Am I dumb?

[JLo]

I am at work and it is hard to get in all of my meals throughout the day so I am trying out these protein bars. The one I am eating today, I noticed, doesn't look too healthy. It has 340 calories, 32 grams of sugar, and 8 grams of fat.

My fitness goals have changed from losing weight to gaining muscle-weight, so with that in mind....should I be eating this high calorie bar, or would it be better to just completely skip this meal?

For lunch, I went to a healthy grill here in Houston, and I ordered the buffalo burger with double meat. Was this overdoing it? It had no fattening condiments, just a wheat bun. So, if I am trying to gain weight to increase muscle mass, is it ok if I eat as much as I want as long as it's meats, veggies, rice, oats, etc (assuming I don't eat like a pig) or should I still count calories?

 

[OTCbooty]

The calories in the bar were fine, the sugars were obscene. Imagine yourself going into a 5lb bag of sugar and scooping 8 teaspoons-worth right into your mouth. You wouldn't do that whether you were trying to lose or gain weight, because it's just gross! If you really need to use bars to get through work, I'm sure you can find one with complex rather than simple carbs.

To gain muscle, you will need to eat, eat, and eat some more...but since you need to continue to eat clean (no more 32g of sugar MRP bars!!!) that is extremely challenging. To eat clean, and well over your maintenance, means you are eating ALL the freakin time, and "like a pig" is more like it. It takes a lot of clean food to make up a high cal diet. At least it seems that way to me, I tend to eat like a bird and have to force myself to eat.

You may be able to get away with not counting calories, you may not. I find that when I get out of the habit of counting them, then do a pop quiz kind of thing and count them for a day or two to make sure I'm on track, I am always eating 1700-1900 calories...which is little enough for me that my metabolism starts getting sluggish....I just need to plan my diet and count always, no matter what my goals are. It may be different for you.

I always eat freely of proteins and fibrous veggies. Starchy carbs and fats need a little more restraint.

 

[JLo]

Ok, great! So it looks like I can eat whatever, whenever as long as it's clean foods and without a lot of sugar.

Yea, I had a feeling these protein bars were not the greatest of ideas....I will look into others.

Thanks OTC !

 

[Sassy69]

Look at protein bars from two points of view -- first they are calories consumed -- so consider what part they willl play in your overall diet - if you are doing a 40/30/30 diet, how much can you afford from the protein bars?

As far as protein bars themselves - BEWARE - they are one step away from being a candy bar (at least in my mind)! I tend to go in 6-8 week phases when I can eat REALLY clean w/ no problem and then I start getting chocolate cravings. And DAMMIT, the S'mores flavor Pure Protein bars are SOOOOOOOOOOOOO good. Especially when I have a whole box of them sitting on the counter(because I saved 10% by buying bulk...) Sure, they are a nice, convenient meal replacement, but they are loaded with that mystery carb that isn't counted as a carb, and may even be low fat -- but there are BETTER alternatives to regularly put in your diet.

Just because it says "Meal Replacement" or "Health Bar" or "Energy Bar", doesnt' mean its good for you --- it just means the company selling it has a crack marketing team.

 

[Test boy]

All this hi tech 40/30/30 calorie counting with complex and simple carbs. My diet of whole fat milk, eggs, toast, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, cereal, and beer looks pretty archaic. Actually I try a little...protein powder, vegetables, and chicken. You folks are TOOO serious about this diet business. Don't worry...Be happy.

 

[Sassy69]

Go away Test boy -- we hate people who dont' have to count this shit. I prefer to be anal about my calorie counts. I'm proud of the fact that I know off the top of my head how many calories are in 3 oz of sweet potatoes or in 1/2 c of oatmeal. I can quote the entire label of my Udo's Choice! I really enjoy that panic feeling when I think I may have consumed an extra 2 oz of chicken and my salsa actually has 2 g of sugar per tbls. And dammit, don't bump my food scale when you are reaching for my 2nd basket of supplements. You might upset the setting I have it on. You know you can't count the weight of the tupperware when you are weighing out your brown rice.


BWAAHAHAHAHHHAHHAHHAHAHH!

But seriously, I came back to this thread because I was thinking of another good reason to avoid protein bars w/ 32 g of sugar. This stuff is NOT complex carbs so just imagine the sugar buzz you could get off of 32g of sugar. At the very least I try to avoid sugar loads so I can keep my insulin levels fairly even. Otherwise I'm sound asleep on my keyboard within an hour after the sugar spike!

 

[MS]

"Testboy" what are you doing on this board other than bragging about being a male that needs to take even more test than nature already supplied him with (which is too much for his own good)??? We've already got one of those (called WarLobo). Couldn't you get any airtime on the boys board???

In any event, I have never met a "good tasting'" protein bar that wasn't junk food IMHO. Read the small print on the label if you're not sure. Yes, eat all of the 'clean food' you want if your goal is to gain muscle. I can't comment on a grill in Houston (though I would be suspicious because of my nature).

Don't skip meals. Find alternatives that fit your goals. Sugars are a good idea to avoid except maybe post weights workout. In essence, nature has never provided us with high sugar/high fat meals before with the exception of fruit and honey with fresh lean meat (IF our ancestors were lucky enough). So you may be bucking nature to try and gain muscle without fat on a high carb/high fat diet. There are very few high GI carbs in nature AT ALL. So my advice would be "eat all you want of what nature provides in an unprocessed from as much as possible". I dare you to overeat and get fat on that recipe!!! I know you can put on muscle with that recipe.

 

[Test boy]

"Testboy" what are you doing on this board other than bragging about being a male that needs to take even more test than nature already supplied him with (which is too much for his own good)??? We've already got one of those (called WarLobo). Couldn't you get any airtime on the boys board???

In any event, I have never met a "good tasting'" protein bar that wasn't junk food IMHO. Read the small print on the label if you're not sure. Yes, eat all of the 'clean food' you want if your goal is to gain muscle. I can't comment on a grill in Houston (though I would be suspicious because of my nature).

Don't skip meals. Find alternatives that fit your goals. Sugars are a good idea to avoid except maybe post weights workout. In essence, nature has never provided us with high sugar/high fat meals before with the exception of fruit and honey with fresh lean meat (IF our ancestors were lucky enough). So you may be bucking nature to try and gain muscle without fat on a high carb/high fat diet. There are very few high GI carbs in nature AT ALL. So my advice would be "eat all you want of what nature provides in an unprocessed from as much as possible". I dare you to overeat and get fat on that recipe!!! I know you can put on muscle with that recipe.

I never even heard of you then you come across like the owner of the board. The vast majority of my posts are in Chat and Conversation regarding the terrorist situation. Interesting...I have a theory.

 

[MS]

Whatever....I meant why are you boasting the virtues of being a male on test (ie eating as much crap as you want and presumably gaining maximal muscle and minimal fat??) on the WOMEN's board. I don't ask because I own this board but because I am a women who posts here concerning training and dieting for WOMEN. I am sure you are a well loved chatter on the chat board but I didn't feel your post was at all helpful for JLo's question about protein bars. But maybe JLo feels differently.

 

[legs]

Stick with the low-car bars that are high in protein...........Eating the buffalo burger is fine for offseason.........without the condiments it sounds pretty healthy.........don't stress it just do things in moderation and you will succeed.............it looks like somethings working right with that bod of yours!