Atkins bars..yes or no?
MelAnn82
Posts: 6
I know they are all very low in net carbs (2-4g) but are they actually ok to do? Are they ok if youre doing Atkins but not strict keto? Whats everyones take on the?
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They are a YMMV item. A number of people experience stalls using them. They also use malitol as a sweetener. Malitol is a bad sugar alcohol. (Vs erythritol which is a much better sugar alcohol). Malitol still has a high glycemic index, and users usually still have an insulin response. Users also often have gastric issues with malitol.
Avoid malitol. Bad. Very bad. Unless you are severely constipated. And even then, be cautious.
For a snack I'd rather have almonds, sunflower seeds, cooked bacon, dark chocolate - if you are working out, check out Quest bars. good source of protein there.0 -
I second the Quest Bars!! A little pricey but totally worth the money. You can find them on Quest.com or Amazon.com.0
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And GNCI second the Quest Bars!! A little pricey but totally worth the money. You can find them on Quest.com or Amazon.com.0 -
When I was doing low carb they always kicked me out of ketosis--must have been all the sugar alcohols.
I tried to find quest bars, they are at this site:
http://www.questproteinbar.com/0 -
I remember having a few Atkins peanut caramel clusters bars in one go.. omg I was in so much pain I couldn't even move.. and then had soo much gas..0
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I eat them and haven't had any problems...yet I guess after reading the other posts. I also drink the shakes.0
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I eat them whenever I need to bump up my calorie intake. I have not had any problems eating them.0
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I looked at these in Sam's Club the other day, but didn't get them.
I've been using Nature Valley protein chewy bars (I also get them at Sam's), peanut dark chocolate flavor. They are 9g net carbs, 12g fat and 10g protein. Cheaper than the Atkins bars too.0 -
And GNCI second the Quest Bars!! A little pricey but totally worth the money. You can find them on Quest.com or Amazon.com.
and The Vitamin Shop0 -
I like Atkins bars, especially when i am on the go and need a quick meal and dont have time/access to real food. They are quick and easy and filling but I have huge issues with portion control on some things and they are one of those things. I cant keep them in the house.0
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I have used them, and they were a lifesaver when I went to the office without eating breakfast at home. I was lucky that they didn't stall my weight loss or give me gas. For pure weight loss, I liked them. As previously mentioned, they're a YMMV family of items.
However, I'm back into heavy lifting and wanted more protein than the bars could provide, so I bought a case of Premier Protein chocolate shakes (30 grams protein / 160 calories) and I LOVE those. Those are a little cheaper than Atkins anything (available at Costco for $23), too.
I have one of those along with my morning eggs. My wife told me just this morning that she loves the results!
Just my humble opinion, but I would sooner buy ash from the devil than purchase anything from GNC. They elevate overcharging to an art form.0 -
I eat them. I have had no issues with them. That being said, it would probably be better if I didn't eat them, but there are a couple reasons that I do. One reason is that I don't ever feel like I want to eat a real sugar filled treat because I can have those and still stay on plan since they fit in my macros and some are pretty good and taste just like a candy bar or cookie. The other reason I eat them is because of the convenience factor. They are just easy to grab in the morning for a quick breakfast fix (I usually eat nuts or something else too). I have had issues with other sugar alcohols though. The Hershey Sugar Free Caramel Filled Chocolates were bad news for me (when I ate two in one day - I didn't have problems prior to that when I just ate one), but they have a much larger amount of sugar alcohols. I can't remember the exact amount of sugar alcohols they have and though the amount is listed on their packaging it's not listed on the nutritional info on their webpage but I'm thinking it's around 20 and they are much smaller in size than Atkins bars.0
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I eat them like they are going out of style. I don't necessarily follow Atkins really, but pretty strict keto most of the time. I cram one of these for the extra calories at the end of the day, or if I need something quick. I don't have them everyday, but I go through them like you all the time overall. I have never been knocked out of ketosis on them, and they taste great and are surprisingly pretty filling. My favorite is the caramel brownie one. Also I just discovered the endulge ones last night. I love reese's and haven't had them in a VERY long time, so I saw the Atkins peanut butter sup things last night and got them. OUTSTANDING! Not exactly the same as a reese's but it definitely scratched that itch. But like others have said it's all person to person with these things.0
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My husband's diabetes educator said to count all sugar alcohols as half a sugar because they do affect your blood sugar. (10 grams sugar alcohol = 5 grams carbs)0
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My husband's diabetes educator said to count all sugar alcohols as half a sugar because they do affect your blood sugar. (10 grams sugar alcohol = 5 grams carbs)
it's probably a good conservative approach, but sugar alcohols is a broad category, and there's a lot of differences between the individual sugar alcohols. Erythritol, with a glycemic index of zero and little to no gastric upset, is not the same as malitol with a GI of 36, and know side effects of bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Good article - http://www.marksdailyapple.com/sugar-alcohols/#axzz2h5HLv4aU0 -
I don't do the Atkins bars, but do the Atkins shakes on occasion. (Stashed at my desk for times I forget lunch.) I like the Premiere Shake suggestion! I'll have to try that
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They are soooo gross!0
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If I'm in a tight spot and neeeeeed a power bar for the go, I get the Pure Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter bars. I've found they have a really nice balance and they're actually tasty.
http://www.pureprotein.net/pages/products.aspx?sku=045887
Serving Size: 1 Bar (78g)
Calories 310,
Total Fat 10g
Saturated Fat 4.5g, Trans Fat 0g,
Total Carbohydrate 25g*
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars 3g,
Sugar Alcohol 9g,
Protein 31g
*I don't eat them anymore because that's pretty much my carbs for the day, though0 -
I would suggest only having an atkins bar in your bag or car for an emergency food since becoming dependent on a meal supplement takes away from the benefits of natural, whole foods.0
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BEFORE I FOUND THE ATKIN'S MEALS I HAD A FREE SAMPLE OF THE BARS, IT WAS 3 BARS DIFFERENT "FLAVORS". I USED THEM AS A LIFE LINE WHEN I WAS STARVING BUT NOT SURE WHEN I'D HAVE TIME TO ACTUALLY COOK OR MAKE MYSELF SOMETHING TO EAT0
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Yesterday I had just come off a night shift so slept until 3pm. I ended up eating a sort of lunch/supper deal around 4 and then didn't eat supper. Lunch was huge so I was ok but then later in the evening I was craving something sweet, for the first time in 2 weeks and remembered the atkins caramel nut chews I had bought for emergencies. I didn't realize that the nutritional values on MFP for the one I picks had the net carbs not what the box said (2g vs 17g) so when I looked at my totals I could have 2 (so I thought). Today I was up 1.5lbs and couldn't understand why until I looked at it closer. I won't be having them again!! at least not 2 at a time.:blushing:0
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I've not tried Atkins bars but as others have said, In an emergency I go for a quest bar- I'm happy with macros and ingredients!0
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They are a YMMV item. A number of people experience stalls using them. They also use malitol as a sweetener. Malitol is a bad sugar alcohol. (Vs erythritol which is a much better sugar alcohol). Malitol still has a high glycemic index, and users usually still have an insulin response. Users also often have gastric issues with malitol.
Avoid malitol. Bad. Very bad. Unless you are severely constipated. And even then, be cautious.
For a snack I'd rather have almonds, sunflower seeds, cooked bacon, dark chocolate - if you are working out, check out Quest bars. good source of protein there.
This. Every time I've tried ANY of the Atkins sweets, the tummy issues have happened and I've stalled or gained. Malitol is a very big no-no for me. I'll stick to making my own sweets, thank you very much 0 -
I eat one occasionally. They are kind of a "Frankenfood." Haven't had any problems with the Maltitol. I think they're tasty. I treat them "for emergency use only" because I'd much rather have a meal with meat or fish, veggies, salad, you know, "real" food.
Don't care much for the Quest bars. I had one that was a week or so before it's expiration date, and it was ROCK HARD. I mean, so hard I couldn't even cut pieces off with a knife. Harder than beef jerky. I was mad. Those bars aren't cheap. I've never had an Atkins bar get that nasty.
Some people get down on Atkins Nutritionals for hawking the bars and shakes, claiming that it's a distortion of what Atkins intended for his diet. But Atkins, when he was alive, had been marketing his brand of products for years. Like a decade or something.0 -
Atkin bars taste super sweet to me and give me major cravings.. I prefer the play-doh like Quest bars. I eat one and am full for a few hrs and don't get cravings. I like the banana nut one...cause you are what you eat.0
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I say try it and see .. Everyone is different.
I absolutely can't do the bars or shakes or candies or even the Atkins frozen meals because they all stall me. I also don't eat anything with sugar alcohols.0 -
I love the Quest bars as they are large and work as a meal substitute as they are supposed to be. Really fill you up. Best if you nuke them for 15-20 seconds though. Then they are soft and chewy. Just ordered a big box and I can't wait!!
Atkins made me stall on weight loss. Ate them like candy. Just one or two for a treat during the day. Didn't work for me.0
