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Will protein bars help gain weight and build muscle?

  • 03-09-2016 05:09AM
    #1
    Airyfairy12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,500 ✭✭✭


    Im trying to gain weight and bulk up in the right places like hips and bust but im finding trying to eat more food a chore, I never had much of an appetite, I eat because I have to and just when im hungry and I fill up very fast so even eating 1000 calories a day is really hard, never mind the recommended 2000. I bought a few protein bars but I duno if they'll help? theyre very dear to keep buying them, are they a waste of money?


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Comments

  • #2
    Blacktie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,903 ✭✭✭Blacktie.


    They'll help if they make you eat more calories but there are much cheaper ways to do it. St the end of the day there's no real way around it to build weight and muscle you're going to have to take in more calories in some form


  • #3
    via4
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 291 ✭✭via4


    I think you can get a good deal online when you buy them in bulk on my protein I remember my fried s saying something like they work it at one euro so could be worth checking out.


  • #4
    Dtp1979
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 12,948 ✭✭✭✭Dtp1979


    Try a shake or 2. Make them high calorie. Add nuts, peanut butter, oats, protein powder. I used to make a shake in the morning that was nearly 1,000 calories. It was only in a pint glass and I didn't feel bloated after it


  • #5
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    Dtp1979 wrote: »
    Try a shake or 2. Make them high calorie. Add nuts, peanut butter, oats, protein powder. I used to make a shake in the morning that was nearly 1,000 calories. It was only in a pint glass and I didn't feel bloated after it

    Sounds like you'd have to chew that!

    OP, they're just a way of getting some extra food in. A very expensive way at that. Boobs and hips are mostly fat anyway, so it sounds like you can stand to go a little nuts with some treats. Nutella and peanut butter on bread is an easy one!

    I used to have trouble gaining weight, and what I found over time was that if I forced myself to eat a bit more I would get used to it and that would become my normal appetite, so keep at it.


  • #6
    Dtp1979
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 12,948 ✭✭✭✭Dtp1979


    Zillah wrote: »
    Sounds like you'd have to chew that!

    OP, they're just a way of getting some extra food in. A very expensive way at that. Boobs and hips are mostly fat anyway, so it sounds like you can stand to go a little nuts with some treats. Nutella and peanut butter on bread is an easy one!

    I used to have trouble gaining weight, and what I found over time was that if I forced myself to eat a bit more I would get used to it and that would become my normal appetite, so keep at it.

    It's actually lovely. Nutri bullet


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  • #7
    Noveight
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,813 ✭✭✭Noveight


    Some very good deals on whey powder on myprotein at the minute, there may also be deals on bars, worth a look.


  • #8
    Transform
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,394 ✭✭✭Transform


    Airyfairy12 wrote: »
    Im trying to gain weight and bulk up in the right places like hips and bust but im finding trying to eat more food a chore, I never had much of an appetite, I eat because I have to and just when im hungry and I fill up very fast so even eating 1000 calories a day is really hard, never mind the recommended 2000. I bought a few protein bars but I duno if they'll help? theyre very dear to keep buying them, are they a waste of money?
    question - will protein bars help?

    Alternative - will ANY food help - bananas, yoghurt, nuts etc


  • #9
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    Dtp1979 wrote: »
    It's actually lovely. Nutri bullet

    I do the same, but it wouldn't fit into a pint!


  • #10
    Johnnyhpipe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 743 ✭✭✭Johnnyhpipe


    Count every single calorie on myfitnesspal or similar - even for 1 day. I'd be surprised if you're only getting 1000kcal - but then again that may be the case. Iknow i grossly underestimated before i actually counted.

    To answer your question - bars are an easy way to get extra carbs/protein/cals/sugar into you quickly. But they should be used as supplements - not replacements for real food.


  • #11
    Macy0161
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,990 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    I kinda treat the bars as a mars bar/ chocolate bar replacement. Some of them are really nice (I could eat fulfil caramel and peanut all day), but wasn't particularly gone on the myprotein bars last time I tried (which was a few years ago in fairness). They are expensive though - shakes work out much cheaper for the same protein content. A whey shake made with milk is more protein and similar calories to the bars.

    You can also make your own protein snack options. There's a David Gillick protein balls one knocking around on facebook. Google will give you loads of options - biggest hurdle on that front for me is that I'm not made about peanuts which is a bit of a staple of them.


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  • #12
    Transform
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,394 ✭✭✭Transform


    Macy0161 wrote: »
    I kinda treat the bars as a mars bar/ chocolate bar replacement. Some of them are really nice (I could eat fulfil caramel and peanut all day), but wasn't particularly gone on the myprotein bars last time I tried (which was a few years ago in fairness). They are expensive though - shakes work out much cheaper for the same protein content. A whey shake made with milk is more protein and similar calories to the bars.

    You can also make your own protein snack options. There's a David Gillick protein balls one knocking around on facebook. Google will give you loads of options - biggest hurdle on that front for me is that I'm not made about peanuts which is a bit of a staple of them.
    the nuts are just an option for those protein balls - add in any you fancy


  • #13
    optimistic_
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 657 ✭✭✭optimistic_


    Don't know if Transform posts here as often as before but I'd be taking his advice on board far more readily than anyone else's on here.


  • #14
    Transform
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,394 ✭✭✭Transform


    cheers and this is vid i did a long time ago on making your own snack things which you could add protein powder to (long time before everyone jumped on that band wagon)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUtTnmGLDHA


  • #15
    Alf Veedersane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,906 ✭✭✭✭Alf Veedersane


    Protein bars are a food. If you're eating them solely because you think they are a product that will help you gain weight and build muscle, then it might be worthwhile reading the stickies on Nutrition.

    Protein bars are a food containing calories. They also contain protein. So do a lot of other foods.

    If you want to gain weight, eat enough food. If you want to build muscle, eat enough protein. Protein bars are just an expensive way of ticking both of those boxes if that's are all you are after.


  • #16
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,242 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    Go for milk. The 1st body builders started with GOMAD.

    A Gallon of Milk a day. It provided everything you needed and in a form the body could handle.

    It works good, I piled on the pounds when doing it.


  • #17
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,198 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    Danzy wrote: »
    Go for milk. The 1st body builders started with GOMAD.
    That's not really true tbh.

    Different people have recommended different diets for as long as there's been bodybuilders. For the most part eating real food (lots of meat, eggs, milk, vegetables, nuts) was the general consensus all along.


  • #18
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,242 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    I'm not suggesting that he survive on milk alone, a balanced diet of course but if you want your protein and an energy boost it is hard to beat the bainne.


  • #19
    Blacktie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,903 ✭✭✭Blacktie.


    Danzy wrote:
    I'm not suggesting that he survive on milk alone, a balanced diet of course but if you want your protein and an energy boost it is hard to beat the bainne.


    Ah this is rippetoes advice for "hardgainers". I'm pretty sure he's known for crappy nutritional advice. I actually did this for a couple of months. Ye I got stronger but I also gained a chunk of fat I really didn't need.

    Also I disagree with the energy part. Made me feel tired with so much milk.


  • #20
    Danzy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,242 ✭✭✭✭Danzy


    I'm not suggesting that he survive on milk alone, a balanced diet of course but if you want your protein and an energy boost it is hard to beat the bainne.

    In reference to all he needs, I should have been clearer that that meant lots of protein, carbs.
    I found it hard to eat enough for bulking but drinking bainne was a breeze.


    stronglifts.com/gomad-milk-squats-gallon-gain-weight/


  • #21
    Mellor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,198 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    Danzy wrote: »
    I'm not suggesting that he survive on milk alone, a balanced diet of course but if you want your protein and an energy boost it is hard to beat the bainne.

    In reference to all he needs, I should have been clearer that that meant lots of protein, carbs.
    I found it hard to eat enough for bulking but drinking bainne was a breeze.


    stronglifts.com/gomad-milk-squats-gallon-gain-weight/

    I understand the idea behind it. I wasn't disputing that it contains lots of calories, carbs and protein.

    I was saying the that part about the first bodybuilders starting with GOMAD wasn't true. I'm not just talking about the name either.


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  • #22
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    Blacktie. wrote: »
    Ah this is rippetoes advice for "hardgainers". I'm pretty sure he's known for crappy nutritional advice. I actually did this for a couple of months. Ye I got stronger but I also gained a chunk of fat I really didn't need.

    Also I disagree with the energy part. Made me feel tired with so much milk.

    You consumed too many calories if you got fat, nothing to with milk per se.
    Also when people talk about energy they mean total calories, which you obviously did get in if you gained weight - they're not talking about something giving you a little vim. Your sluggishness is not a consequence of low energy intake.


  • #23
    Blacktie.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,903 ✭✭✭Blacktie.


    Zillah wrote: »
    You consumed too many calories if you got fat, nothing to with milk per se.
    Also when people talk about energy they mean total calories, which you obviously did get in if you gained weight - they're not talking about something giving you a little vim. Your sluggishness is not a consequence of low energy intake.

    Yeah I realise this. You try drink a gallon of milk with other food and fit it into a reasonable calorie intake to keep fat gain down.

    In the context of his sentence I assumed he meant wakefulness which people very frequently refer to as an energy boost.


  • #24
    Zillah
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,369 ✭✭✭✭Zillah


    I suppose he could have meant either but given that the thread is about eating to gain weight I took it to mean calories.


  • #25
    Alf Veedersane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,906 ✭✭✭✭Alf Veedersane


    The OP isn't really talking about bulking.

    Just adding a bit of size to her bust and bootay while trying to get from a 26.5" waist to a 24" wist as per anseo.


  • #26
    Airyfairy12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,500 ✭✭✭Airyfairy12


    Johnnyhpipe wrote: »
    Count every single calorie on myfitnesspal or similar - even for 1 day. I'd be surprised if you're only getting 1000kcal - but then again that may be the case. Iknow i grossly underestimated before i actually counted.

    To answer your question - bars are an easy way to get extra carbs/protein/cals/sugar into you quickly. But they should be used as supplements - not replacements for real food.

    I counted calories for a few days, im not even getting 1000kcals a day. How do people eat so much food!!!


  • #27
    pemtca
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 978 ✭✭✭pemtca


    Airyfairy12 wrote: »
    I counted calories for a few days, im not even getting 1000kcals a day. How do people eat so much food!!!
    Easily! I could comfortably put away 3000 a day I'd say - I'd be fat if I did though :D


  • #28
    Alf Veedersane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,906 ✭✭✭✭Alf Veedersane


    Airyfairy12 wrote: »
    I counted calories for a few days, im not even getting 1000kcals a day. How do people eat so much food!!!

    Did that include weighing the food or guessing portion sizes?


  • #29
    Airyfairy12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,500 ✭✭✭Airyfairy12


    Alf Veedersane wrote: »
    Did that include weighing the food or guessing portion sizes?

    No I just ate what I normally eat but I checked calories on the wrappers or googled it


  • #30
    Alf Veedersane
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,906 ✭✭✭✭Alf Veedersane


    Airyfairy12 wrote: »
    No I just ate what I normally eat but I checked calories on the wrappers or googled it

    So what do you eat then that means you struggle to get 1000 kcals a day?


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  • #31
    Airyfairy12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,500 ✭✭✭Airyfairy12


    Alf Veedersane wrote: »
    So what do you eat then that means you struggle to get 1000 kcals a day?


    Normal stuff, whatever's around the house. Pasta, veg, meat, bread


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