Thank you, GNC for sending me the newest products: GNC PurEdge to try.
GNC created a new product called PurEdge. What is GNC PurEdge? It is a high protein supplement. GNC PurEdge comes in the form of protein powder, amino acid powder, daily energy performance enhancer, and protein bars.
As you can see, GNC PurEdge is very protein orientated. As a distance runner, I am using the protein after I run. I waited until I tried everything from GNC PurEdge a few times before actually posting about it.
GNC PurEdge Protein Powder:
They sent me natural chocolate protein powder. The GNC Puredge protein powder has 190 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 20 grams of protein. I have been looking for a protein powder for a while (I never found one that I fell in love with. This one is pretty good. It doesn’t taste chalky and it mixes well. I added GNC PurEdge protein to yogurt, made a smoothie with milk (on the one day in the last 2 weeks it’s been warm) and also made a recipe with it.
Apart from the most known protein powder they sent me they sent:
GNC PurEdge Bars: 2
GNC PurEdge Peanut butter cookie and banana nut muffin.
I enjoyed both of the GNC PurEdge products at work. As I’ve mentioned, I’m working in retail in the Holiday season…this means we are on the go for work the entire time. We don’t have time to stand around and eat. The bar kept me from not being starving for a few hours and took minimum effort to eat. The flavor of the GNC PurEdge bars are also good and it didn’t taste like I was eating cardboard or flavored crap. Plus the nutrition profile of the GNC PurEdge bars is good with 200 calories and 15-20 grams of protein.
I plan to buy more of these GNC PurEdge bars for work. I was really impressed with the actual chunks of chocolate in the peanut butter cookie bar. I would recommend GNC PurEdge (right now) over any other bar I’ve tried.
GNC PurEdge Complete Amino Acids:
I’ve started taking GNC PurEdge amino acids regularly, but in all honesty, I think I’ll have to go through the entire container to see results. I have never taken amino acids before so I’m just going to go through the entire container and I’ll check back in a month.
Finally, they sent GNC PurEdge Daily Energy Performance Enhancer.
It is recommended to replace coffee and drink one of GNC PurEdge daily energy performance enhancers instead. I don’t drink coffee before I run (only after). I tried the cherry limeade on last week on my rest day to see how I would feel. I replaced my coffee and had one scoop. Throughout the day I didn’t notice a difference (energy-wise) between the coffee and the daily energy enhancer. For someone who doesn’t care for coffee, this is something I would recommend.
Last but not least,
I was asked to make a recipe using one of the products from GNC PurEdge. As most people know I’m not that great at cooking. As a blogger who likes to eat relatively healthy, you assume I can cook…this is false. A long time ago, my blog was more known for making pancake recipes so I was hoping the protein powder they sent me would translate into that. Pancakes are easy to make so I went that route.
If the recipe hadn’t worked I was going to add it to yogurt and ice and make a smoothie.
GNC PurEdge Protein Pancakes

1 scoop GNC PurEdge protein powder
½ cup flour
¼ cup cocoa powder
½ cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
Mix and add to the griddle. I cook my pancakes at 350 degrees. I hadn’t had protein pancakes in a while and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed them again. GNC PurEdge protein powder mixes well into the pancakes and them dense. There have been powders I’ve tried that have simply fallen apart or created thin “crepelike” pancakes. These were good and I would recommend it.

So that’s a wrap. I am happy to have been able to try the GNC PurEdge. The GNC PurEdge protein bars and protein powder were my favorite and I’ll check back in after going through the rest of the amino acids and let you know how I feel. If you are interested in any of the GNC PurEdge products, it’s all online here.
Questions for you:
Have you ever tried amino acids? Have you tried GNC PurEdge?
What is your favorite bar right now? Have you tried GNC PurEdge bars?
Those pancakes look delicious. I haven’t heard of this GNC line but it’s good if you find a protein powder or bars you like. I know whole food is the way to go and all that, but bars are so great when you’re working or on the go. I have a lot of travel lately, for both the holidays and for work, and a protein bar is great for when you need something on the road. I too drink protein shakes post-run, and many contain amino acids (BCAA), but I’ve never tried a completely amino acid drink to know how it is.
Good for you getting sponsored posts – you deserve it, and as I said before I think your fun and light and honest style is great for quality brands looking for genuine representation.
As for me?
– I am not a fan of ‘supplements’ for myself. Because of my eating, I prefer to focus on getting everything through natural eating.
– I am a bit funny with bars as well – if I cannot see the ingredients, I am generally not interested. I prefer things like Kind bars, especially compared to weird pseudo-foods like Quest bars 🙂
Thanks for the info on this!
I’ve seen these GNC products on four different blogs now, and you’re the only one who has actually tagged it as ‘sponsored.’ I suppose some of the others have disclaimers somewhere, but the fact that no-one else has been as clear and transparent about it says it all. I wish others would learn from your example about the way you handle sponsored posts.
I have tried both (vegan – PVL brand) BCAAs and protein bars. I still take the former, but the latter are just too $ for me (or £ in my case…), so I make my own bars if I’m going to eat them at all. I’m not really into protein at all right now, so I tend to just grab bananas and dates for a quick snack, but when I was I remember loving Organic Food Bars and Trek Bars (UK) and sometimes I’d get through three of the latter in one day!
Ha ha, I also saw someone do a giveaway for the things they were giving us. What’s the point of giving away product you are getting for free?!
I feel like it’s obvious if a post is sponsored or not so I’m not going to hide it. This is how I plan to approach all my “sponsored posts”…that is if I get anymore after this one. 😉
A LOLZ pancake recipe!! I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve seen one of those 😀 And I appreciate your openness regarding the sponsored post. I don’t generally mind when people do sponsored posts, but it kind of drives me nuts if it’s something that has nothing to do with the feel of their blog. Like… one time a PB company approached me and asked me if I wanted to review their product. Right 🙄 And when it comes to bars, I’m allergic to most of the store-bought ones, so I usually end up making my own.
I STILL make single serve pancakes from your recipe! Nice to see a new pancake recipe up here! 🙂
AWE that really makes a lot Katie. I’m glad I can help!
hi hollie- have you picked a fall marathon?
i make a protein pancake nightly:) yours looks yummy!
I am planning to do the Air Force Full in Ohio next fall. That’s so long away though, so who knows what could happen between now and then 🙂
i was thinking of that one too since i want to do an early rather than late fall race. we’ll see!😃 thx for reply
Hollie you are officially a real blogger now!!! I’m so proud of you 😉
I have some Cellucor amino acid something or other samples but I am unclear if they actually do anything. I really like GNC products though, their protein powders are some of the best I’ve ever tried.
LOVE your honesty. I didn’t realize that I was clicking on so many sponsored posts and affiliate links in other running blogs that I visit. Oops.
Those pancakes look delish. I haven’t tried any amino acids, but I can name the 20 amino acids, their abbreviations, and recognize their chemical structures. thank you, molecular biology class midterm.
currently obsessed with coconut kindbars. mmm.
I’ve used BCAAs before but didn’t end up getting through the bottle because I forgot to take them. I don’t think they really made a difference. My favorite bars are larabars because they taste great and have ingredients I can pronounce.
Congrats on the sponsored posts! You’ve definitely made it 😉 I’m interested to hear how the amino acids work out for you. I’ve been using an amino acid supplement as well and I think it works but honestly it could be any number of things that have helped me to feel better.