The cookies and cream were very yummy!

They are AMAZING!! Seriously the best thing I've eaten on IP. Totally felt like a treat. Big chunks of cookies and little pockets of cream. And because they are new, they are super soft even at GNC. No microwaving necessary.

Are there ANY bars out there that would be unrestricted? I'm going to be traveling a bit over the next couple of months and would love to keep things as easy as possible.

Jendilly
Two of the quest bars sit right on the fence between restricted and unrestricted.
Some people use them as unrestricted.
Some people don't lose if they do that.
Each of us is so individual!

The two are the strawberry cheesecake and the chocolate/peanut butter.

However there is a thread started by someone who traveled for business a LOT. You may find some useful ideas in it (oh, I see you've already visited it)

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/idea...d-warrior.html

Thank or posting that link again. I was going to start searching it out. Appreciate the help.

I just wanted to add-I told my Diabetes Specialist I was doing
IP with alternatives and she has done ip before-in fact she referred me
anyway-she suggested I use quest bars and I told her I already was!

Bump

I usually have a bar every day at 3:30. Tried cookies and cream today and it was yummy- it even seemed like little oreo chunks inside! I put it on my porch in the sun to get soft first. Will definitely be buying more! Stats look restricted to me because of carb count.

Where's the cheapest place to get these? I get mine at the health food store and they are 2.50 each. I've spent a fortune. ;)

I stock up when GNC has them on special.

Regularly 2.99 each (2.84 with Gold Card) but they run a buy 3 get 1 free and I wait until the first week of the month for a $10 coupon so they break down to about 1.88 per bar.

I love the Cookies 'N Cream bars. Those are my new favorite restricted snack along with the Chocolate Chunk.

So I'm just relatively new to Quest bars and am wrapping my head around which ones are/aren't restricted, plus experiencing the joy and lure of something so delicious! So today I had a Quest Banana Nut Muffin for lunch and then, while out looking to purchase another flavour, I went and bought a Peanut Butter Chocolate single bar and ate it for a snack while I was shopping....not thinking that I might have just eaten 2 restricteds in one day. Any feedback on that? Hope I didn't screw my ketosis?

There is quite a lot of info in this thread. If you have read it all, you'll know that most people consider all quest bars restricted and a handful of people consider the two that sit on the fence between restricted/non-restricted to be okay for a non.

If you haven't taken the time to read the entire thread and plan to make quest bars part of your IP journey, I suggest taking the time to arm yourself with the knowledge that has been shared here.

I have actually read this thread from beginning to end. I do not see any mention, however of how the state of ketosis might be affected by eating two restricteds. I've also searched the entire forum as a whole with specific keywords such as "two restricted ketosis" in order to find my answer...haven't found it. I hoped *someone* might help me with a direct answer....I get it...I'll go figure it out for myself...or at least I'll try with this clunky forum search.

Two restricteds still shouldn't have enough carbs to take you out of ketosis I don't think (could be wrong). Just make sure you drink plenty of water and get back on track right away. It's done, just keep going and staying OP.

I agree, the search function on this site leaves something to be desired. I believe there's a good link in the first post of the daily chat that gives great tips for searching.

Hang in there - always a few bumps in the road when you start!

Thanks Ruth Ann...when I posted first, it was last night and I was soooo hungry, which was unusual for me. So actually that's when my mind started working overtime, thinking "maybe I'm this hungry because something threw me out of ketosis. OH NO! Maybe it was the two Quest bars!". I've been so strict and anal about following the IP protocol exactly. Feeling a little "alone" since deciding to go the alternative route to save money and feed the husband and three kids better than I was when I was hogging 1/2 the grocery budget for me! LOL Most of the research I do is from you all here and luckily EVEPET lives within my area, so her blog is invaluable to me. I am not the left brainer...so all the number crunching and logical stuff is hard for me to understand. I tried figuring out the "calories from fat" deal and honestly my brain just shut off.


Anyhow, thanks...I think I'm fine because today I'm much better. Had my Hope Mills pancake with WF syrup and my coffee and I'm good to go :)

You're quite welcome.

My shortcut for calories from fat is to take the total calories and divide by 3. If the calories from fat are higher than that it's a no go. Not exactly perfect, but easy enough for me to do. And I admit to cheating and using the calculator on my phone or pad if I'm in the store!

Oh, and come join us on the 100% thread - lots of support and motivation there!

I'm a little confused :?: The Quest Coconut Cashew bars should be fine because the total calories are 170 and the calories from fat is 50. If you multiply 50 x 3, you get 150, which is less than the 170 total calories. Since it's under 30% calories from fat and the net carbs are 4g (if you subtract the fiber and the sugar alcohols), wouldn't this bar be acceptable as a non-restricted?

I guess I'm not understanding why these would be restricted when they follow the IP guidelines... can someone explain it to me? :?:

It's possible their current label is different than the one being evaluated over a year ago.
It seems at the time, stats were higher for this product.

It's not just carbs to take into account...you also need to look at calories.

The coconut cashew, with 170 calories, is higher than any IP non-restricted by about 30 calories and about double the calories of certain packets (orange drink, pink lemonade, pina colada, etc)

Hello!
Anyone who is interested, GNC .com has free shipping on quest bars, and a current sale of 2 boxes for $48 (you have to get two though)

I eat a Quest bar every day as my snack, and I'm still losing weight :) It seems to work for me, and they are yummy, so I'm not going to change a thing! ;)

Everyone is different, though! :hug:

IPN was pointing out to others that may read this thread that there are some QBs that are more IP compliant than others.

Thanks Lisa.

It's also worth noting that weight loss tends to be faster in the beginning so people can get away with more calories than in the later stages.

If it's working for you, great, but other dieters should be aware of the guidelines that are in place. They are there for a reason.

Well, I follow the guidelines... I just happen to be using alternatives... I feel like some members on here think that being 100% IP is the best (and only) way to make this diet successful, but that isn't true. You can still follow the guidelines and lose weight without being 100% IP. Just saying...

There are plenty of people that use alternatives but still stick with the protocol rules.

Also, if you stick around the forum long enough you will see that, yes, people still lose weight not being 100% OP but the majority of people that keep the weight off for good are OP, all the time.

Many people have come and gone throughout the last year and most of the ones who have "gone" are the ones who widen the loop holes.

Well, I am one of those people who follow the guidelines... you are allowed one restricted item a day, and my Quest bar is my restricted item.

When I respond to people regarding the Quest bars, it's just to let them know that they can still lose weight even if they have one a day (which is allowed on this protocol). Sometimes people need a restricted item to get them through the day or week. Since it's allowed, I don't see what the problem is... I always seem to get negative responses from one member, and I don't know why... maybe I'm missing something? :?:

krazykat...
There is NO problem having one restricted item per day, you are right. In fact, IP was designed to include one each day for everyone.

The comments shared were not to dissuade anyone either from using alternatives, nor having a restricted item. 100% OP includes both scenarios and just about everyone here stands by that!

What was being pointed out was simply that when choosing restricted or non-restricted items, one has to look at the carb/sugar content, the fat content AND the calorie content. Each of those has IP comparable guidelines and tells you if an item is non-restricted, restricted or non-compliant.

Some Quest bars are too high on at least one of these items to be used daily and still be IP compliant. (Super restricted quest bars, of which there are a few, would be on the high side of one of these items and would be more wisely used 1-2 times per week.)

So the caution wasn't to not use Quest, it was just to be sure everyone knows to consider all three factors when selecting bars.

I agree. I think it is important to have your special/restricted item, it makes for a good treat. I know it helps keep me focused and prevents cheating.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is my FAVORITE!

I love the Cinnamon Roll, Strawberry Cheesecake, Coconut Cashew, and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough! :)

I also LOVE the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, but can't buy more than one at a time. They are just TOO good. I don't like what might happen if I had a whole box of them in the house.

Right now, I am loving the Vanilla Almond Crunch. I cut it up into little pieces, about 20 pieces, and freeze it in a ziploc baggie. It takes a long time to eat, and it tastes like chewy, caramel/nut candy! I can get through an entire movie with my snack! So good, but it doesn't make me crave "MORE MORE MORE" like the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bars.

Quest Bar cookies....the best IP snack I have made.:D

Cut a quest bar into 6 pieces, place on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Bake for 7 minutes at 350 degrees. If you like crispy cookies, flip them for another 1-2 minutes.

These are the best cookies ever!!! No other ingredients, no oil, nothing added.

Try them, you won't regret it.

That sounds good. I have heard of warming them up but never baking. Very interesting.

I did have one at lunch time today, it was the right cargo pocket of my uniform pants and kinda warm =)

GNC has Quest bars on sale. Buy one box get 50% off second box.

I've heard so much about the Quest bars so I bought six of them. I tried the cinnamon roll and didn't think it was very good. After trying one of a different flavor, I gave up. I just don't see what the attraction is. I still have four of them sitting on the shelf.
I much prefer the chocolate caramel crunch bars from Proti-diet. It's amazing how everyone has such different tastes.

Has anyone tried their pasta? Did you like it?

I just tried my first quest bar last night and they are pretty amazing for a protein bar. I feel like I am cheating. I am a little worried about the high carb content but i know the fiber offsets it, I will be looking for stalls though by incorporating these.

We look at net carbs (total minus fiber)
So, the Quest bars are not high carb at all!

A handful of folks have seen stalls but most people use them with no problem. They cause me crazy cravings so I limit them.

I just tried this with the Cinnamon Roll. I cut the bar into 8 pieces and baked for 7 minutes at 350 but I didn't flip and cook for another 1-2. They were quite good. Only thing I would add is to keep them on the parchment paper. As they cooled, they stuck to the plate!