post-workout energy bar? - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

brucen32 · 01-23-2006, 08:50 PM

It is inconvenient for me to have a whey/dextrose shake after working out. I've read on here that energy bars are mostly simple sugars anyways and I was wondering if an energy/protein bar (with the appropriate ratio of carbs

rotein) and a say a glass of orange juice would be a good post-workout meal?

Naxis · 01-23-2006, 09:22 PM

What is your goal?
And if your bar has enough carbs and protein, the oj is overkill. OJ also is fructose, and if you're trying to build mass, is going to be less effective than sucrose/dextrose. Fructose is preferred by the liver rather than the muscles, so it replenishes the liver first. If you're just staying fit or even going for weight loss, this isn't a big issue, but it's less helpful if your aim is muscle building.

brucen32 · 01-23-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naxis

What is your goal?
And if your bar has enough carbs and protein, the oj is overkill. OJ also is fructose, and if you're trying to build mass, is going to be less effective than sucrose/dextrose. Fructose is preferred by the liver rather than the muscles, so it replenishes the liver first. If you're just staying fit or even going for weight loss, this isn't a big issue, but it's less helpful if your aim is muscle building.

Primary goal is body fat loss and muscle gain is secondary. For fat loss I read 25% protein and ~30 % carb of bodyweight (I think from you). I'm 5'11, 170. Which means 42 g protein and 51 g carb. The protein plus power bar has 24 g protein and 39 g carb. 1 glass of OJ has 27 g carb, for a total of 66 (39+27). So it's a little over on the carb and under on the protein. But I can look for a bar with better ratios. I understand what you say about the fructose in OJ, but is there any other convenient ready made that has the ideal simple carb? Sugar water would be rather boring. Maybe Gatorade?

Naxis · 01-24-2006, 01:08 PM

Gatorade isn't a bad choice, plus repleninshing electrolytes. The problem is you have conflicting goals, unless you are just starting exercising - in which case you eat for weight loss, but still gain some muscle. You really need to choose fat loss or muscle gain because how and what you eat will change accordingly. For fat loss, OJ is fine. Actually, Naked and Bolthouse Farms "green" juices is even better - more expensive though. Gatorade would be better for bulking/muscle gain phases because getting as close to sugar water as you can will help cause the insulin spike you're looking for.

brucen32 · 01-24-2006, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naxis

Gatorade isn't a bad choice, plus repleninshing electrolytes. The problem is you have conflicting goals, unless you are just starting exercising - in which case you eat for weight loss, but still gain some muscle. You really need to choose fat loss or muscle gain because how and what you eat will change accordingly. For fat loss, OJ is fine. Actually, Naked and Bolthouse Farms "green" juices is even better - more expensive though. Gatorade would be better for bulking/muscle gain phases because getting as close to sugar water as you can will help cause the insulin spike you're looking for.

Thanks for the input. Actually I have just started exercising again after a very long hiatus. But you're right at some point I will have to decide. I will choose fat loss. I realize I will have to be at a calorie deficit for this, but how will what I eat and how I eat it change?