whats the general opinion on protein bars?

[shuaman]

Hello guys, im trying to hit 1.5g of protein per body weight in lbs. Im around 190lbs now so nearly 300g of protein im trying to hit. Im managing 220/230 relatively easy but im looking to boost it up abit. What do you all think about protein bars? Are they worth it? Do you have them (if so which)?

Thanks

[snorkelman]

often inferior sources of protein with gassy results.

Best used when owner fails to plan ahead.

[WonderPug]

Why in the world are you deliberately trying to eat so much protein? Do you know that during a bulk, at your current weight, there's no special muscle building benefit to consuming more than 150 grams or so?

[loveee]

Make your own. control your own macro's.

[clr18287]

glorified candy bars.

[BigBarck]

Useful, but a terrible idea if you can just preplan and get a more well rounded
meal

[pshickey]

Iss research oh yeah protein bars are delicious!

[spomfret]

Usually a mix of casein and whey protein, handy to take to work.

I use them as an alternative to 'real' chocolate when I need a sweet fix, saying that I wouldn't pay full price for them. Usually get them in bulk if there is an offer on.

(edit) If you could justify eating so much unnecessary protein in one day, then I can think of much cheaper ways gram for gram than protein bars.

[docmansound]

Sometimes I eat em when my sweet tooth acts up. It's slightly better macros than a candy bar but tastes worse.

[NDeeps27]

i eat one when im in a situation when i cant eat an actual meal, but if i were you i wouldnt be worried about trying to get more protein when youre already getting over 200g

either way, i love met rx protein plus or pure protein bars. i feel like theyre glorified candy bars like someone said, but taste bomb!

for the same amount of cash youd spend on a 3 oz bar you can get like a carton of eggs or more btw...lot more protein and cheaper imo

[Robb817]

I've never tasted one that didn't make me want to gag. And theyre glorified candy bars. That's my reasoning. I don't think they will hurt you in the context of a balanced diet. I'd much rather gulp down a shake when im short on protein for the day.

[prolvr]

Glorified candy bars. Also why so much protein man?

[PerpetualMotion]

If the protein bar's name isn't Quest then you shouldn't eat it.

[Simmo0508]

Why in the world are you deliberately trying to eat so much protein? Do you know that during a bulk, at your current weight, there's no special muscle building benefit to consuming more than 150 grams or so?

He's asking about protein bars mate, not opinions on whether he's eating too much protein or our opinions on anything to do with his diet numbers. Your trolling is getting out of hand now brah


OP, general consensus here at my gym is that it's a last resort, and i agree. If you're stuck in a bind and don't have a meal on ya, grab it for a few extra hundreds calories to hold you over til you get home and have a proper food meal. They're not the greatest sources of protein, but it'll do. That sorta thing, get what i mean?

Are they worth it? Not really, they're pretty pricey for the amount of protein you do get.

We use Musashi P40 bars here. 40 protein, like 10 fat, 30 carbs. Pretty good like i said to hold you over.

[ZMan45]

He's asking about protein bars mate, not opinions on whether he's eating too much protein or our opinions on anything to do with his diet numbers. Your trolling is getting out of hand now brah


OP, general consensus here at my gym is that it's a last resort, and i agree. If you're stuck in a bind and don't have a meal on ya, grab it for a few extra hundreds calories to hold you over til you get home and have a proper food meal. They're not the greatest sources of protein, but it'll do. That sorta thing, get what i mean?

Are they worth it? Not really, they're pretty pricey for the amount of protein you do get.

We use Musashi P40 bars here. 40 protein, like 10 fat, 30 carbs. Pretty good like i said to hold you over.

If he would realize that he doesn't need 300g of protein, then he wouldn't have to purchase crappy protein bars in the first place. derp.

[Simmo0508]

If he would realize that he doesn't need 300g of protein, then he wouldn't have to purchase crappy protein bars in the first place. derp.

Who are you to say he doesn't need 300g of protein? Only the individual can ultimately make that call. Nor is that his topic to begin with.

Newsflash to noobs, 300g of protein isn't unheard of nor unusual in bodybuilding. Other factors (that the OP didn't even touch on) must be considered. So without that, just leave it be.

It's only this particular forum that really is scared of protein and/or increasing protein. If you train hard, you better believe you need to smash that protein down. Food in general.

[thegymbum]

I'm a fan of protein bars when I'm trying to bulk, but just for the calories, not the protein, since I get plenty of protein from foods. Honestly your protein is way more than your body needs or can use, so adding more is really just a waste. You'd get the same calories for like 1/8 the price from a plain old candy bar, and of course it'd be lacking the protein, but such high protein is compltely unnecessary.

[The Running Man]

I usually keep some Quest bars around for convenience. Sometimes my hunger isn't enough to offset my laziness. They're also great on long haul flights when you're starving and don't want to look like a moron making whey shakes.

[t12jm]

Lol at this protein purism.

I depended on one or two a day over the summer when I was working 12 hour shifts with just a short lunch. If you can find one with good macros and buy in bulk=profit. Especially if you're always hungry like me.

No, not trying to have 8 meals a day, just hungry.

[t12jm]

often inferior sources of protein with gassy results.

Best used when owner fails to plan ahead.

I've never noticed extra gas from protein bars.

Please explain the "inferior source of protein" part.

[MakeABanana]

Those protein brownies ...


Never again.

[BookMonkey]

Protein bars are for the lazy/misled/unplanned. I only keep them on hand for when I'm in a hurry or forget to bring food. Also, for long road trips (I hate stopping). Back when Atkins first hit mainstream media, everyone started eating protein bars. It was the hip thing to do for some reason. That really pushed the market to create these "glorified candy bars" and it never really died. Most of them are crap and overpriced for what they offer. They are not a replacement for food, nor should they be considered a staple to anyone's diet.

[snorkelman]

Please explain the "inferior source of protein" part.

Many are soy-based rather than using a milk-based source for the protein. Not suggesting that a protein bar will give you man-boobs, but soy has a lower BCAA count than whey, which should be a good basis to view it as an inferior source of protein. This doesn't even get into how that protein in the various bars was processed.

[PerpetualMotion]

Many are soy-based rather than using a milk-based source for the protein. Not suggesting that a protein bar will give you man-boobs, but soy has a lower BCAA count than whey, which should be a good basis to view it as an inferior source of protein. This doesn't even get into how that protein in the various bars was processed.

Which is why I like Quest Bars but I'm unsure of the processing on their whey isolate. Protein bars, though, don't seem to be worth it. After shipping, Quest Bars end up being something measly and awful like 6-7g of protein per dollar.

[harebearva]

I am a fan of 'make your own' protein bars. It's a little work but worth it. I make mine out of whole oats, sweet potato, egg white, apple sauce and a little vanilla protein powder. Alot cheaper too.

[WonderPug]

Who are you to say he doesn't need 300g of protein? Only the individual can ultimately make that call. Nor is that his topic to begin with.

The problem is that posters like you mislead newbies into thinking they need 1.5 or more grams of protein per pound of bodyweight and thus newbies, like to OP, have a very hard time meeting this arbitrary requirement.

The truth is that the OP does not gain any special physiological benefit from consuming more than 150 to 180 grams of protein.*






--------------------
* See: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2129150/

[FeelTheFear]

Hello guys, im trying to hit 1.5g of protein per body weight in lbs. Im around 190lbs now so nearly 300g of protein im trying to hit. Im managing 220/230 relatively easy but im looking to boost it up abit. What do you all think about protein bars? Are they worth it? Do you have them (if so which)?

Thanks

That much protein is pointless. 1g/lb is all you need.

often inferior sources of protein with gassy results.

Best used when owner fails to plan ahead.

Inferior? not at all.

Who are you to say he doesn't need 300g of protein? Only the individual can ultimately make that call. Nor is that his topic to begin with.

Newsflash to noobs, 300g of protein isn't unheard of nor unusual in bodybuilding. Other factors (that the OP didn't even touch on) must be considered. So without that, just leave it be.

It's only this particular forum that really is scared of protein and/or increasing protein. If you train hard, you better believe you need to smash that protein down. Food in general.

Just because many people do something wrong doesn't make it right.

Excess protein = merely turned into glucose in the body for energy. Effectively does nothing that carbohydrates wouldn't do. (carbs are actually superior)

[snorkelman]

Inferior? not at all.

Not at all? Did you understand my point about BCAAs? Maybe if you eat one bar every couple weeks, it is such a significant point that it makes no real world significance, and if you eat a bar each day chasing a super high protein count, then it may not matter since your protein is already adequately high, but if you do what many newbies tend to do, and use protein bars to replace whole foods a couple times a day, and let's assume they are struggling to get adequate protein, then I think it would be important that they are ingesting at least high quality protein.

By the way, do you believe that collagen is a high quality protein?

[Simmo0508]

The problem is that posters like you mislead newbies into thinking they need 1.5 or more grams of protein per pound of bodyweight and thus newbies, like to OP, have a very hard time meeting this arbitrary requirement.

Please quote me to where i suggested anyone do as such. If you actually read posts, you would be aware that i am strongly against any formula i.e xyz grams/per lb etc. being one of them.

I do not propose specifics in my posts. People have to create specific numbers and plans for themselves. I do however encourage newbies to start eating properly and eating big, in order to put on mass. Which is true. So many new guys eat next to nothing and then down the line ask the questions like "why am i a hardgainer?". They truly don't underestand how much FOOD you have to eat each day in order to pack on size. Telling people to simply EAT MORE of every macro, is not exactly misleading ya bloody fruitcake.

You just again proved how little you pay attention on here and others are getting fed up with it (not that you'd be aware of that either, jus saiyan).

Quite often taking the pussy approach to lifting and eating will net people very minimal progress, if any. Trial and error teaches people that if something isn't working for THEM, then increase or decrease accordingly and re-evaluate. It's actually pretty simple from that perspective (bodybuilding).

It's much more understandable for newbs anyway, since half of them won't even understand "formulas" to begin with nor even weigh their food to accurately know macros/calories.

come in me bro

[AlwaysTryin]

Maybe OP is riding a bicycle