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Are Protein Bars even worth it?



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I make my own Protein Bars in an attempt to reduce my consumption of "processed frankenfood". I mix powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chocolate Protein powder, skim milk, dried cranberries, almond butter, and oatmeal to make Protein Bars. I freeze them and maybe eat two per week.

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I found some bars that I really like, they have at least 20g of Protein and One Bar is basically a meal for me. Also I will have half of one if I have a candy bar craving and it works for me. I use them as Snacks to help me get more protein in

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I do Quest only, which probably DOES have nearly as much Protein as a like size piece of fish. And I also bring one for my afternoon snack to work everyday and stuff them into my purse and luggage when I travel. They definitely are NOT and never have been "what's for dinner."

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I don't understand why the Quest bars are so popular. They are almost $3 each and taste terrible. I have tried so many flavors and they are all horrible

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I like my food fresh, if I did meal prep I would just throw it all out. I don't eat leftovers the whole concept grosses me out. That is an entirely different topic. I can respect people that meal prep, it just doesn't fit my lifestyle.

I usually keep deli ham around for the afternoon.

Going to hit the store and pick up my deli staples.

@@jess9395

I have been looking for the FitElite bars for a couple weeks since I saw them on instagram. I wanted to try it out more than I was really just starving. Since it was my afternoon snack time, I decided why not.

They are okay bars but they are too close to Quest bars imo. Nothing comes close to the taste of Oh Yeah One! bars, those I won't keep in the house at all because they taste too good.

If I never have this bar again, I won't be missing much.

Fair enough, we are all different and need to find what works for us!

For example, I can have an Oh Yeah bar in my cabinet for months and I won't go near it.

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I don't understand why the Quest bars are so popular. They are almost $3 each and taste terrible. I have tried so many flavors and they are all horrible

Because everyone's tastes are different. I love the taste of most of them... There are 4-5 I don't care for but the rest, YUM!

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@@jess9395

The lemon cake tastes just like lemon cake. It is just too amazing. They have to be using sorcery to make them.

That is the only Protein bar that I can't control myself around.

The apple pie Quest is pretty good too but nothing compares to that lemon cake bar.

The Protein brownies I make though, blow it all out the Water, nothing like fresh baked goodness, and they are dense and filling.

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@@Sophie74656 - there is an a** for every seat. I like Quest bars in an emergency and keep it with me when I travel. I am in the minority and enjoy Isopure drinks, even though I admit, most can't stand them. So find what you like, but realize it is a rescue food, not what you need everyday.

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@@coldsleeve

http://www.eatmeguiltfree.com/collections/diy-mix

you just add liquid egg whites, coconut oil and Water or almond milk.

they taste just like cake.

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I don't care for Protein bars, although I've used them in travel emergencies.

Frankly, Quest bars taste pretty wretched to me.

Not my thing.

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Protein is protein no matter how I get it....

BTW, I am not, and never have been a calorie counter.

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BTW, I am not, and never have been a calorie counter.

Me neither. The NUTs at the obesity center also don't recommend calorie counting. They set a Protein goal and what Vitamins and minerals to take and make suggestions how to reach these goals. They also recommend full fat products and to ditch the dieting stuff.

I was a bit surprised reading so much about calories here.

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I track my food with an app. I find comparing macros of items important because it keeps me mindful of what I am eating it helps me make better choices.

I think of calories more as a cost of an item, and it helps me evaluate its worth.

Like a huge salad in the afternoon is 20 calories.

An extra tablespoon of half and half is 20 calories.

I get more bang for my buck with the salad, but some of the time I am low on fat, so I need the extra tablespoon of half and half.

Not being mindful of what I was eating and not tracking my macros is what got me in this situation to begin with. I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.

Eventually I probably won't even care about calories, because how I eat I am low on calories all the time, but also I have to watch to make sure I get enough calories and Protein in. I have a lot of muscle and I love it and don't want to lose it.

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For me (a year into maintenance now), calories continue to matter. In fact, all macronutrients (Protein, carbs, fat) and Fiber, sodium, etc. matter to me.

There are a bazillion stories in the naked city about WLS patients who've regained weight who have no frickin' idea how many calories (or Proteins or carbs) they're eating. If I start gaining weight I would at least like to know why. Therefore, I track all my food / drink in My Fitness Pal.

My therapist would like for me to become a more "instinctive, healthy eater." By that he means that my instincts about what I want to eat and what I do eat should magically equate and result no weight loss, no weight gain.

Yeah, that ^^^^ was written in sarcasm font.

I'm so not there yet.

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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