I am adjusting my diet to get lean muscle and burn fat. I want to eat 5 “meals a day” I have a slow release protein blend (ProComplex) shake in the morning when I wake up, some fruit around 10:00-10:30 *work out 12-1* High protien bar at 1:00. Veggies about 3-3:30. Healthy Dinner around 6:30.
My question is for the Protein Bar psot workout. I want a high protein count but trying to avoid sugar content (less storing of fat from sugar) I found the Hi Protein Bars (link: http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/univ/hipro.html). They claim to be great because they provide 32 Grams of pretein with only 1 gram of sugar. HOWEVER, the nutrient facts also call out 26 garms of sugar alcohol.
I did light research on sugar alcohols, but most info was in regards to diabetes. My question is on weight gain issues. I realize sugar alcohols don’t create the spike in blood sugar or insulin levels, but I don’t know a ton, and was wondering if they can store fat or increase weight?
If my goal is to lean-up, is the 1 gram of sugar w/ 26G sugar alcohols ok? Or would something like 5 grams of sugar and zero sugar alcohol be better?
(I am 5’10″ 183 lbs 26 year old male. I work out M-F on my lunch break 12-1. Lift M,W.F and cardio Tues, Thurs)
Sugar Alcohols And Weight Gain- Protein Bars Content?
December 17th, 2010 § Tags: alcohols, Bars, content, Gain, Protein, Sugar, weight Posted in Diet § § 2 comments
They claim that “sugar alcohols don’t count” but I’ve heard hundreds of anecdotal experiences from people who can’t lose weight while using them. I’ve heard diabetics getting readings that don’t reflect the “net carb effect” When he was alive, Dr.Atkins was adamantly against using the bars & shakes for weight loss, that message died with him. They are fine for emergencies & maintaining weight but not for weight loss. I couldn’t recommend sugar for weight loss either though.
As healthy as fruit may be, fructose the sugar in many fruits is the most lipogenic (fat producing) carb.
The “Alcohol” in these bars is not alcohol as we normally use the term. It’s a hydrogenated form of carbohydrate (it’s bad enough when they hydrogenated fat). If you go through the link I’ve supplied you’ll find there are various sugar alcohols in the bars. I’m guessing from it’s mid ranking placement in the table these are derived from the corn syrup.
If you are working out hard you don’t need to worry about the calories in the bars, a hard workout will burn twice that amount! I would actually be a little worried that you aren’t getting enough calories throughout the day!
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* I seem to be looking at this question from a different angle to Cindy. I see you are trying to get lean and burn fat (and watch your sugar intake), but is your intake a general weightloss diet too?