Protein Bars vs Protein Shakes
“At least an hour workout a day, Mike,” he said shaking his BlenderBottle, “just for the excuse to drink this melted chocolate ice cream disguised as a protein shake.”
We were walking out of the gym buzzing on those happy chemicals you get after exercise. I was glad James was being carried away with his own musings, I was looking for a topic to write.
“What about protein bars?” I asked, “You ever treat yourself to any of those?”
“Oh yeah,” he said, “some taste better than candy bars. Sometimes I’ll dunk them in my shake. It’s unbelievable.”
James is fortunate that he’s a muscular 6’ 4” at single-digit body fat. His stature and work ethic allows for such haphazard caloric intake.
But what about you?
When trying to decide between protein bars and shakes there are factors you ought to consider. Many of these will be unique to your goals.
After reading this short blog post on protein bars vs shakes you’ll have a better understanding of the role they ought to have in your life. Also, you’ll learn that whole foods will give you the results you’re looking for and give you the freedom to go without expensive supplementation.
Let’s get to work!
When is the best time to eat protein?
For some, the rattle of a shaker cup has a Pavlovian effect. You find yourself in an anxious state with your thoughts hijacked after hearing it.
Did you eat enough protein within your anabolic window?
The fitness industry seems to have CIA-level mind control, I mean marketing, skills.
If you’re looking for the best time to eat protein, there isn’t one.
According to this study, it’s how much protein you eat daily, not the time in which you eat it, that gives you the strength and muscle growing benefits you’re seeking through supplementation.
As long as you’re eating the requisite amount of protein you need on a daily basis, you’re on the right path. The need for immediately slamming a shake or swallowing a bar in fear of losing gains is a relic of past misinformation.
If you’re like James and love the taste of candy covered protein supplementation, the next sections will further help you. Continue reading and you’ll learn to identify the best times to eat a bar or drink a shake.
When Should I Eat a Protein Bar?
These next two sections are where may want to consider doing a voluntary self-assessment. Don’t worry, it’ll take you less than a minute.
From the data I have gathered over years of helping people lose weight, a spectrum of two categories emerges: those who like to eat and those who don’t.
If you get better satisfaction chewing and swallowing your calories than you do drinking them, a protein bar ought to be your weapon of choice.
Additionally, those who do better eating their calories tend to feel hungrier throughout the day, regardless of caloric intake. Protein bars tend to have more hunger-satiating dietary fiber than protein shakes.
But you don’t need protein supplements.
All macronutrients and their proper ratios can be found in whole foods. Furthermore, if you’re a hungrier person you’ll find the whole food equivalent to your protein bar keeps you fuller longer.
The longer you’re full, the more consistent you’ll be. The more consistent you are, it’s likely you’re going to hit your weight loss goal.
But if you must eat a protein bar let it be as the bridge between two meals, not taking the place of meal. You’ll thank yourself for heeding this advice, especially if you’re deep into your effective weight loss program and don’t have the calories to spare.
When Should I Drink a Protein Shake?
For you who aren’t fans of eating -an advantage for weight loss- there are protein shakes.
You who find eating a chore seem to have difficulty eating consistently. Many of you seem to procrastinate eating during the day then scramble in the evening to hit your macronutrient marks.
This is where protein shakes can save you.
Even if the macronutrient ratios of the shake are off, you can add outside ingredients to get what you need. Moreover, these additions won’t necessarily make you feel like you’re consuming more.
Protein shakes are weight loss program lifesavers for you on this side of the spectrum.
One more advantage of protein shakes are their macronutrient ratio diversity. There’s a shake for everyone.
If you are only lacking in protein, Isopure will help.
If you are low on all macronutrients but need extra help meeting your fat requirement, SlimFast Keto is a great choice.
Low on carbohydrate? Try searching Max Muscle, they have options that can help you get what you need.
One warning for you who do not like to eat: you won’t drink your way into success. Solid food needs to be part of your diet, weight loss program or not. Your toilet paper and PreparationH budget will thank you.
The Conclusion of the Matter Rests With You
To James, protein supplements are icing on the cake. The only purpose they serve is tickling his taste buds.
For you who is looking to achieve weight loss, finding what gets you to your goal with efficiency is what matters.
Without a guide, it’s going to take you trial and error to know what will win between protein bars vs shakes. It seems best to make your first attempt using whole foods only. From there you can determine the best course of action to take.
Just do yourself a favor and don’t end up like Totie Fields who said, “I’ve been on a dieter two weeks and all I’ve lost is two weeks.”
At Cornerstone Weight Loss we help you better understand how food affects your body in a common sense way that will put you in control of how you look. In order to get in touch with a professional who can help tailor your weight loss plan to you, click below, fill out the information, and a member of the Cornerstone Weight Loss team will reach out to you to get the results in weight loss you deserve.