Ok so im 15 years old and im wondering if its fine if i start having 1 protein bar a day or as much as you guys say is enough. Where exactly can I pick up protein bars. Any main stream stores like wall mart,superstore or watever. Are they expensive and wich is the best?

These things are most likley fattening. How fattening?

If you want to find out how much fat is in a serving of a protein bar, look at the label. Most people here will say that protein bars are generally crap. If you want, you can buy some protein bars and use them as a snack between meals (maybe have one day). Beware, some protein bars contain sugar alcohols (a type of an artificial sweetner) and if you're sensitive to the ingredient it may cause some unexpected bowel movement, as in you'll have to run to the bathroom a lot. ;]

I've been eating "protein" bars since I was about 13. I've always eaten one or two a day and it's never been a problem. They sure aren't ideal, but at 15 yrs. old, I wouldn't worry about it much.

Ok so im 15 years old and im wondering if its fine if i start having 1 protein bar a day or as much as you guys say is enough. Where exactly can I pick up protein bars. Any main stream stores like wall mart,superstore or watever. Are they expensive and wich is the best?

These things are most likley fattening. How fattening?

Yup they're expensive. They're not fattening....not much is unless you eat more calories than you burn.

Why do you feel protein bars will help? What do you think they will do for you? They won't do much unless you clearly understand for yourself why you should take them.....and not because some site on the internet told you so. I'm not trying to be mean but mearly suggesting you gather more research rather than say "tell me exactly what to eat".

Yup they're expensive. They're not fattening....not much is unless you eat more calories than you burn.

Why do you feel protein bars will help? What do you think they will do for you? They won't do much unless you clearly understand for yourself why you should take them.....and not because some site on the internet told you so. I'm not trying to be mean but mearly suggesting you gather more research rather than say "tell me exactly what to eat".


I was looking at gravity homers guide and saw that was in his example and might take a shot at it. Cuz im getting like no protein.

... Cuz im getting like no protein.
Then eat more food!!!

If your protein intake is really bad, then you need to start eating better first. Then supplement with bars or shakes (preferably shakes in my opinion). But proper FOOD should be more important than proper supplements.

Go to the grocery store and pick up some lean beef, chicken, tuna, eggs, egg whites, etc.

Then eat more food!!!

If your protein intake is really bad, then you need to start eating better first. Then supplement with bars or shakes (preferably shakes in my opinion). But proper FOOD should be more important than proper supplements.

Go to the grocery store and pick up some lean beef, chicken, tuna, eggs, egg whites, etc.

K well im eating 2 eggs on toast for breakfast every morning.
At lunch I usualy have a sandwich with pure vegies
and then if I cant find anything later on I will have another sandwich or more eggs.
Then at dinner I usualy eat what my mom makes for dinner wich is'nt USUALY fattening. If so I make my own thing.

That sound ok? I need to eat a bit more. I need to record the calories and fat and everythin im eating. Know of any good calculators?

www.nutirdiary.com

You only need to eat more if you are performing activities (ie: weightlifting) that would require your body to promote anabolism (muscle growth) or increased endurance. If you eat beyond your maintenance level (homeostatis....body is pretty much in balance in terms of intake and output) you will gain weight. Depending on genetics, food timing and body requirements....you will gain muscle, increased skeletal needs (bone density) and/or fat (provided you are working out hard, most of the requirements would hopefullly be muscle and bone growth).

What is your perception of fattening? ie: what kind of things are fattening?

Most meals should be balanced with some:

protein (milk, eggs, cottage cheese, fish, lean meats:chicken, turkey, game meat etc... and occassionally beef),

carbs (whole grains, rye, barley, oats, brown rice, sweet potato etc...)

and fat (good fats, you omegas, olive oil, safflower, sunflower, avocados, seeds, flax, fish oils, nuts: almonds, walnuts, peanuts).

Ideally every meal.

K well im eating 2 eggs on toast for breakfast every morning.
At lunch I usualy have a sandwich with pure vegies
and then if I cant find anything later on I will have another sandwich or more eggs.
Then at dinner I usualy eat what my mom makes for dinner wich is'nt USUALY fattening. If so I make my own thing.

That sound ok? I need to eat a bit more. I need to record the calories and fat and everythin im eating. Know of any good calculators?
No it doesn't sound ok. Eat more protein.

What is in the sandwich? A couple slices of deli meat ain't enough, and plus now you're eating processed, high-as-heck sodium foods.

If you have the money to buy protein bars then surely you have the money to go to the store and buy tuna, beef, and chicken. Is mom going to get mad about you putting "your food" in her fridge? I had to do this when I was your age; my family was pretty supportive (though my sister would steal my food sometimes!).

No it doesn't sound ok. Eat more protein.

What is in the sandwich? A couple slices of deli meat ain't enough, and plus now you're eating processed, high-as-heck sodium foods.

If you have the money to buy protein bars then surely you have the money to go to the store and buy tuna, beef, and chicken. Is mom going to get mad about you putting "your food" in her fridge? I had to do this when I was your age; my family was pretty supportive (though my sister would steal my food sometimes!).

Thanks for the laugh GTX :lol:

Then eat more food!!!

If your protein intake is really bad, then you need to start eating better first. Then supplement with bars or shakes (preferably shakes in my opinion). But proper FOOD should be more important than proper supplements.

Go to the grocery store and pick up some lean beef, chicken, tuna, eggs, egg whites, etc.

I certainly agree with you on eating more real food. However, shakes are in a different category than bars for two reasons for me.

1) They don't fill you up, at all. Protein bars can at least stave off hunger for a couple hours.

2) I can throw a bunch of protein bars in my desk at work or bag I'm taking with me for the weekend to have them ready whenever I want. Shakes don't offer that same luxury.


Just thought I'd mention a couple valid (IMHO) reasons for bars over shakes.

I certainly agree with you on eating more real food. However, shakes are in a different category than bars for two reasons for me.

1) They don't fill you up, at all. Protein bars can at least stave off hunger for a couple hours.

2) I can throw a bunch of protein bars in my desk at work or bag I'm taking with me for the weekend to have them ready whenever I want. Shakes don't offer that same luxury.


Just thought I'd mention a couple valid (IMHO) reasons for bars over shakes.

You can put RTD Shakes in your desk. ;)

Bars do have advantages over shakes, I don't disagree. I think OVERALL Shakes are better though.

www.nutirdiary.com

That would be www.nutRidiary.com .

Great site by the way, I was using fitday.com but it only uses imperial measures and indeterminate size "cups". :mad: This one also shows stuff by 100 grams, which is very nice. :tucool:

That would be www.nutRidiary.com .

Great site by the way, I was using fitday.com but it only uses imperial measures and indeterminate size "cups". :mad: This one also shows stuff by 100 grams, which is very nice. :tucool:

my dyslexia kicked in again :o

I have a protein bar as my second meal during my shift at work, since later on I'm usually by myself and can't get away to get "real food." I'm a fan of the Clif Builder's Bars (not the regular Clif bars which taste like crap). They taste pretty damn good, are only about $1.70 or so, and have 20g of protein. I'll usually keep a spinach salad back in the office with me to munch on about the same time. I don't see anything wrong with that at all, but I know people who basically live off the damn things, and that can't be healthy.

That would be www.nutRidiary.com .

Great site by the way, I was using fitday.com but it only uses imperial measures and indeterminate size "cups". :mad: This one also shows stuff by 100 grams, which is very nice. :tucool:

"Cup" is a proper size. It's just imperial. Come on America, wake up and measure things properly :D Système Internationale is so-named for a reason! :)

Al

Ok so im 15 years old and im wondering if its fine if i start having 1 protein bar a day or as much as you guys say is enough. Where exactly can I pick up protein bars. Any main stream stores like wall mart,superstore or watever. Are they expensive and wich is the best?

These things are most likley fattening. How fattening?
In my opinion protein bars are usually a waste of money. They don't do anything magical to your body, and many of them have ingredients that are not the best for your body (various types of sugars or artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors and/or colors). To add protein to your diet, buy more eggs and tuna.

Fattening? Eating more calories than you need is fattening, whether it's carbohydrates, protein or fat. If you were going to add protein bars to your diet without taking away other food sources, then yes, you'd gain weight.