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GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 Review 2022 – Pros, Cons, Pricing, and Alternatives
Best for: High-Intensity and Endurance Training
Overall rating
[rating stars=”3.6″]
The GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 mass gainer packs 1340 calories in a single serving. When paired with proper diet and exercise, it’ll surely help you put on body mass.
Each serving contains 50 grams of slow to fast-digesting proteins, 277 grams of high-GI carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fat.
Plus, it has naturally occurring BCAAs, creatine, and the amino acid glutamine that aid muscle recovery and growth.
We’ll go over the most important factors in-depth later in this article. But first, here’s the GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 at a glance:
Nutrition profile | Protein content | Flavor | Pricing |
[rating stars=”2.5″] | [rating stars=”4.0″] | [rating stars=”4.0″] | [rating stars=”4.0″] |
WHAT WE LIKE + | WHAT WE DON’T LIKE – |
---|---|
✅ Good protein content and blend | ❌ High-GI carbohydrates |
✅ Great flavor | ❌ A whopping amount of carbs |
✅ Comparatively cheap | ❌ No healthy fats |
In this post, I will be reviewing the GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 mass gainer.
We’ll be going in-depth and reviewing this supplement’s features. Specifically, we will be looking at the following:
- Macronutrient sources
- Protein content
- Features such as BCAAs, creatine, and vitamins and minerals
- Flavor
- Pricing
So, be sure to read until the end of this article to know all the details. That way you can decide if this product is the right mass gainer for you.
Product Overview
Before we dive deep, let me share with you some important information about Bulk 1340.
From the name itself, a serving of this mass gainer gives you 1340 calories. These calories come from 277 grams of carbohydrates, 50 grams of protein, and 3.5 grams of fat.
This mass gainer has 11g of BCAAs, 1g of creatine, and 10g of the amino acid glutamine. It is also added with vitamins and minerals to bolster its effects as a health supplement.
I am no stranger to using mass gainers, having been a skinny teen, I needed these supplements to gain the muscle mass that I have now.
I remember buying this GNC mass gainer because it was on sale. And, since I was on a bulk, I decided to give it a try. After a month, I gained some pounds from it. Although, I always felt sleepy and lethargic after consuming my Bulk 1340 drink.
The first one I got was the vanilla-flavored powder. So, for my next tub, I bought the chocolate one. One thing about this is that it tastes good and mixes easily. And like before, I was able to gain decent mass from using it.
I always wondered if the sleepiness was from not training hard enough, hence, I was unable to burn all the 277 grams of simple carbohydrates. Or, maybe I was actually overtraining which made me drowsy. What do you think?
If you are:
- A high-intensity athlete, an endurance athlete, or on a dirty bulk
- A true hard gainer that burns through calories like they’re nothing
- Someone who can tolerate almost 300g of carbs in a single serving
Then you should keep on reading.
However, if you are none of the above, I recommend that you opt for something “cleaner” like the Rivalus Clean Gainer or perhaps a healthier and vegan choice like the IronVegan Athlete’s Gainer.
Nutrition Profile
This GNC mass gainer contains a hefty 1340 calories from a single serving. Those energy units come from its 227g of carbs, 50g of protein, and 3g of fats.
The Good
Consuming more calories than you burn is essential for weight gain. And, with four heaping scoops of this, you are sure to reach a caloric surplus, given that you have a good diet plan already in place.
Also, you get 50 grams of muscle-building protein. So, if you work out, then these muscle-repair compounds will help you not just gain weight but, specifically, gain muscle.
If you are a true hard-gainer, then its calories along with its high protein content are sure to help you pack on some size.
This many calories from carbs are okay when taken pre or post-workout IF you train with high-intensity and high-volume for a longer stretch of time.
You can also take this before and after a marathon, biking cross country, or any other long endurance event that depletes your muscles of carb-derived glycogen.
The Bad and the Ugly
The carb source, according to its ingredient list, is purely from maltodextrin. This is a simple carbohydrate that is digested like sugar, so it will increase blood glucose levels sharply, which, to me, is a problem.
Heck, it’s a problem for everybody unless you’re a 6’8”, 350-pound man named Hafthor Bjornsson
If you happen to be diabetic or are already registering high blood sugar levels, stay away from this product. Even if you split the serving size in half, the carbs are just too high considering they are purely high-GI carbs.
Verdict
The only time I would recommend this product is when used before a long, high-intensity training session or for endurance training. Other than that, I don’t see how 277 grams of carbs in one serving can be healthy. While I like the protein content, the protein source, and the added vitamins and minerals, the high-GI carb source cannot be overlooked. |
Protein Content
The Bulk 1340 is packed with 50 grams of protein per single-serve. This is an optimal amount for any fitness goal you have, regardless of how you exercise.
It has great protein sources too, namely whey concentrate and isolate, calcium caseinate, milk isolate, and egg albumen. This gives you both fast and slow-absorbing amino acid sources for optimal muscle repair.
The BCAAs and amino acid glutamine are naturally occurring, meaning they are not added to this product. Rather, they are already present in the powder. So, it really isn’t a selling point per se.
Verdict
The protein content, being a blend of fast and slow-digesting ones, is a great feature. I just wish companies do not mention that their products have an X amount of BCAAs or X amount of creatine when they are not additives or are not present in an effective dose. |
Flavor
This is probably the best feature of this mass gainer if you don’t look at it as a whole.
Personally, I have only tried the vanilla and cookies and cream flavors. But, most reviews on the other flavors give them a thumbs up.
As far as mixability and texture is concerned, they also get a thumbs up. But, I suggest you add more water than indicated on the label unless you want to drink something closer to a pudding than a drink.
So, if you have a hard time drinking shakes because they are chalky or taste metallic, this mass gainer can be a good pick for you.
Verdict
If you are looking to pack on weight quickly and would rather drink your calories as opposed to shoveling them down your throat, this GNC mass gainer will be a good choice. It tastes and mixes so well that you won’t even notice drinking 1340 calories from 360g of powder mixed with water. |
Pricing
Another selling point of this GNC bulking supplement is the price. This is the feature that had me sold when I first tried this product.
You get 9 servings from their 7.5-pound $35 tub. This puts each serving at about $4 each. With the number of calories and macros that it packs, this mass gainer gives you nutrients that are worth the money.
Verdict
The GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 offers good value for your money. It is one of the cheaper choices out there. So, if you are a bit tight on your budget and are looking for a mass gainer that can get the weight-gaining job done, then you can opt for this one. |
Check Out My Results From Using “GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340”
Although it is a comparatively cheap mass gainer, when I used this product, it did help me gain some weight. I can’t be sure if what I gained was muscle or fat but what I am sure of is that it did help me bulk up.
Starting out as a scrawny aspiring bodybuilder, I did the best I could to gain size. And, no doubt this supplement was part of that for a good 2-3 tubs.
Let’s have a look at some Amazon reviews to gain some other user insights besides mine:
“It helps you bulk up so quickly! I used this and after a month went from 166 to 185. I did two drinks a day, one right after my workout and one right before I went to sleep. The flavor cookies and cream is without a doubt my favorite. Very good mixed with peanut butter.”
“Read the ingredients. Junk that is not needed for a bulk protein. Returned without opening.”
“My son is a high school football and basketball player. It is so hard to find protein shakes he will actually drink. He just adds strawberry yogurt, whole milk, and berries to this and it is amazing. YES, I actually tried it too and was wowed by it. If I wanted to gain weight I would drink this too. Lol. Definitely, the best protein powder to make into shakes!!”
Is the GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 right for you?
Now that I’ve covered the essential details of GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 and discussed the good and the bad of it, let’s shift our focus on YOU.
Like with every supplement, the GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 won’t be the right pick for everybody. So, let’s clear things up and find out exactly who this mass gainer is best suited for.
For high-intensity and endurance athletes:
Given how high the carbohydrate content of this mass gainer is, this is most suitable for people who can use them up and burn them.
And, demanding workouts such as legit CrossFit, Strongman training, cycling, and long-distance running necessitate carb amounts that high to be taken pre-workout.
If you cannot use them, chances are you’d suffer from chronic lethargy and sleepiness from the resulting insulin crash, and for worse, those symptoms come in an untimely manner like while at work or while driving home.
Carbs are converted into glycogen that is stored in the muscles and in the liver as an immediate energy source. When not burned, they will be stored as unwanted fat, hampering your physique progress.
For the true hard-gainer with an extremely fast metabolism:
It is not common for people to need 277g of carbs or 1340 calories in a single serving every day. For the most part, it is only legitimate hard gainers that need them.
So, if you are one of those ectomorphic individuals that can’t catch a break in the gains department, the Bulk 1340 can help you.
Just remember that this will only work with a sound nutrition regimen. You should use this to increase your daily caloric intake and not as your main source of daily calories.
Alternatives
For leaner total calories from clean sources, you can try the Rivalus Clean Gainer. It contains only 560 calories per serving. Its 30g of protein, 90g of carbs, and 7g of fats are all sourced from clean, healthy, and high-quality sources.
Final Thoughts
Maybe it’s just me, or maybe it’s the science, but 277 grams of simple high-GI carbs is too much for one serving when taken every day.
If that amount of carbs won’t make you unhealthy, the constant sharp spikes in blood glucose will. Studies show that chronic high elevations of blood glucose can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.
Moving away from the possible grim effects, if you truly need this much carbs in your diet, then this is a viable option. The blend of carbs and muscle-building protein will help you build and put on serious size. But, I suggest you consult with an expert first.
So, now it’s up to you. Make a serious assessment of where you are physique-wise and keep in mind your overall health in the process.
FAQs
Does Bulk 1340 help you gain weight?
Yes, it is a mass gainer. This means it is a fitness supplement designed specifically to help you gain weight by augmenting your caloric intake.
Do you take the Bulk 1340 before or after a workout?
I strongly advise that you take it before a workout. This way, you can use up the carbohydrates and avoid them being stored as fat or from causing an insulin dump.
How many scoops of Bulk 1340 should I use?
The recommended dosage of the Bulk 1340 is 4 heaping scoops or 360g of powder per serving.
What does GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 do?
This mass gainer helps you go over your maintenance calories in order for you to gain weight. It provides you a quick and easy way of consuming 1340 calories.
How do I take the GNC Bulk 1340?
Mix 4 heaping scoops of the GNC Bulk 1340 with 16 ounces or more of water.
Is the GNC Pro Performance Bulk 1340 safe?
It is safe to use this mass gainer as long as you do not have existing blood sugar problems or diabetes.