Do Energy Bars Help You Lose Weight? - Part 1
Many “energy” bars are nothing more than glorified candy bars. The attraction is the word “energy.” According to the FDA, the word “energy” on any label means that the food item supplies calories to the consumer. Eating it will not necessarily make you more energetic! This is great marketing, but misleading to a consumer.
So do these bars help you lose weight?
Based on my experience people seem to lose weight more quickly and have more energy by consuming whole foods instead of processed items. An example of a whole food snack would be a nice crunchy apple and a small handful almonds. Additionally, the variety of food choices you can obtain from plant and animal type of snacks provide you with more vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals that the body regularly needs. You are lured into buying fancy bars because of their taste, convenience and easy consumption. Based on that they may have an occasional place in today’s hectic world. I would first encourage you to consider the following points before purchasing them, especially if you are trying to lose weight:
1. Use this type of snack more for “emergency” types of situations. Whole food snacks are preferable.
2. Be selective regarding the ingredients and calorie count in the bar you pick. (I’ll go into that on tomorrow’s blog.)
3. Determine why you are really consuming these foods in the first place. Are you simply eating the bar as a snack that you enjoy? Are you an athlete who needs the extra calories? Do you eat the bar as a meal replacement? (This is not always a good idea.) Are you eating it because you need the energy?
4. Be cognizant of the total calories you are consuming when you are in the process of losing weight. You need to create a calorie deficit of at least 500 calories every day to lose about a pound of fat a week.
5. If that bar is more of an extra in your food plan, those extra calories could prevent you from losing weight. I would definitely check out ND’s Daily Needs Calculator so you know just how many calories you need to lose weight and then track it.
Tomorrow’s blog will show you how to look for a better quality energy bar for weight loss.
Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We know that your time is valuable, and aim to give you the most value possible for the time you invest in reading our article. We have put together a 5 step success plan for losing weight.
Step 1: Goals
The first step to achieving the healthy body you deserve is setting goals. I’m not talking about vague goals like “I want to lose weight!” or “I want to look better in the mirror.” I am talking about specific goals, such as “I want to lose 5 kg in one month.” or “I want to lose 2 pants sizes in 2 months.” In setting goals, it is important to both make them a challenge and make them attainable. To lose 1 kg per month would not be much of a challenge & to lose 50 kg per month would not be attainable.
Step 2: Breaking it Down
The second step to achieving the healthy body you deserve is breaking your goal into smaller pieces. If your goal is to lose 40 kg in one year try breaking it down into losing 3 to 4 kg per month. If this still seems too high, break it into just 1 kg per week.
Step 3: Choose a Program
Now that you have clearly identified and broken down your goals, you are ready to choose a program. We have found Fat Loss 4 Idiots to be a real winner. It has been our # 1 seller, and we have received lot of positive feedback from our customers regarding the program. You can find it on our Weight Loss page.
Step 4: Exercise
One ingredient that is often missed in weight loss programs is exercise. Though you can lose weight without exercise, physical activity greatly improves your chances of success. This can be as simple as walking every day, or as complex as you would like to make it. Check out our Fitness page for some suggestions on exercise routines that may work for you.
Step 5: Success
With broken down goals, a winning program, and proper exercise, you are sure to succeed. Please post your success stories in our Guest Book at http://www.HotterThanHealth.com