reluctant to try Quest bars ... or any protein bar

stef0006

So in first year university I gained about 7-8 pounds and that year was also when I started to eat protein bars. I only ate protein bars with the lowest sugar/fat and highest protein (PURE PROTEIN bars - 4.5g of fat, 21g of protein, 17g of carbs). I've always been fit and through out that year I had still been working out a good amount. Although the weight gain was probably attributable to me having moved out for the first time, being subject to cafeteria food OFTEN (although I tried to pick healthy choices), and all the stress university brought, I am still reluctant to get back into protein bars. Even though I lost that gained weight after getting my diet under control and giving up the protein bars, I would still like to up my protein. I've heard lots of accusations of Quest bars not have accurate nutrition information and it makes me suspicious because everyone says they taste so good and are too good to be true. Can I really trust Quest bars? I think I am just extra skeptical due to my bad experience/weight gain during the only time in my life I had been eating protein bars daily. Thanks.

AllOutof_Bubblegum

What do you expect the proten bars to do for you in regards tro your goals?

Protein bars are not magical, they will not facilitate weight loss without a consistent calorie deficit.

Two questions:
1. Are you lifting heavy weights regularly?
2. Do you find it difficult to reach your protein goals without protein bars or supplements?

If you answered "no" to either question, then you most likely do not need protein bars, as they will do nothing to help you reach your goal. They have no special properties, or any real bearing on weight loss.

simplydelish2

Personally I don't like Quest bars. They all tend to taste the same and have no texture. I only use protein bars as a meal replacement or a snack - and make sure they fit into my calories goals. My favorite bars are Atkins bars.

melimomTARDIS

there are no bad foods, only bad diets. A protien bar does not fix or break a diet.

CindyMarcuzAdams

Now I love quest bars its funny how people are so different.

melimomTARDIS

that being said, I dont buy quest bars because they cost too much.

emdeesea

I do eat Quest bars on occasion but only as a snack and I fit them into my daily calories. I think you gained weight because you were eating too much, it had nothing to do with the protein bars.

BramageOMG

I love quest bars too.. I eat them almost everyday and have lost 63 lbs in 5 months.. No sweat

edit: Only reason I don't eat them everyday: I just ran out on Wednesday!!!! Check my diary if you don't believe me

scottacular

If you're logging Quest bars, go off the macros rather than the calories. Fit it into a calorie deficit and it won't make you gain weight. Remember, 1g of carbs or protein = 4 calories, 1g of fat = 9 calories. Do the maths. I love them by the way, and all the fibre is great for keeping you full.

LazyFoodie

I'm sure your weight gain was not DUE to the protein bars. Lots of people get the freshman 15 without eating any protein bars. If you like them and they work for you in terms of calories then eat them. If you don't like them, don't. There are ways to get protein without eating protein bars. I personally don't touch them because I hate the taste, even Quest bars. So I end up eating a TON of egg whites, some cheese and chicken or fish almost every day. If I don't have enough protein by the end of the day, I'll microwave a cup of egg whites as part of my dinner (27 grams of protein in 135 calories). So you can get a lot of protein without protein bars if you don't want to eat them.

stef0006

I was thinking of incorporating them into my diet when I'm on the go and don't have time for a sit down meal. OR using quest bars instead of regular granola bars OR even subbing them in for whatever junk food/chocolatey craving food i would allow myself for that day.

emdeesea

stef0006 wrote: »

...OR using quest bars instead of regular granola bars OR even subbing them in for whatever junk food/chocolatey craving food i would allow myself for that day.

This is what I do. If I'm craving chocolate or something sweet in the afternoon, I have their chocolate chip cookie dough bar, warmed up in the microwave. Better than eating cookies.

Francl27

I actually quit Quest bars for a while and started eating them again a week ago... and I just forgot how filling they are, with all that fiber. Definitely doesn't compare to the other protein bars out there, which are delicious but really not as filling.

lifeskittles

I eat 1-2 quest bars per day. They're fantastic. They didn't make you gain weight, overeating did. The fact that you were eating protein bars was just a coincidence. But if you were working out there is a good chance that some of that weight was muscle, so thats always a good thing.

VegasFit

I have a major sweet tooth so bars help me with that. I like Quest, chocolate chip or fudge brownie. I don't find all the flavors that great. I prefer Cliff Bars as far as taste and price goes. I have no problem losing as long as I log them along with everything else. I have been experimenting making my own Quest bars lately because I find $2 a little high for a bar. If someone hadn't posted that recent deal for two boxes for $24 deal, I probably wouldn't have any in my house right now.

BruceHedtke

Where are Quest bars sold? I cannot find them locally and don't want to order from Amazon without giving them a taste test. I've tried a variety of protein bars and shakes and most taste like...protein bars, no matter what the package says it's supposed to taste like. Not a huge fan of that taste and I wouldn't mind something a little more flavorful.

dbmata

GNC is where I found them. REI as well.

Sinistrous

Last protein bar I had, I became addicted to. NO NO. But then again, that's just me. You may have greater luck!

amblight

What are you all paying for quest bars? I see them on sale here for $5, and that's just waaay too much for me to even consider!!

Patttience

Wow they just look like junk food to me. I would not eat them on a regular basis. They are highly processed. And sometimes its the processes involved that are the problem, e.g. with vegetable oils.

if you want more protein, eat protein foods. A can of king oscar sardines is fantastic food. And nowhere near anything like $5 a can. The calories are modest too.

Whereas the quest bar is only 20grams of food for 160 calories. That makes it a calorie dense food. You are better off eating 20grams of nuts.

Francl27

I've never paid more than $2 for them... Typically it's less than that because I only buy them on sale. I was surprised to see them at Shop Rite too but they are $2.50 there.

I honestly much prefer other 'protein' bars for taste (pure protein, cliff etc), but yeah, no other bar fills me up as much as a Quest bar.

asdowe13

Patttience wrote: »

Wow they just look like junk food to me. I would not eat them on a regular basis. They are highly processed. And sometimes its the processes involved that are the problem, e.g. with vegetable oils.

if you want more protein, eat protein foods. A can of king oscar sardines is fantastic food. And nowhere near anything like $5 a can. The calories are modest too.

Whereas the quest bar is only 20grams of food for 160 calories. That makes it a calorie dense food. You are better off eating 20grams of nuts.

There are way more nutrients packed into a 160 calorie quest bar, then 160 calories of any nut.
Pretty sure a 60g quest bar contains 60g of food.....

Francl27

Patttience wrote: »

Wow they just look like junk food to me. I would not eat them on a regular basis. They are highly processed. And sometimes its the processes involved that are the problem, e.g. with vegetable oils.

if you want more protein, eat protein foods. A can of king oscar sardines is fantastic food. And nowhere near anything like $5 a can. The calories are modest too.

Whereas the quest bar is only 20grams of food for 160 calories. That makes it a calorie dense food. You are better off eating 20grams of nuts.

Did you even check the ingredients before talking? I mean, yeah, some 'protein bars' have a lot of added junk, Quest bars are pretty clean though (and they are 60g, by the way).

Ingredients for the chocolate cookie dough flavor :

Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Erythritol. Contains Less than 2% of the following: Sea Salt, Stevia, Natural Flavorings, Sucralose.

Missjulesdid

I eat them because sometimes I want a sweet source of protein and Quest bars are a lower carb/sugar way for me to accomplish this. To me they taste like candy bars. so if I can have candy and protein at the SAME TIME, I consume fewer calories overall than if I ate a chicken breast and then ate a snicker's bar. Also Quest bars are a lot more convenient to carry in my purse than a chicken breast or a can of stinky sardines.

And as for this:

Patttience wrote: »

Wow they just look like junk food to me. I would not eat them on a regular basis. They are highly processed. And sometimes its the processes involved that are the problem, e.g. with vegetable oils.

if you want more protein, eat protein foods. A can of king oscar sardines is fantastic food. And nowhere near anything like $5 a can. The calories are modest too.

Whereas the quest bar is only 20grams of food for 160 calories. That makes it a calorie dense food. You are better off eating 20grams of nuts.

Quest bars are 160-200 calories for 20ish grams of PROTEIN. not 20 grams of food... I definitely agree that getting your calories from unprocessed foods is best... but if you are going to eat protein bars, QUEST is the least-junky way to go. Not all of us are a virtuous in our eating as you patttience.

DoingitWell

I've done Quest bars before and I love them. I don't do them every day but when I know I'm going to be away from home and I'm not trying to spend money on an unhealthy meal (or packing lunch is not an option). I need something to hold me off until I can get home to eat. Only downside is that I generally need to brush and floss two seconds after eating the lemon ones. Leaves a nasty after taste that I am sure translates into bad breath.

Missjulesdid

^the lemon ones taste like Pledge. They're the only flavor I don't like.

DoingitWell

lol True ....but I'm a glutton for punishment and they were having a sale.

999tigger

stef0006 wrote: »

. Although the weight gain was probably attributable to me having moved out for the first time, being subject to cafeteria food OFTEN (although I tried to pick healthy choices), and all the stress university brought, I am still reluctant to get back into protein bars.

Were you logging and weighing your food and exercise at the time? If not then how do you know what caused the weight gain you could have simply been eating more than you thought and it might have had very little to do with the protein bars.

If you log your food, then you cna track and get more information on what you are consuming and burning. This will help you get reassurance about the protein bars. They are just calories imo.

luluinca

I generally eat about six times a day and half of a Quest bar is the perfect 95 calorie snack. I don't eat them every day because I also have a protein shake almost every day, but on the days I have trouble meeting my protein goal they both come in pretty handy. I love the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor, but not enough to over eat them....

ophiure

I really like Quest Bars, but they're too expensive for me. A lot of protein bars are like that, but they're really convenient too, because they're individually packaged and ready to go. Instead, I make my own using a protein powder, oat flour, peanut butter, almond milk, etc.

dbmata

amblight wrote: »

What are you all paying for quest bars? I see them on sale here for $5, and that's just waaay too much for me to even consider!!

$2 dolla, they make holla.