Protein bar as meal replacement

therrling

So I've hit my goal weight and have decided to transition into maintenance. It's taken me just about a year to drop almost 40lbs and a lot of blood, sweat, tears and time! Logging food, planning a day in advance and adding/deleting foods to make sure I hit my macros, packing lunches, weighing foods, exercising...has all taken it's toll on me. I've reaped the benefits but I'm ready to move on while maintaining. I was thinking of replacing my lunch during the work week with an Oh Yeah or Quest protein bar and a vegetable (carrots, green beans, sugar snap peas, etc) for three reasons...it would eliminate the need for me to pack my lunch the night before (saving me time), I could then walk for my entire 30 minute lunch block instead of just 15 minutes and I could eat a 'normal' dinner without having to cook myself replacement dishes or something entirely different. I would keep my breakfast the same and continue to exercise daily with a mix of HIIT workouts and weights. Does this sound like a good plan to maintain or would it not be healthy?

cnbbnc

As long as that's enough food to hold you until dinner and you're maintaining whatever weight you've chosen, then yeah...go for it. Congratulations!

TR0berts

It should be fine. The one thing I might caution is that after eating a regular breakfast, you might find yourself getting hungrier than a protein bar and a veg will handle. But, try it and see if you need to make any adjustments.

jennifer_417

I see no problem from a nutrition standpoint. I don't think I'd like it myself, I'd get too hungry and struggle not to binge for dinner!
But if you don't have that issue, then I say go for it!

FitPhillygirl

I would say to try it for a few days, and see how hungry you are till dinner. If you find yourself unable to wait you can always make changes. Even maintanence is a lot of trial and error. For me, I never found that one Quest bar was filling enough for more than an hour and a half at best.

Francl27

Whatever works for you, I know that it would never be enough for me though.

snickerscharlie

therrling wrote: »

So I've hit my goal weight and have decided to transition into maintenance. It's taken me just about a year to drop almost 40lbs and a lot of blood, sweat, tears and time! Logging food, planning a day in advance and adding/deleting foods to make sure I hit my macros, packing lunches, weighing foods, exercising...has all taken it's toll on me. I've reaped the benefits but I'm ready to move on while maintaining. I was thinking of replacing my lunch during the work week with an Oh Yeah or Quest protein bar and a vegetable (carrots, green beans, sugar snap peas, etc) for three reasons...it would eliminate the need for me to pack my lunch the night before (saving me time), I could then walk for my entire 30 minute lunch block instead of just 15 minutes and I could eat a 'normal' dinner without having to cook myself replacement dishes or something entirely different. I would keep my breakfast the same and continue to exercise daily with a mix of HIIT workouts and weights. Does this sound like a good plan to maintain or would it not be healthy?

What does your normal breakfast consist of? For me, if it wasn't something filling, a Quest bar for lunch and a few veggies wouldn't cut it.

Congrats on your weight loss!

ani_terzyan

I lost about 20 lbs doing this for the same reasons you stated. There was no prep work which meant I always had a meal for lunch (now if I don't have time to prep lunch I'm forced to eat out). It also allowed me to walk during my break instead of wasting time eating. I was able to do this consistently for about 6 months. There were some days where I was starving by 3 and I would just have a snack or go grab a small meal to hold me over but those days were pretty rare. Good luck! Give it a try, if it doesn't work you can always try something else

jrwms714

For me, it wouldn't work. Would not be enough food and would also have me relying on something that isn't what I call "real food". If it does work for you, go for it. I use Quest protein bars all the time, but use them when I know I won't be able to get some healthy food, or will be busy and out and not able to stop to eat, or am away from home during my hunger times. I also pack them when going to something where there will be no food choices and I am pretty sure there will be nothing I would eat. I know that when I worked, I packed all of my lunches for the week ahead of time and kept them in the refrigerator. Since it was generally a FF yogurt, fruit, some veggies, etc., it all kept well and I just grabbed the bag before I left for work. I worked in an environment where everyone brought lunch, so no issue. Try what you have suggested and if not, try to find something that you can easily throw in a bag or cooler and take with you.

ydyms

I say go for it! Your reasoning is great as long as it keeps you full and isn't a setup for overeating at dinner.

darrensinclair27

Why not have a shake one day and a bar the following day.. include small amount of nuts aswell

jessiefrancine

I do something similar most days - lunch is fresh veggies and a protein bar. Lots of water. Sometimes I add something in the afternoon, but this is often enough to get me through until my huge yummy dinner. You might also mix up your routine with Combat Crunch bars (from Muscle Pharm - cookie dough is my fave). They are my new obsession, though I still like Quest bars, too.

victoria_1024

I'd be too hungry by dinner time and probably end up overeating. But I eat a somewhat small breakfast so if you ate a larger breakfast it could work. I feel like there are a lot more filling options that could be prepped ahead of time!

Christine_72

Personally I couldn't do it. I have a quest bar for a snack, not a meal. But if it keeps you going til dinner there's no harm in it.

therrling

Thanks for all the advice/insight. I'm trying to find something that I can stick to long term, that fits into my lifestyle. This is day #2 of trying the vegetable and protein bar for lunch. So far, it hasn't been bad and I enjoyed my 500+ calorie dinner last night. I have the same thing for breakfast each morning...a bacon, egg and cheese English muffin (with extra egg white, 2% cheese, center cut bacon and 100 calorie English muffin) with strawberries or blackberries. My snacks for the day include greek yogurt with protein granola, a cheese stick and crackers, some almonds or cashews and some cucumber slices or something similar. My diary is open if anyone is interested in checking it out and offering advice. Kind of scary to increase my calories to maintenance and so far, I'm not eating back any exercise calories.

debbiewsharpe

looks like you are doing fantastic. I am also at maintenance. On the days that I work I eat a protein bar and some fruit (apple, strawberries, melon, etc. So easy to pack my lunch, it keeps without a refrigerator and I can also eat this while walking. It works great for me, hope it works for you.

ShrinkinMel

I replace breakfast with them a lot. I have never been a big morning eater. For lunch only on occasions when I'm in a rush. I've found that an apple and a protein shake are my filling breakfast.

TR0berts

therrling wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice/insight. I'm trying to find something that I can stick to long term, that fits into my lifestyle. This is day #2 of trying the vegetable and protein bar for lunch. So far, it hasn't been bad and I enjoyed my 500+ calorie dinner last night. I have the same thing for breakfast each morning...a bacon, egg and cheese English muffin (with extra egg white, 2% cheese, center cut bacon and 100 calorie English muffin) with strawberries or blackberries. My snacks for the day include greek yogurt with protein granola, a cheese stick and crackers, some almonds or cashews and some cucumber slices or something similar. My diary is open if anyone is interested in checking it out and offering advice. Kind of scary to increase my calories to maintenance and so far, I'm not eating back any exercise calories.

Nope, it isn't. And I don't believe you mentioned anything about snacks in your OP. That seems like it would make it at least a little easier to have a small lunch and not get hungry.

therrling

Sorry, it was open to friends only. Just changed it to public :-)

Jcl81

I found that replacing a meal with a protien bar or shake is 100x easy when cutting. Now if I was bulking I wouldn't be in a deficit and that allows me to get more food obviously, but I still love my protien shake.

So, to answer the question there is nothing wrong with it, and for the people that think there is it would be hypocritical because this site preaches calories in and calories out as long as people hit certain macros/micros vitamins and minerals. Lots of bars and shakes have those so to me it's a win win.

Of course whole food is better, but whatever a person is doing to make himself/herself better has to work for them, everyone else can have an opinion but it's your own opinion that matters.

mdrichardsons

I would say if it works for you awesome. For me lunch is when I am super hungry I would be better doing a protein bar or shake for breakfast or dinner. In fact I just barely tried a quest bar for lunch and I couldn't do it I had to go get a sandwich! I think it's totally personal preference. Also FYI I haven't tried oh yeah bars but quest bars are good and they have the most protein for the least calories I have found. Some bars claim to be protein bars with like 5 g of protein. Not worth the calories for me.

SherriLynnLeeman

I've been doing this for months... I LOVE oh yeah bars, as well as Lenny and Larry's cookies. I work long 10 hour days where I just don't have the time to sit and eat a real meal for lunch... I also don't have the time to prepare if the night before. I buy bars in bulk and leave them at work so I don't even have to think about packing a lunch. Another thing I like is Greek yogurt mixed with a half scoop or full scoop of protein powder (usually chocolate) with berries or pineapple to dunk into it. Very little prep work, I'll measure out the amounts at the beginning of the week and then pack it for the full week. I see people who eat HUGE lunches and I can't even fathom that. I'd rather hoard my calories to be able to eat a somewhat "normal" portion sized dinner with my family and not have to make a completely different meal (maybe just sub out some things, like a lettuce wrap instead of a bun for cheeseburger night.) Good luck!!!

DancingMoosie

I just looked at your diary and it seems as though you are eating well below your calorie goal and will continue to lose weight. Protein bars are fine, for meals or snacks, but being that far under your calorie goal does not keep you in maintenance.

llbrixon

Have you thought about "Internment Fasting?"

michellesz

If you go this route, I would personally suggest making your own protein bars. They are so much healthier & with out all of ? ingredients that can't be pronounced & cheap & you can incorporate all of the goodness you want into them. So easy. For example, in sauce pan combine 1/2 cup preferred milk & 8 tblsp peanut butter & 1 tblsp+ honey. Warm up on low heat to melt & add cinnamon & 1 1/2 cups protein powder of choice (vanilla or chocolate peanut butter are great). Add uncooked oats & mix. Place in waxed 9x9 or other pan & pat firmly & freeze for 20 minutes. Then cut and pre-package servings. Calories and fat can be determined by you by adding any extras such as a handful of raisins & or top with a sprinkle of choc. chips or coconut or dried fruit/nuts/flax seed/chia seeds etc. Options are endless!

Christine_72

michellesz wrote: »

If you go this route, I would personally suggest making your own protein bars. They are so much healthier & with out all of ? ingredients that can't be pronounced & cheap & you can incorporate all of the goodness you want into them. So easy. For example, in sauce pan combine 1/2 cup preferred milk & 8 tblsp peanut butter & 1 tblsp+ honey. Warm up on low heat to melt & add cinnamon & 1 1/2 cups protein powder of choice (vanilla or chocolate peanut butter are great). Add uncooked oats & mix. Place in waxed 9x9 or other pan & pat firmly & freeze for 20 minutes. Then cut and pre-package servings. Calories and fat can be determined by you by adding any extras such as a handful of raisins & or top with a sprinkle of choc. chips or coconut or dried fruit/nuts/flax seed/chia seeds etc. Options are endless!

@michellesz that sounds awesome, thank you. How do you store them?

gothchiq

If it will keep you satisfied, then it will be all right.