incredibly thick, while other powders are actually quite pleasant all around in the texture and flavor categories.

Wheybolic generally falls somewhere in the middle of the line. It isn’t incredibly smooth but it isn’t sand like some very cheap powders are.

Flavor

Every protein manufacturer has their good and bad flavors. When it comes to the GNC Wheybolic line, GNC either nailed it or butchered the flavor terribly. There is no in between with this line. The Salted Caramel is fantastic. In fact, compared to some other protein powder lines (i.e. Muscle Pharm Combat Powder), I believe that the Salted Caramel flavor is light years ahead.

A few others are fantastic as well (Chocolate Fudge, Cookies and Cream, looking at you).

They even have had some Girl Scout flavors for awhile now. Thin mint is pretty good, if that is your thing.

Their ‘natural’ flavors, however, are not so good. There is nothing ‘natural’ about those flavors. They taste incredibly fake with a long, drawn out artificial sweetener aftertaste.

Other flavors, such as ‘Fruity Crisps’ and ‘Banana Milkshake’ lie outside of anything I am willing to try. Memories of other powders fly at me when I think about them and I can’t force myself to even consider trying them. Might not be fair to this particular manufacturer, but it shows how scarred I am from that single tub from one of their competitors! Nonetheless, it shows how broad this lines flavor profiles go.

Texture

Texture wise, GNC is a good middle of the road protein. Add the recommended amount of water or milk to the powder and shake. Wheybolic is generally smooth and goes down pretty easy. The last time they did change their formula they made it slightly less smooth than it used to be, but it is still comparatively good, texture wise.

I like to mix it with water and it still maintains the consistency of whole milk. Nothing more, nothing less. When mixed with milk, it is about the same as a mostly melted milkshake. Grittiness is almost none existent when mixed with milk as long as I shake it well. Since it mixes easily, it is very rare to find powder balls or clumps in my shaker bottle.

Benefits

Wheybolic has actually given me some fairly decent overall gain in terms of lean mass, and some reductions in fatty tissue which is an effect of higher protein intake stacked alongside a good diet and proper nutrition.

Additionally, since the supplement is very low on carbohydrates and fats, it is easy to fit a shake in without crushing macros or using up too many calories. The (comparatively) low calorie count is nice too, if you are really tracking hard.

Cost

Today (August 2023), GNC AMP Wheybolic can be bought online or in store for $69.99 per 3.39lb tub ($62.99 if you are a member and subscribe to regular orders), which is a bit pricey compared to some of the other GNC proteins. Of course, this is supposed to be their upper line so that is expected. There are also other tub sizes and varieties available. Wheybolic Ripped is $5 more for .4lbs less, for example.

The quality is generally there, but the price is a bit higher than it honestly should be for what you get in my opinion. You are, after all, paying for the brand when it comes to most supplements and GNC is brick and mortar. Makes sense they have to include costs for having actual stores and supplements are almost always highly priced.

Other outlets like bodybuilding.com (don’t purchase from there, BTW. I’ve seen their internal mindset based on replies to customers on social media) have proteins available across the board for cost, including similarly or more expensive without having any actual stores. So that is a plus for GNC in my opinion.

Complaints

My biggest problem with this product line lies with the flavors. Some are absolutely terrible. ‘Natural’ chocolate, for example, tastes nothing like what I would expect anything ‘natural’ to taste like.

Additionally, the price per tub is pretty high. There are comparable products out there for cheaper.

Finally, the incredibly low carbohydrate count does come with some drawbacks in terms of glucose replenishment after a workout. This is not a post workout shake that will necessarily shorten recovery time as extra carbs would kick start that process. What it will do is get you to your protein intake requirements, and it does that well. I do wish they included more carbohydrates into the blend for that reason.

Final Thoughts

Overall the quality of the GNC AMP Wheybolic line is pretty good, the flavor profiles aren’t terrible, and the consistency isn’t too thick. The line is generally clear of extra additions, keeping the overall fat and carbohydrate counts per scoop low. First glance through continued usage put the product squarely in the middle-upper side of the road. It isn’t perfect, but it’s better than a lot of other protein products.

Is it a miracle product? Not anymore than any other protein/supplement you can buy, but it will definitely help you get where you are going. I would at least recommend trying this product if you are looking for a good whey protein supplement to help build muscle and perhaps even lose some weight.

…Side Note: Alternative Product To Check Out…

If you aren’t quite sold on Wheybolic, I would definitely encourage you to check out the 1st Phorm Level-1 protein and compare the two. In my opinion, the 1P protein is much, much higher quality but you are going to pay a bit more for it.

It is low-temperature processed, which means that the grittiness you find with lower quality powders is completely gone.

Additionally, it is some of the absolutely best tasting protein I have ever had. Where GNC shines with the more traditional flavors, 1st Phorm nails the more exotic flavors like Pumpkin Spice, Peppermint Bark, and Cinnamon Cookie Batter. It is also 50 calories more, but you also get 4 more grams of protein per scoop alongside 5 more grams of carbohydrates. That’s a good tradeoff in my opinion.

	Wheybolic	Level-1
Calories	200	140
Protein per Serving	40 (two scoops)	24 (one scoop)
Cost	$69.99 (25 servings)	$54.99 (30 servings)

Truth be told, the 1st Phorm protein is noticeably higher quality and has an easier to access customer service department (with a 110% money-back guarantee!). However, between GNC Wheybolic and 1st Phorm Level-1, you have two products to choose from that will get you where you want to go .

You just need to decide if you want to pick up a tub today, or have it shipped to you. GNC can get it to you same day, while 1st Phorm will ship it (can’t be bought in stores).

If you want to read my review on Level-1 and how they compare, click here:

Let Us help You Out

At CONDITIONerd we are here to help you achieve better physical and mental health through exercise. Check out the plans we offer to our customers and see if you could benefit from working with our team. And if you have questions, you can always contact a CONDITIONerd team member. 

Personal trainers, like those found here, can help guide you on your pathway towards reaching your fitness goals, whether that is getting bigger, stronger, faster, more lean, or just generally feeling better.

We can get you setup with a periodized workout plan, supplement information, and advice on nutrition to help you reach your goals.

The only thing you need is some motivation and a willingness to change some old habits.

Get into contact with us to find out what membership is right for you. In a CONDITIONerd program, you’ll be surrounded by others who can help you to get where you want to be.

Generally, our clients start to see some pretty awesome changes in 2-3 months time, some sooner.