Energy Bars

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I usually use them pre workout right after classes and headed into the gym. They do a decent job, taste "Okay", I've had better and far worse. They look gross, and can get melty though. I have the choc chip ones. The peanut butter I tasted once was decent. As for the other flavors, they scare me too much.
Since you've had better bars, which would you suggest? Keep in mind taste isn't a deal breaker. As long as it's tolerable, it's ok with me.

But you should still try to stay away from processed foods. Almonds and cashews have everything you need for a pre-workout bump.
I have to do a little more research on almonds but I remember reading/hearing that too much could actually hurt you instead of benefit you. I am looking into it more...

Depends on what your goals are...

For a typical person, if they're looking for sustained energy, Clif Bars are probably one of the best bars that you can eat. They have lots of versions with rolled oats or other grains. The macronutrient break down is very carb heavy.

Contrast that with someone who is more focused on building mass and you're going to want to go with a bar that has a higher protein content.

I always stayed away from Power Bars because I feel they're sugary BS. They've changed their formula over the years to be more protein focused and less focused on a ton of sugars for "endurance athletes".

I wouldn't eat a meal that essentially only carbs - so I won't eat bars that are the same thing. I don't even think they're adequate meal replacement bar (Clif or Powerbar) but thats really the only purpose to have the bar.

Now if you're looking for pre & post workout protein, because you're looking to maintain or promote lean mass, then I'd go to a protein powder rather than a bar. This is because most protein bars are also garbage.

Eat half a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread and an apple.


...or they're freaks like myself that use a paleo diet, so the answer to what my pre/post workout meals look like are entirely different from what they were when I was on a traditional diet of high protein/complex carbs/healthy fats.
I'm looking for something that will satisfy the small (very small) appetite I have before the training session and will keep my energy level up during the duration of the session (2 hours). It also has to be convenient since I go straight from work to the school/gym. So a sandwich or anything is out of the question because I have no where to store it. Yeah even at work because people like to steal people's food :mad:
 
I used Cliff's before runs and it's probably your best bet. It's more of an energy focus, whereas the others I've used were more protein heavy. For protien, turkey and tuna fish lol. Also powder based mixes after workout. Peanuts/almonds are also a good snack to get you going.
 
Since you've had better bars, which would you suggest? Keep in mind taste isn't a deal breaker. As long as it's tolerable, it's ok with me.

I have to do a little more research on almonds but I remember reading/hearing that too much could actually hurt you instead of benefit you. I am looking into it more...

I'm looking for something that will satisfy the small (very small) appetite I have before the training session and will keep my energy level up during the duration of the session (2 hours). It also has to be convenient since I go straight from work to the school/gym. So a sandwich or anything is out of the question because I have no where to store it. Yeah even at work because people like to steal people's food :mad:

Personally I'd grab 2 hard boiled eggs, a piece of fruit, and a bag of cashews from the local gas station/quick chek.

Since you don't seem to be focused on the building muscle or worried about caloric intake, the Clif Bars actually taste really good. They're not going to give you any significant increased feeling of energy but they will give you enough calories that you don't go ketonic during your workout.

My prefight workout always was a piece of fruit and a protein shake. I'd have a second shake (I'd just carry the powder in a bottle or a shaker cup an add water at the gym) to have during or immediately after the workout.

That's my standard procedure but you can also mix things up depending on your goals and also what sort of class you're taking. My striking classes usually had a heavy focus on conditioning (which I would want more calories for) then if I was taking a class where we were working more on form/combinations/sparring.

What kind of class are you in?
 
What kind of class are you in?

Muay Thai

The following is my routine. If I could go more often, I would, but my schedule doesn't allow for it at the moment.

3 days a week, for 2 hours, we do everything other than sparring. I.E. Pad/Mitt work, clinch work, footwork drills, ect...

1 day a week is sparring for 1 hour. First 30 minutes or so is sparring drills, the last 30 minutes is actual sparring.

I'm sure you know, but for those that don't know, Muay Thai has some of the most brutal drills and sparring sessions in Martial Arts.
 
Muay Thai

The following is my routine. If I could go more often, I would, but my schedule doesn't allow for it at the moment.

3 days a week, for 2 hours, we do everything other than sparring. I.E. Pad/Mitt work, clinch work, footwork drills, ect...

1 day a week is sparring for 1 hour. First 30 minutes or so is sparring drills, the last 30 minutes is actual sparring.

I'm sure you know, but for those that don't know, Muay Thai has some of the most brutal drills and sparring sessions in Martial Arts.

I knew you were in Muay Thai classes from the original post, just didn't know if you were going to a traditional school that was leaning more on learning 5/10/13-move combinations that can be completed at a slower pace or if you were going to a more conditioning focused or MMA type gym that has you going for 3, 5 minute rounds of pad work.

The form work is normally exhausting but its typically mentally exhausting whereas the conditioning work is physically exhausting and requires that you keep the calories up.

What sort of body type do you have? Are you a lean guy trying to keep weight on? Are you overweight and trying to lose weight?

I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. When I'm in my MMA/thai training sessions, I need to pack in the calories because its hard for me to keep on weight. The Clif Bars will certainly help with that, if that's your goal. If you tell me that losing weight and getting leaner is your goal, I'm going to tell you that the Cliff Bars/granola bars/high carb bars aren't what you're looking for to achieve your goals.
 
I knew you were in Muay Thai classes from the original post, just didn't know if you were going to a traditional school that was leaning more on learning 5/10/13-move combinations that can be completed at a slower pace or if you were going to a more conditioning focused or MMA type gym that has you going for 3, 5 minute rounds of pad work.

The form work is normally exhausting but its typically mentally exhausting whereas the conditioning work is physically exhausting and requires that you keep the calories up.

What sort of body type do you have? Are you a lean guy trying to keep weight on? Are you overweight and trying to lose weight?

I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction. When I'm in my MMA/thai training sessions, I need to pack in the calories because its hard for me to keep on weight. The Clif Bars will certainly help with that, if that's your goal. If you tell me that losing weight and getting leaner is your goal, I'm going to tell you that the Cliff Bars/granola bars/high carb bars aren't what you're looking for to achieve your goals.
We are traditional from "kicking stance" and clinch work. We work a lot of Western Boxing into the art though. So I guess you could say our overall striking game is geared more towards MMA.

My body type is fat, lol. Weight loss isn't the reason I got back into Muay Thai. I don't have a weight goal. I just wanna get as good as I can and get my cardio as good as I can. Where ever my weight ends up is fine by me as long as the above criteria is met.

But I am also trying to eat cleaner/healthier. I'm not getting any younger and all this bad food will eventually just take it's toll lol.
 
I'm sure you know, but for those that don't know, Muay Thai has some of the most brutal drills and sparring sessions in Martial Arts.

Wish i still had time to do it.

The sparring is balls out because it isnt point sparring. At my old school people wouldnt stop before the end of the round unless there was an injury.
 
Wish i still had time to do it.

The sparring is balls out because it isnt point sparring. At my old school people wouldnt stop before the end of the round unless there was an injury.

Spot on...

The last time I spar'd, I got pretty banged up. First round - caught an uppercut with my nose... blood everywhere. Second round - (after I got my bloody nose situated) caught a straight knee right to the front center of my thigh. Couldn't do anything about it except work through the pain. Third round - took another knee right to the gut. Instantly dropped. Fourth round - took ANOTHER fucking knee right to the baby maker. It hurt like hell. Almost threw up. Thank god for my cup or I would have probably ended up in the ER.

But i'm a retard and I can't get enough of it :lol: :ph34r:
 
We are traditional from "kicking stance" and clinch work. We work a lot of Western Boxing into the art though. So I guess you could say our overall striking game is geared more towards MMA.

My body type is fat, lol. Weight loss isn't the reason I got back into Muay Thai. I don't have a weight goal. I just wanna get as good as I can and get my cardio as good as I can. Where ever my weight ends up is fine by me as long as the above criteria is met.

But I am also trying to eat cleaner/healthier. I'm not getting any younger and all this bad food will eventually just take it's toll lol.

With that background in mind, 100% go to a low carb protein bar or preferably a protein shake. Bars are tough because they tend to put a lot of saturated fat in them to make them taste decent.

Build your own bar here. You Bar - Custom Energy Bars, Protein Bars, Trail Mix and Cereal

Just a side note, why I'm harping on carbs...
Insulin spikes destroy your body and your ability to manage your weight. People are just figuring out how badly sugar can effect your body - they just ran an article today on how sugar can lead to diseases from A to Z.

For years I led a traditional diet of a high amount of lean protein, complex carbs, fruits, and healthy fats. While I was strong on that diet, after going to a paleo diet for a 30day challenge, I found that I became STRONGER, felt better and dropped 2% of body fat in 30 days. I haven't gone back since. Now the diet is protein (turkey, chicken, bacon, steak, pork, fish, etc), fat, non starchy vegetables, and fruits.
 
Spot on...

The last time I spar'd, I got pretty banged up. First round - caught an uppercut with my nose... blood everywhere. Second round - (after I got my bloody nose situated) caught a straight knee right to the front center of my thigh. Couldn't do anything about it except work through the pain. Third round - took another knee right to the gut. Instantly dropped. Fourth round - took ANOTHER fucking knee right to the baby maker. It hurt like hell. Almost threw up. Thank god for my cup or I would have probably ended up in the ER.

But i'm a retard and I can't get enough of it :lol: :ph34r:

Art of 8 limbs.

I like that its goal is to inflict the most damage possible but I will say that point scoring arts get a bad rap. Your best kickers are tae kwon do guys that make the transition to muay thai. They have a dexterity in their legs that others lack and they're able to time the hip movement of the thai kick with the snapping of the lower half of the leg/shin for complete win.

I wish I could kick half as fast as some of those guys. Chopping someone's thigh down is fun though.
 
I make my own - just flour, sugar, oats, barley, flax, spelt, chocolate, oil, baking soda, and some protien powder with creatine. They work better than power bars and cost like 1/10th the price. Also, they taste better and you can customize with peanut butter or whatever you like,
 
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