22 replies to this topic

[McKnickers]

Hi - being a 'runner' and with my husband befriending the gym I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations/suggestions/comments in relation to sports bars...particularly after a run or after a gym workout..

any advise gratefully appreciated  

[Bellthorpe]

Sports bars are confectionery, with a higher price due to the 'sports' label.

You could equally well have entitled the thread 'Mars Bars - Advice?'

If you're hungry after a workout, perhaps a piece of fruit and/or a few nuts might be nice?

[undercover brother]

eat food

[DontStop]

Mars and Snickers taste better, and are no better for you, than so-called sports bars. Way cheaper too.

[Tuttle]

Kit Kats and Mars Bars sustained me through Comrades. . . .

[Leofisio]

Bananas?

[walker1st]

bunnings and all big garden centres and nurseries are now selling teh sport bars trees,

you can get already grown 2 years old and so if planting properly into good prepared soil and following proper watering regime, you should have first harvest in year 3.

much cheaper this way and you allways have them fresh, there is nothing more refreshing, energetic
than freshly picked sport bar right from your garden.

[Rico]

Leofisio, on Apr 6 2010, 05:15 AM, said:

Bananas?

How many a day should I eat?

[walker1st]

Rico, on Apr 6 2010, 07:51 AM, said:

How many a day should I eat?

if you continue this way, the threat will betaken of the main page and burried into nonrunning irrelevant topics group

but to answer : begginers 30, advanced 70  

[Maggot]

McKnickers, on Apr 5 2010, 08:41 PM, said:

Hi - being a 'runner' and with my husband befriending the gym I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations/suggestions/comments in relation to sports bars...particularly after a run or after a gym workout..

I'd stay clear of Powerbars: nasty taste/texture and only to be consumed as a last resort. I get cheapie obscure Euro brand bars from my local bike shop (clocktower on Beach Road, Melb). They practically give 'em away (eg 5 for $10), although usually have dodgey or about-to-be-dodgey use-by dates.

You may want to consider muesli bars, although most of them I agree fall into the 'confectionery' category. 'Carmens' for instance are off the scale in %fat and sugar. I like the 'Norganics' ones, usually from the health food section , and are low-fat, low-sugar. My better half says they taste like horse-chaff crossed with cardboard though.

[antil]

McKnickers, on Apr 5 2010, 08:41 PM, said:

Hi - being a 'runner' and with my husband befriending the gym I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations/suggestions/comments in relation to sports bars...particularly after a run or after a gym workout..

any advise gratefully appreciated  

How about this Sports Bar?

[Colsy]

Never really been a fan of the Sports Bars, I am more of an Old English Pub type of guy. Beer gardens are nice too.

[Mick]

Maggot, on Apr 6 2010, 08:59 PM, said:

I'd stay clear of Powerbars: nasty taste/texture and only to be consumed as a last resort. I get cheapie obscure Euro brand bars from my local bike shop (clocktower on Beach Road, Melb). They practically give 'em away (eg 5 for $10), although usually have dodgey or about-to-be-dodgey use-by dates.

You may want to consider muesli bars, although most of them I agree fall into the 'confectionery' category. 'Carmens' for instance are off the scale in %fat and sugar. I like the 'Norganics' ones, usually from the health food section :rolleyes: , and are low-fat, low-sugar. My better half says they taste like horse-chaff crossed with cardboard though.

Finally a sensible alternate opinion from those that think sports bars are EVIL. I eat a few bars of various types each week and haven't died yet. I find them convenient, don't take up much space, don't get sqaushed, not greatly affected by heat, last a long time, and pack more punch for volume than real food.

The Growling Dog bar I had before today's run weighed 65g and contained 239cals. I could have had 3 bananas weighing over 300g to get the same energy and probably ended up with Rob's banana soup after 20km. I don't think I should be worried when the Garmin says my run burnt 1466 cals.

I do like the "Carmens" that Maggot has mentioned, also "Go Natural - Fruit & Nut", "Cadel Bars". I will also take GU Chomps, Clif Bloks, PowerBars, Sesame Bars, and others with me on long runs. You can fit a lot of energy in a small space with these.

But _after_ a workout, yeah, usually semi-real food. Up&Go, flavoured milk, cerial, peanut butter sandwidtch, even toast, eggs and beans if I can be bothered.

PS Best that you stay away from those Powerbars Maggot, way too strong for you, probably kill you.

[Maggot]

Mick, on Apr 7 2010, 09:03 AM, said:

Best that you stay away from those Powerbars Maggot, way too strong for you, probably kill you.

The 'chocolate' or 'vanilla crisp' ones are pretty rank. You should try them after a few hours in the backpack X-country skiing: you need a jack-hammer or chisel .
Musashi Bars (eg Growling Dog) are good and, like Mick, find they provide a really convenient alternative. I sometimes eat these kind of bars as on-the-go snacks during the day to supplement my total food intake, and to ensure I'm not bingeing at meal times.

And Mick, I love those sesame snaps during a run!
I've also become a fan of GU Chomps ~ use 'em during most of my races now.

[undercover brother]

Maggot, on Apr 7 2010, 09:23 PM, said:

I've also become a fan of GU Chomps ~ use 'em during most of my races now.

they are yummy.
but they make my tummy go all funny.

[WrongGenes]

Bellthorpe, on Apr 5 2010, 08:48 PM, said:

You could equally well have entitled the thread 'Mars Bars - Advice?'

Out kayaking one day my mate and I pulled in for a break at lunchtime on the bank.  He had a Mars Bar and I had a Powerbar that I had been given in a race pack.  We compared the nutritional information on the wrapper and they were almost exactly the same, except the Mars bar had a lot more fat.

[undercover brother]

ate a few chocolate bars in my last ultra.
cherry ripe, summer roll and a picnic.
the cherry ripe was my fav.
really hit the spot.

[twosheds]

I discovered recently kind of by accident that A Powerbar is something I can eat before an evnet withour getting  a stitch. That can be a bit of a problem for me so will stick with the plan. I dont eat them usually- real food is better- but if I eat real food before an event- a  stich seems to be an issue.
twosheds

[henryjoseph]

I'm not an expert on this, but I think some of the above posts 'hit the spot' - ie the "sports bars" can be just as fatty/sugary as chocolate bars. But, some also contain lots of protein and potentially more carbs. So, I guess they could be useful depending on what you are looking for (eg carb ones before a long race/run, and maybe a protein one after a run). Just as long as you realise they aren't particularly 'healthy' (eg low in fat, low in sugar, etc). Though, the same goes for most muslei bars, etc - a lot of them (as people about have said), aren't particularly 'healthy' in terms of trying to lose weight, etc.

I did a longish run with my wife this morning, and we shared half a Growling Dog (eg 1/4 each) at about the half way point, as a bit of a 'pick me up' and sugar hit. When I got home, I made some eggs on toast (eg real food including protein!)

Cheers,
Scott

[deadcat]

i think after running you can probably make do without the sports bars.. especially if you've come home.  Fruit, toast, yoghurt etc will probably do you alright nutritionally.  If you're running to work and want to take something try cereal.. i run to work pretty regularly and i take a serve of muesli with me to eat at work, often with a scoop of a protein powder.
For the gym, probably protein is the key thing rather than carbs.  Try the HPLC bars.. they taste pretty ordinary but have a lot of protein which is key in trying to build muscle mass (eating ASAP after the workout is finished). You can buy HPLC bars at supermarkets i'm pretty sure but they do $ a bit.  The Musashi Growling Dog bars as has been mentioned are a good alternative.  If you're going to be buying bars/protein etc in any volume or over an extended period of time it will make sense to start using some of the online stores as they can be a lot cheaper.. mr.supplement.com afan.com.au are a couple.. vitaminking.com.au as well.

good luck

[aDrain]

I still go for the choc milk afterwards, nice glass of milo & milk. Or one of those Up & Go varieties. If going for a longer and not finishing at home I'll freeze one and its nice and chilled waiting in the car for me.

Then I'll eat ...

[rubberchicken]

McKnickers, on Apr 5 2010, 06:41 PM, said:

Hi - being a 'runner' and with my husband befriending the gym I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations/suggestions/comments in relation to sports bars...particularly after a run or after a gym workout..

any advise gratefully appreciated  

Does it have to be a sports bar? Don't get me wrong I have used plenty of supplements in the past (not so much now) but most of these bars have a pretty ordinary ingredient profile especially when considering the cost. As others mentioned if you look at amounts of protein and carbs etc in most cases you would be just as well off with Snickers. If I had to buy a bar it would probably be one from Muscletech, ISS, Labrada or some of the Max's ones.

Generally if I was going to use a supplement after a workout I would look at a shake rather (better options in terms of ingredients and nutrient profile vs cost by a mile). At present I just use wholefood after training but if I was really concerned about it I would be adding a shake (arguably for piece of mind).

[FatboyCsaba]

McKnickers, on Apr 5 2010, 08:41 PM, said:

Hi - being a 'runner' and with my husband befriending the gym I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations/suggestions/comments in relation to sports bars...particularly after a run or after a gym workout..

any advise gratefully appreciated  

The make your own sports bar is the BEST. That way, which is a bit like your running/gym, you get out of it what you put in.  

Edited by FatboyCsaba, 16 April 2010 - 04:18 PM.