Energy Bars

[[old] gaffano]

What do you all think of using Powerbars/gels, etc. for rowing and other aerobic activity? My main goal right now is to lose about 10 pounds (from 195). So I assume my main focus is on calorie restiction and burning as much as I can of what I take in on a daily basis.<br><br>Basically, if I burn 500 calories during a rowing session, but ingest 500 calories of energy supplements...don't I walk away even???<br><br>

[[old] Coach Gus]

<!--QuoteBegin-gaffano+Dec 7 2004, 08:32 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td class='genmed'><span class='genmed'><b>QUOTE</b></span> (gaffano @ Dec 7 2004, 08:32 AM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--> ...don't I walk away even??? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><br> Maybe I'm different than you but after many sessions I walk away bent over and wobbling from side to side. Definitely not what I would describe as even. <br><br>Part of the benefit of exercise is that is raises your metabolism for a time after your exercise thereby increasing your calorie burn beyond just the amount burned by the exercise itself.

[[old] michaelb]

Unless you are working out (rowing) for more than an hour, I don't think you need any additional energy food before or after the workout, particularly if the goal is weightloss. If you are working out for longer than 2 hours, I find you definitely need to consume some calories during that time, otherwise you run the serious risk of bonking. I mainly see this biking, where going for over 2 hours is much easier than rowing for more than 2 hours.<br><br>There is nothing wrong with eating a powerbar, as long as that is substituting for other calories you are not then going to eat, and something easy to disgest like that an hour or two before you workout hard may work pretty well.

[[old] newcoach]

First off if you are trying to loose weight I pray you arent on that Atkins diet BS. We're rowers...we need our carbs and our arteries free of animal fat. Heck I need carbs just to think straight. Anywayse if you suckdown powergel or GU then you need to take that with abouts 8-12oz of water or its not goingto be effective. However I would only suggest this or energy bars if you are going for some heavy cardio stuff. <br><br>But the other guys are right , you probably dont need much energy stuff if you are going for weightloss. If you are at risk of bonking after or during an ERG piece, a piece of fruit, like a small apple (if yur also feeling hungry) or a swig of gatorade should do the trick.

[[old] Janice]

Rather than powergel, go for raisins, same thing and 1/20th the price.

[[old] John Rupp]

Surprisingly many energy bars are high in fat and some even have trans fats.<br><br>However I think even the healthier ones would make you gain weight or at the least be unnecessary.<br><br>Rice and apples or oats and bananas would do just as well.<br><br>Freshly made veggie juice is delicious.