This may be a stupid question about carbs....

[IslandGirl]

I was just reading freak daddy's thread about starchy versus complex carbs and it made me think of the PowerBars that I eat - are the carbs in those bars complex carbs?

My other question is about popcorn - what kind of carbs are in popcorn? I luvvvv eating air popped popcorn as an evening snack before bed - it's a left-over study habit from college, I always had a bowl of popcorn and a diet coke to get me through hours of studying in the evening.

 

[Phemomena]

not sure on the powerbars, the oats and grains ect in them are complex carbs... they probably have some sugars of some sort in them, which are simple carbs.... so i would say both (often times they'll break out the carbs and list the sugar grams, sugar = simple carbs)... in general, there are worse things you can put into your body, but you'd be better off eating less processed based food (oatmeal, veggies, sweet potatoes etc)...

as far as the popcorn goes... i would say they're complex? but there aren't a lot of carbs in popcorn just since they are so 'air filled' ... its the butter/saturated fats/hydrogenated oils that ya got to worry about... air popped popcorn(not microwave stuff), with no butter isn't bad (basically a few fairly empty calories that'll fill you up, i think they're might be a little fiber in there too??)

now the diet coke is a compleeetly different story... if you're still drinking it... eeek... well just don't

 

[IslandGirl]

I know I know!!!! Diet coke is horrible stuff to put into your body but I'm down to 1 caffeine free diet coke a day. It's a very bad habit that I am trying to give up but there's something about opening the can and taking my first sip......I sound like some sort of alcoholic or something!

I just looked on the back of one of my power bars - it has 45g carbs - 3g dietary fiber, 17g sugar. I eat them as a yummy snack to tide me over until lunch. I also eat LOTS of veggies during the day, it's not like I substitute the power bars for them. It's more like I substitute a mocha power bar for my incessant craving for chocolate!

 

[HappyScrappy]

mocha power bar for my incessant craving for chocolate!

I think you mean "incessant craving for deep dicking"

 

[IslandGirl]

I think you mean "incessant craving for deep dicking"

riiiiight......

 

[KBgrl]

45carbs, 17sugar!! thats a lot of sugar!!! any protein in that bad boy? instead of a balance bar type thing try a protein bar, with moderate carbs, maybe protein, 20, carbs 10, sugar 0-6. u wont find much fiber in protein bars but at least ur getting a good source of protein... this will actually make u feel more full as opposed to the sugary, high carb bar. its probably going to be higher in caloreis so if ur eating it before lunch u may just want to stick to 1/2 a bar. ok--im done good luck girl!! --KBgrl

 

[IslandGirl]

Thanks kbgirl, I will look for a bar lower in sugar and overall carbs. Power Bars have 10 grams of protein but I can always use more.

Any suggestions of tasty protein bars/shakes?

 

[Phemomena]

if you don't mind paying a little extra for the muscletech nonsence (i don't endorse any of their other products, waste of moneybuuuuttt...)

the meso-tech chocolate peanut butter bar tastes great (a lot of protein bars taste like crap, and what's the sence of buying them if you can't swallow the nasty cardboard puke taste??) (don't get the nitro-tech... they taste crappy, if you get meso techs that are fresh, you can close your eyes and pretend that its a bad immitation reese peanut butter cup)

well i'll probably get flamed for that... but hey....

 

[IslandGirl]

Thanks, Phemomena, I will try the meso-tech bar out. There is only 1 health food store on this whole frickin island so they charge a fortune for everything, but I will at least try it and then hopefully they will be a bit more affordable when I move to the States.

Do you have any suggestions for a protein powder and what to combine it with? I tried Geni Soy plain powder with oj and a banana and it was HIDEOUS!!!!!!!! Just thinking about it makes me ill. I'm trying to eat as much soy protein as possible b/c there's a possibility that I might inherit the family kidney disease and I've read that soy protein has shown benefits for those with the same disease.

 

[Phemomena]

as far as good tasting goes... try prolab... chocolate (or chocolate cream)... i actually mix my shakes with soy milk...

with any shakes, mix 'em with a blender and they'll taste a million times better... (i have one of those hand blenders and i carry it everywhere with me....)

my fav shake is the following

1 scoop prolab pure whey chocolate
1/2 banana
1 big spoonful of all natural peanut butter
1 cup soy milk
ice

mix with a blender (sometimes i throw some egg whites in there) and yummm...

as for the supplements, why see if HS can buy you some and ship 'em (if he orders stuff cheap off the net, gets it and ships it to you you'd probably still be a lot better off cost wise..)

but if you're moving soon, that whole process is probably a little too much to get into