Replacing protein bars
honkinballs
Posts: 34 Member
Hi, I'm looking over my day-to-day diet and while I'm keeping around 1,300 calories on the week days I'm also seeing a lot of sugar intake from the protein bars I eat. These are basically in between breakfast and after lunch to keep the hunger off, but even though my calories are OK on MFP I have like 1 gram of sugar left for the day and I think if I can cut out more sugar it will help with weight loss. Anyone have any high protein snacks I can eat very quickly at work? Thanks.
4
Replies
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Cans of tuna. But to answer the question you aren't asking - cutting down on sugar will not heøp with weight loss. Calorie intake and burn is what controls weight.8
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Are you eating more on weekends to make up for eating so low during the week, the minimum you should be aiming for as a guy is 1500 calories.
There are lots of alternatives to protein bars:- Cottage Cheese
- Natural Yoghurt
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Chia Seeds
However, sugar in itself doesn't cause weight gain, eating too much of anything does, so if you're eating in a deficit you won't lose more if you're eating the same calorie intake with or without sugar.2 -
boiled eggs. or quest bars, which are low carb/keto with 5 net carbs total and use sugar alcohol rather than sugar.
But sugar doesn't really matter in general unless you have blood sugar issues. If you like the protein bars, don't find yourself having blood sugar control issues, then proceed with the bars!
Personally I find that they don't keep me full just add a ton of calories without much appetite suppressant, which is just annoying.2 -
guacamole17 wrote: »boiled eggs. or quest bars, which are low carb/keto with 5 net carbs total and use sugar alcohol rather than sugar.
But sugar doesn't really matter in general unless you have blood sugar issues. If you like the protein bars, don't find yourself having blood sugar control issues, then proceed with the bars!
Personally I find that they don't keep me full just add a ton of calories without much appetite suppressant, which is just annoying.
Any opinion on the Kirkland bars from Costco? People have said they are on par with Quest bars but I don't know.0 -
honkinballs wrote: »guacamole17 wrote: »boiled eggs. or quest bars, which are low carb/keto with 5 net carbs total and use sugar alcohol rather than sugar.
But sugar doesn't really matter in general unless you have blood sugar issues. If you like the protein bars, don't find yourself having blood sugar control issues, then proceed with the bars!
Personally I find that they don't keep me full just add a ton of calories without much appetite suppressant, which is just annoying.
Any opinion on the Kirkland bars from Costco? People have said they are on par with Quest bars but I don't know.
It's going to be personal taste. I love the quest bars, but also found the One bars to be very tasty.
https://one1brands.com/collections/all
Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.6 -
You can always search the Hello Healthy stuff on your mfp home page to find suggestions.1
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kommodevaran wrote: »heøp
Aww yeah the elusive Scandinavian character typo
Anyway OP, a lot of protein bars use sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners to keep sugar content down so you could switch to one of those. Alternatively, yeah an egg will have 6g protein and about 70 calories on average so 2 eggs is pretty close to 1 protein bar. Also also, eat more.
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Why are you eating only 1,300? The bare minimum for women is 1,200 and men is 1,500. You will lose weight on 1,500. Heck, you will probably lose weight on 2,000.0
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Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.
Just on a big cut I guess. My SW was 330 now I'm at 237. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing bad with low calories but I haven't had any health problems yet and I eat more on the weekends, like 1500 to 1600. Makes me mad though because it seems like that weekend weight will NOT leave until official weigh in day. Messes with my head.3 -
honkinballs wrote: »Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.
Just on a big cut I guess. My SW was 330 now I'm at 237. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing bad with low calories but I haven't had any health problems yet and I eat more on the weekends, like 1500 to 1600. Makes me mad though because it seems like that weekend weight will NOT leave until official weigh in day. Messes with my head.
Key-word... YET. You need a certain amount of fat, protein and micronutrients to fuel your organs and body. Without them, you'll most likely experience muscle loss, hair breakage & loss, brittle nails, and perhaps even organ/bone damage down the line. Problems with hair and nails will take several months to surface.
What's your height?4 -
honkinballs wrote: »Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.
Just on a big cut I guess. My SW was 330 now I'm at 237. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing bad with low calories but I haven't had any health problems yet and I eat more on the weekends, like 1500 to 1600. Makes me mad though because it seems like that weekend weight will NOT leave until official weigh in day. Messes with my head.
Key-word... YET. You need a certain amount of fat, protein and micronutrients to fuel your organs and body. Without them, you'll most likely experience muscle loss, hair breakage & loss, brittle nails, and perhaps even organ/bone damage down the line. Problems with hair and nails will take several months to surface.
What's your height?
5'80 -
honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.
Just on a big cut I guess. My SW was 330 now I'm at 237. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing bad with low calories but I haven't had any health problems yet and I eat more on the weekends, like 1500 to 1600. Makes me mad though because it seems like that weekend weight will NOT leave until official weigh in day. Messes with my head.
Key-word... YET. You need a certain amount of fat, protein and micronutrients to fuel your organs and body. Without them, you'll most likely experience muscle loss, hair breakage & loss, brittle nails, and perhaps even organ/bone damage down the line. Problems with hair and nails will take several months to surface.
What's your height?
5'8
I ran your stats through my fave TDEE calc: http://www.sailrabbit.com/bmr/
Your sedentary (sitting on your butt all day) TDEE is approx. 2400. So on days where you're mostly sedentary, you could eat 1900 calories and lose approx. 1lbs per week. Eating 1650 calories would have you losing 1.5lbs a week. I think that's the lowest you should aim for, tbh.3 -
honkinballs wrote: »Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.
Just on a big cut I guess. My SW was 330 now I'm at 237. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing bad with low calories but I haven't had any health problems yet and I eat more on the weekends, like 1500 to 1600. Makes me mad though because it seems like that weekend weight will NOT leave until official weigh in day. Messes with my head.
For context I am same height, female and around 20lbs lighter than you, I lose 1lb per week eating 1750 net calories, I eat my exercise calories back to which gives a gross intake of anywhere from 1950-2400 calories.
You can't always feel the impact of undereating until it's too late.4 -
... Alrighty then I'll look in to quest bars and eggs thanks guys.0
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honkinballs wrote: »... Alrighty then I'll look in to quest bars and eggs thanks guys.
And by eating more because at your height and weight, you're not making up for anything by eating a little more on the weekends.2 -
honkinballs wrote: »Side note - why, as a male, are you eating so few calories? That is a good way to lose muscle and slow down your metabolism.
Just on a big cut I guess. My SW was 330 now I'm at 237. Everyone keeps telling me I'm doing bad with low calories but I haven't had any health problems yet and I eat more on the weekends, like 1500 to 1600. Makes me mad though because it seems like that weekend weight will NOT leave until official weigh in day. Messes with my head.
Key-word... YET. You need a certain amount of fat, protein and micronutrients to fuel your organs and body. Without them, you'll most likely experience muscle loss, hair breakage & loss, brittle nails, and perhaps even organ/bone damage down the line. Problems with hair and nails will take several months to surface.
What's your height?
You beat me to it.1 -
Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life3
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honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
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honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?3 -
honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?
The only way you'll gain weight is if you're eating above maintenance which as mentioned upthread is around 2400 calories for you, eating one extra snack a day or adding something extra to an existing meal should be a straight-forward enough way to keep you on track without driving you back to old habits.
It could be as simple as adding a banana to breakfast, having a protein shake, a spoonful of peanut butter or adding a little oil to something you're cooking.2 -
honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?
Let me ask you this? What do you think will happen when you transition to maintenance? Also, what are your goals? Do you want to be skinny or do you want to be fit? Do you care if you slow your metabolism more than it should during weight loss? Are you eating adequate protein and lifting while you are aggressively cutting?
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honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?
Let me ask you this? What do you think will happen when you transition to maintenance? Also, what are your goals? Do you want to be skinny or do you want to be fit? Do you care if you slow your metabolism more than it should during weight loss? Are you eating adequate protein and lifting while you are aggressively cutting?
For now its just weight loss. I do want to get fit eventually. For the time being I am taking crossfit and when I hit goal weight I'll be going back to a "normal" gym for bulking and weight lifting. My macros seem fine other than missing 4 - 5 percent of protein. I think about adding another scoop to my shake after crossfit but it has sodium and *kitten* in it.2 -
honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?
Let me ask you this? What do you think will happen when you transition to maintenance? Also, what are your goals? Do you want to be skinny or do you want to be fit? Do you care if you slow your metabolism more than it should during weight loss? Are you eating adequate protein and lifting while you are aggressively cutting?
For now its just weight loss. I do want to get fit eventually. For the time being I am taking crossfit and when I hit goal weight I'll be going back to a "normal" gym for bulking and weight lifting. My macros seem fine other than missing 4 - 5 percent of protein. I think about adding another scoop to my shake after crossfit but it has sodium and *kitten* in it.
I will first say, it is much easier to maintain your muscle mass with an appropriate plan, than try to build it, consider a male can gain around 1/2lb of muscle per week. Second, if you protect your muscle, you are going to see larger body fat % reductions in a shorter period of time. This means, you will hit your ideal body image much quicker.
Taking the path you are taking rarely makes someone happy. I can't tell you the amount of underweight people trying to figure out why they still dont have the bodies that want, only to find out they need to add weight not to get there.
If your long term goal is lean, start setting up for that now, unless you want to prolong the whole dieting/bulking game.
How many grams of protein? Also, sodium isn't bad for you. It's essential to life.3 -
honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?
Let me ask you this? What do you think will happen when you transition to maintenance? Also, what are your goals? Do you want to be skinny or do you want to be fit? Do you care if you slow your metabolism more than it should during weight loss? Are you eating adequate protein and lifting while you are aggressively cutting?
For now its just weight loss. I do want to get fit eventually. For the time being I am taking crossfit and when I hit goal weight I'll be going back to a "normal" gym for bulking and weight lifting. My macros seem fine other than missing 4 - 5 percent of protein. I think about adding another scoop to my shake after crossfit but it has sodium and *kitten* in it.
I will first say, it is much easier to maintain your muscle mass with an appropriate plan, than try to build it, consider a male can gain around 1/2lb of muscle per week. Second, if you protect your muscle, you are going to see larger body fat % reductions in a shorter period of time. This means, you will hit your ideal body image much quicker.
Taking the path you are taking rarely makes someone happy. I can't tell you the amount of underweight people trying to figure out why they still dont have the bodies that want, only to find out they need to add weight not to get there.
If your long term goal is lean, start setting up for that now, unless you want to prolong the whole dieting/bulking game.
How many grams of protein? Also, sodium isn't bad for you. It's essential to life.
According to MFP it's about 82 grams through the week days, more on week ends.0 -
honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »honkinballs wrote: »Haha just kidding guys I eat 10,000 calories a day and will soon appear on My 600lb Life
I get the feeling you're getting annoyed with people telling you to eat more. Just know we're trying to look out for you, dude. We don't want to see you post again in 4 months saying "I lost a bunch of weight but now my hair is falling out and I feel weak and I get dizzy when I stand up! What do I do?"
All the protein bars in the world won't substitute for a diet that's too low in calories.
I know. I've been thinking about upping the calories but I have some issues. First being I don't want an increase to lead back to old habits and gaining back weight. Second being I at the very least want to get to 200 first. I'm averaging around 2 to 2.5 lost a week so that should be what, four months?
Let me ask you this? What do you think will happen when you transition to maintenance? Also, what are your goals? Do you want to be skinny or do you want to be fit? Do you care if you slow your metabolism more than it should during weight loss? Are you eating adequate protein and lifting while you are aggressively cutting?
For now its just weight loss. I do want to get fit eventually. For the time being I am taking crossfit and when I hit goal weight I'll be going back to a "normal" gym for bulking and weight lifting. My macros seem fine other than missing 4 - 5 percent of protein. I think about adding another scoop to my shake after crossfit but it has sodium and *kitten* in it.
I will first say, it is much easier to maintain your muscle mass with an appropriate plan, than try to build it, consider a male can gain around 1/2lb of muscle per week. Second, if you protect your muscle, you are going to see larger body fat % reductions in a shorter period of time. This means, you will hit your ideal body image much quicker.
Taking the path you are taking rarely makes someone happy. I can't tell you the amount of underweight people trying to figure out why they still dont have the bodies that want, only to find out they need to add weight not to get there.
If your long term goal is lean, start setting up for that now, unless you want to prolong the whole dieting/bulking game.
How many grams of protein? Also, sodium isn't bad for you. It's essential to life.
According to MFP it's about 82 grams through the week days, more on week ends.
Yea, that is really low. MFP defaults at 20% of calories. In reality, it should 1.5 to 2.2g/kg while trying to lose weight (so closer to 140g+.3 -
If you're doing Crossfit you DEFINITELY need to be eating more. Workouts at Crossfit-level intensity burn a lot of calories. I do Crossfit 5x/week and I have to eat over 2600 to MAINTAIN. (30/male/5'11"/165lb.)1
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I will reluctantly go to 1500 on weekdays now fine sheeesh2
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honkinballs wrote: »I will reluctantly go to 1500 on weekdays now fine sheeesh
Dude there are no bonus points for being a martyr, or doing it the hard way.
Making your life as easy and pleasant as possible can only serve to increase your chance of long term success.
171cm and between 49 and 50yo during the 12 months I dropped 72+ lbs while eating more than 2500 Cal a day.
Relax and try to figure out what will be sustainable instead of white knuckling to the finish line.
The finish line is just the start of maintenance.
Starting maintenance burned out and primed for weight regain ain't gonna help you much.5 -
honkinballs wrote: »I will reluctantly go to 1500 on weekdays now fine sheeesh
I'm 1" taller than you, starting weight was where you are now-ish. 235lbs. 1500cals/day and one ... maybe 2 days per week of lifting heavy for just 15-20 mins got me to 200 in roughly 16-18 weeks. You'll be fine at 1500/day. Trust us, you, me, so many others have enough to lose that you can easily eat at that level and still lose weight. Any faster really is compromising your long-term health and safety.
A friend of mine is doing so-called "Medical Weight Loss", eating very VERY low calories of bland food, aiming for a target loss of 4lbs/week, quickly... totally unsafe and IMO stupid. Especially since when they return to eating like normal people, weight will slowly come back.
Don't be impatient...0 -
honkinballs wrote: »I will reluctantly go to 1500 on weekdays now fine sheeesh
Do what you think is best for you. But thinking short term is a huge error that most people do instead of think of long term goals. That is what I was trying to make you aware of.
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