The fear of protein bars!

SteveVx
SteveVx Posts: 12 Member
edited November 18 in Food and Nutrition
I'm considering getting some protein bars/protein shake mixes to add to my weight loss diet however I'm concerned because I see a lot of them are packed with calories, fat and sugar. I've also read some stories on here that people have gained weight eating them. I'm wondering if any of you have success stories keeping the weight off with them and what brands/flavors :)
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Replies

  • Lefty1290
    Lefty1290 Posts: 551 Member
    It all depends on what you buy. Read labels.

    I buy Quest, BPI Sports, Pure Protein Plus, and Optimum Nutrition. All low sugar/carbs and not too high in calories. I eat a high fat diet, so, fat content doesn't bother me.
  • annacole94
    annacole94 Posts: 994 Member
    I buy the Kirkland ones at Costco because they're relatively less expensive. They taste pretty good, and I like the macros/fiber.
  • chaosbutterfly
    chaosbutterfly Posts: 71 Member
    It all comes back to calories in and out. As long as you're within your macros and calorie range for the day, you can add these and not gain weight. They may even help you lose, because protein does tend to be filling, so you may find that you won't want to snack as much by adding one of these to your daily meal lineup.

    I really like the Nature Valley bars in peanut butter and dark chocolate. They aren't the most low cal (a full bar is 190 calories), but when I'm craving something sweet in the afternoon, they are a good option for a mid-late day snack.

    Premier Protein shakes in Chocolate are also really good, and very filling for only 160 calories and 5 grams of carbs. If I don't have time for lunch, I'll have a whole one as a meal replacement shake, or if I just need a quick snack to hold me until my next meal, I'll have half of one.

    I've been also adding a scoop of Cellucor Chocolate Protein powder to plain greek yogurt for a delicious and filling snack. One scoop of protein powder is only 85 calories with 4g of carbs, so it's really fairly negligible.

    If you shop around, I'm sure you can find other options that won't blow out your calorie requirements.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    edited May 2017
    SteveVx wrote: »
    I'm considering getting some protein bars/protein shake mixes to add to my weight loss diet however I'm concerned because I see a lot of them are packed with calories, fat and sugar. I've also read some stories on here that people have gained weight eating them. I'm wondering if any of you have success stories keeping the weight off with them and what brands/flavors :)

    You gain weight if you eat more calories than you expend, regardless if those calories are from a protein bar or organic kale.

    Protein bars/shakes are useful to supplement your protein intake if you're not getting enough in the rest of your diet. Other than that, they have no effects or benefits upon weight loss.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,341 Member
    If you eat them and they take you over your maintenance calories, you will gain weight. If you eat them and remain under your maintenance calories, you will lose weight. Same as any food.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I eat them often as my 3pm snack. They work well for me, but there are a lot of different kinds and each brand has its own macro split. The best thing to do is probably just go to the protein bar aisle or aisles (my grocery store keeps them in 3 different places) and start reading labels to see which ones work for you. Some of them do have a lot of calories and some of them don't. Generally speaking, the more protein the bar has the more calories it will have.

    I'm on a budget, so I stick with the Kroger-brand knock off of the Nature Valley protein bars. But some of my other favorites are Clif bars, Zone bars, and Luna bars. I'd basically try anything on sale! Just play around and see which ones you like.
  • Tankiscool
    Tankiscool Posts: 11,105 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    How you eat a half of a protein bar I don't know. I could eat 3 at once.

    @bbell1985 Lmao right? Especially quest bars for me! Chocolate chip cookie dough is where its at!
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    Tankiscool wrote: »
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    How you eat a half of a protein bar I don't know. I could eat 3 at once.

    @bbell1985 Lmao right? Especially quest bars for me! Chocolate chip cookie dough is where its at!

    I know. I eat one on the subway around 4:00 and I can finish it between one stop lol.
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    I eat a protein bar (Kirkland) every day, practically. It's a scheduled snack so it fits into my calorie goal and macros. If I was eating them and not counting the calories and likely going over my goal I'd gain weight.
    Protein bars can be part of a weight loss diet as long as you are in a calorie deficit,
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Look for products with less sugar, if you don't mind artificial sweeteners. Count the calories into your daily goals. If you stay within your calorie goal, eating protein bars or shakes won't reverse your deficit.
  • PowerliftingMom
    PowerliftingMom Posts: 430 Member
    My favs are My Bar, Oh Yeah (Salted Caramel is TDF!), Fit Crunch and Power Crunch. I eat one immediately after my workout and just figure it into my macros.
  • ceiswyn
    ceiswyn Posts: 2,256 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    How you eat a half of a protein bar I don't know. I could eat 3 at once.

    Take protein bar. Cut in half. Place half in airtight tub and put away. Cut remaining half into slices and arrange on a small dish. Take into living room. Nibble.
  • goldenday
    goldenday Posts: 204 Member
    They have some on sale at my local supermarket, but I've never tried them. I think I'll try them now just to keep in my gym bag if I get really hungry.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    I find it worrying that you find calories, carbs and fat concerning. All food is calories. Your body needs calories for energy. All food is made up of macronutrients....you need macronutrients to survive too.
    Protein is the same calorie value per gram as carbs, so why do you not find protein concerning?
    Fat is more calorie dense, but still essential for your body to function properly.

    I don't think many (if any) protein bars are worth the calories, I'd rather spend my calories on something else. If you want them because you like them and they fit your lifestyle, make them fit just like you would any food.

    If you're low on protein, a powder will likely give you the best bang for your calorie spend - I can't say I've ever bought one that's packed with calories, or fat or sugar. You don't even need to get one with artifical sweeteners if you're also concerned about consuming those.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    annacole94 wrote: »
    I buy the Kirkland ones at Costco because they're relatively less expensive. They taste pretty good, and I like the macros/fiber.

    I switch between those and the ON protein bars (favoring whichever is on sale).

    Although the Kirkland bars are a little cheaper and slightly lower in sugar, for some reason I find the ON bars more filling.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    A real protein bar will have around 18g of protein or more for 200 calories. The rest are 'energy' bars, whatever that means.

    I'm still looking for one that is worth the calories (and price).
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    I eat these as a snack most days of the week. I find that most are around 200 calories...not really too bad. I find the good quality protein bars give me the sustained energy to not be tempted by snacks, keep focused at work, and otherwise keep on track. The convenience also keeps me from avoiding excuses to buy a stupid snack.

    If I were doing a very low calorie limit I think this would be problematic, but at 1600 I do it regularly. (I also typically do about 250-400 cal in exercise).
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    How you eat a half of a protein bar I don't know. I could eat 3 at once.

    Heh, yeah, no way.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    SteveVx wrote: »
    I'm considering getting some protein bars/protein shake mixes to add to my weight loss diet however I'm concerned because I see a lot of them are packed with calories, fat and sugar.

    Read the ingredients and pick the ones that fit your goals.

    One question is what you want to use them for. They don't help with weight loss (or hurt). They are just another food. I use protein powder occasionally to add protein to breakfast. (I mix it with yogurt and almond butter sometimes, and used to mix it with oats. In the summer I sometimes make smoothies for breakfast and add it, because otherwise they are IMO too low in protein. I like breakfast to have at least 30 g of protein. As for protein bars, they can be a more filling/less easy to overeat/easier to fit with your macros kind of dessert, or I used to carry them around since if I couldn't get a meal they would do as a substitute in a pinch. (A Quest bar and various other common protein bars are only about 190-210 calories, so for me a meal would be 2 of them. In that case that they have some fat and carbs is probably not a bad thing, as just protein isn't a good meal replacement for most.) At this point I rarely eat them as I'd rather have a more special dessert more rarely and normally I don't like to snack, but I do bring them with me if traveling.
    I've also read some stories on here that people have gained weight eating them. I'm wondering if any of you have success stories keeping the weight off with them and what brands/flavors :)

    You definitely can overeat them -- the calories count, as with any food. Some people find them harder to overeat than others.

    They don't keep weight off unless they fill you up better than other things you would eat or replace other choices that you would be more likely to overeat.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I don't have any reason to eat a protein bar. I do supplement with whey protein, but it's just protein and nothing else. You gain weight when you consume more calories than your body requires to maintain the status quot...it has zip to do with whether you eat a protein bar or not.
  • mccraee
    mccraee Posts: 199 Member
    I use them both from time to time. I keep some pure protein bars at my office for when I haven't had breakfast (better than the drive thru) or when I have forgotten my lunch.

    And, I usually have some vanilla whey protein powder at the house to beef up a smoothie and make me more likely to make it to lunch.

    I try not to rely on either of these things regularly but they do have their place
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited May 2017
    Some protein bars contain the artificial sweetener sucralose, which I find nasty and thus protein bars containing it inedible.

    A lot protein bars contain soy protein isolate, which I also dislike, but would eat in a pinch. It also depends on how much of it they use. I like the ThinkThin Peanut 150 calorie/10 g protein bars but not the 240 calorie/20 g protein bars. I don't like the Cliff High Protein bars either, but love their regular bars, which may not have much better macros than a Snickers.

    It's honestly just easier (for me) and tastier to have cottage cheese with pumpkin seeds for a snack.

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    Nom nom nom.
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