The Quest Bar-Low Carb or Not?

     For the last couple years I've been a proponent of the "just eat real food" mantra (thanks Steve Cooksey) but sometimes we just want convenience and something sweet.  Sometimes you're in a hurry and have no time to cook or would like to have something to keep in the car in case of an emergency.  So what if there were a product that tastes good, is low carb and made with as the company claims "no junk ingredients"?  Along with this it boasts of 10g of fat and 20g of protein and only 4 net carbs!  Sounds too good to be true.  So is it?  

     Recently I've been hearing about how awesome Quest bars are in the low carb circles and decided to test it out for myself.  After all, I am a type 1 diabetic so this should be a good test of whether this is truly low carb.  Starting blood sugar: 121.  I eagerly unwrap the Peanut Butter Supreme bar and take a bite.  Tasty with a satisfying texture.

   
     Thirty minutes later: 153.  Ok, that isn't HORRIBLE.  Not great but I can live with that.

       One hour in:  201.  Not good.  Maybe it will come back down?  Not likely but one can hope.

   
     An hour and a half:  217.  Still going up and I'm starting to feel crappy.  This is not looking hopeful.

     2 hours in:  229 and I feel like I am going to puke and am in a horrible mood.

 

     My conclusion:  too good to be true.  Clearly the "indigestible fiber" digested.  I do not believe this to be a low carb food and do not recommend it to fellow diabetics or low-carbers.  You are fooling yourself and might as well eat a candy bar.  Ok it might be a bit healthier than a Snickers but it has the same overall effect.    I'll stick with my real food.

A much tastier protein option and diabetes friendly!

Still Losing!

     I am now 8 days out of Phase 3 and as of this morning I am 146.8lb!  That's over 3lb below my lowest injecting weight and 2lb below my lowest weight in the 72 hours not injecting at the end!  I am thisclose to my goal of 145 which I didn't think I was going to make.

     I've been experimenting eating super high fat and it appears to be working.  Yesterday I really pushed it and hit 94% fat.  Someone suggested I use ghee in my Bulletproof coffee and this boosted the fat and calories up.  It's totally awesome BTW, better than butter.  I'm not restricting calories but I have set 1800 as my upper limit and thought that kind of put a crimp in my food for the day but I actually ate fewer calories.  Maybe because it kept me full longer?  So I had it again yesterday, a fatty pork steak for lunch and mushrooms and onions sauteed in butter and bacon fat for dinner.  I was totally full but my calories and fat were lower than I wanted so I made what is essentially a fat bomb.  I mixed 2tsp heavy whipping cream, a Tbsp double devon cream, a Tbsp coconut oil, a Tbsp coconut cream a Tbsp of butter and some sugar free Torani salted caramel syrup.  It was like a decadent dessert and probably would have made an awesome ice cream but I was too impatient to wait.  That added 32g of fat and 275 calories and put me at 94% fat for the day.  I was very curious to see what the effects would be and I'm excited to say they were awesome!

     I don't think I'll push it that high all the time.  I'm still aiming for 80% which I'm hitting most days.

I think I see abs!

I've always avoided shorts because I hate my thighs.  They're still bigger than I 'd like but I might just wear them this year!