cait987

I have been weight lifting alot and try to get as much protein I can after weight lifting but try to also lose fat and honestly protein bars look really nice with vitamins etc except I have yet to find a protein bar that really is good for you besides the protein / vitamins.

Most of the time when I look at the labels they have 10 + grams of fat and 3.5 Sat Fat now I know alot of people dont care about their weight since their lifting but I try to lose weight while building muscle mass

So im curious, am I just a fat gram / sat fat freak or am I just looking at bad protein bars or do all protein bars have high fat/sat fat??

(there are alot of threads but ive yet to see one that asks this question)

If you guys know any with low fat/sat fat could you post it or if Im crazy please tell me haha

alec

i don't know, i think its kind of narcissistic and obsessive to really count calories and vitamin/protein intake at every meal or every time you snack. if you're worried about weight, do some cardio and drink lots of water. if you want to get protein in your system, have a shake or some white meat. if you want to watch your calories, cook your own meals.

my experience with protein/energy bars has been ok. most of them have a decent amount of fat. but im not too high on repeatidly eating stuff that usually tastes like processed poopy.

-alec

Plan9Senior

I like protein bars as an alternative post workout meal if I am in a rush and don't have time to fix something myself. The fat in them is too high for my liking and some of them even have trans fatty acids. You are not alone in being weary about them.

To the above poster, well I think you might be a little offbase in calling people who count calories and check the nutrients of the things they eat "narcissistic and obsessive". I rather call them dedicated and aware of what should be put into their bodies.

alec

true, but i set up a circumstancial reason for so ("narcissistic and obsessive to really count calories and vitamin/protein intake at every meal or every time you snack"); i don't think working out or eating properly should consume your thoughts or interfer from your life. eating disorders and body image problems are almost as prevalent as obesity and weight problems (not that the original poster has either -- this has just diveated a tad)

-alec

Blackthorn

Plan9 is IMHO spot on with the right use of a good high quality protien bar. MetRx has some good ones and of course the EAS bars are also good. I like to use them only when I'm in a pinch for time and I need a quick meal replacement. They are great when you travel (I fly a lot for work) and you can't make a whole food meal for yourself.

I always prefer to spend a 30-45 minutes in the kitchen preping small poritioned meals for the next day that includes a high quality source of protien, and a good low glycemic carb.

It takes a bit of work at first to get into the routine of making the next days meals the night before but once you figure out what works well making a good whole food meal that you can portion out across the day is pretty easy and definitely more nutritious than heading to the source of an article posted by Plan9 in another thread!

There's a place for protien bars but I only use them sparingly when piched for time or if it's a necessary convenience.

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SiNai

Yeah, you could definitely search the internet for some good recipies for protein bars, but I personally just stay away from them. Processed ones would be okay on a bulk, I guess, but all I've seen are too high in fat.

I stick with whey for my protein..

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cait987

Thanks for the help, I just wasnt sure if I was over counting fat grams in them or if I was right and they are acctually pretty bad for you but they have the "low in carbs high in protein" tag on the front which makes em look all great.

Honestly, I was hoping that there was some kind of protein bar which was a bit lower in fat but still high in protein / nutrients guess I can hope?

Oh well, back to eatting steaks and veges since they seem to work pretty well for protein income.

magua

Most people who have passed the beginning stages (and aren't on steroids) can't lose fat and build muscle at the same time. Losing fat requires a calorie deficit; gaining muscle requires a calorie excess. You're probably better off cycling from one to the other after a certain number of weeks.

Rodney

Some bars advertise themselves as "low-carb," but I admit I haven't read the labels minutely. I echo most everybody else: protein bars are fine after a workout if you don't have time for _real_ food. But real food is best, even a gym protein smoothie if your gym makes them.

majik_6

I personally avoid protein bars just because of the price. They are very good for, as most have said, a quick fix when you're in a hurry.

For my post-workout protein, I reach for a whey protein shake with a decent amount of carbs (about 40 grams). The carbs help deliver the protein to the muscles quickly...or something like that.

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BigBlueWrecking

OK, I eat one protein bar in the morning because I have to start eating breakfast and I do not have the time. The reason I am ok with it is this: It is really 80% of the fat I eat in a day. The rest of the stuff I eat, for the most part, has very little fat in it. I will eat a salad for lunch with fat free dressing, and then cook some chicken with fat free cheese at night most of the time.

Is this the wrong thing to be doing? I am trying to watch my calories and the protein bar is only about 280, so for a meal that is not bad at all. I am cutting my calories down to about 2000 a day from about 3200. I used to lift a lot and that is the reason for the high calories, but had arm surgery and can't do anything, but I still was eating like I used to, which is horrible. Let me know if there is something better for breakfast that is quick and will fill me up. I take a One A Day vitamin in the morning, so I don't eat the bars for the vitamins....just the protein and to get my body started.

PorscheBunny

Sorry, but this came to mind after see this thread.

From http://www.internalmemos.com/memos/m...?memo_id=1662:

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Ella

I'm a big fan of the Nutriway Positrim protein bars....they are pretty costly and I'm not sure if they're available in the US. But they are low carbs, low fat, high protein...and the choc fudge one is super yummy...

http://www.a2k.com.au/servlet/a2k?pa...tegoryId=40501

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G5_Todd

eas....have some tastey ones....and most are low in the bad stuff

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