Training & Nutrition - Access Energy Bars

Has anyone tried the Access Bar? If so, what do you think? The hype at the website sounds impressive, but then I am not an expert on the metabolisum of fat, how insulin works etc.

A friend said they are really good and really do aid in burning fat and staving off "the burn".

They are WAY expensive, so I don't want to order any unless someone who rides has actually used them (my friend is a lifter).

Thanks...Bill

Here is a link to the person i suggest to ask this question to.Click on the" Ask Tom "link.He is an expert on sports performance and supplementation and even consults with supplement companies on which ingredients to use.But it would be kind of hard to answer the question I would think if they don't even disclose the proprietary ingredients involved.In any event let us know what he says.As it sounds like from the other post your on the right track with your diet and exercise program you can afford to be skeptical of new wonder supplements until proven effective. http://www.thomasincledon.com/

Thanks for the info. I sent Tom an e-mail about the stuff. I'll let you know what he says.

Bill

I'm surprised you didn't get a couple of bars from your friend to try.
Well it's been six months since this was posted but I don't see a response and I love the Access Bar, so...

The Access Bar rocks. Period. Look up Tammy Van Wisse. She uses the AB when she does things like swim the English Channel, Lake Loch Ness, etc.
It's not better or worse than energy bars because it is not an energy bar. It has always been that one has to eat food/energy bar/calories to have fuel to go workout. When a body starts being active, it kicks in a mechanism that starts burning muscle glucose for energy. Thus when the fuel starts running low there is fatigue/less energy available and a need for more food/energy bar/packet of sugar goo. The Access Bar doesn't work in that dynamic. The Access Bar stops the mechanism that goes to muscle glucose for fuel. It allows the body to access body fat for energy. If you were naked and fat in the Antarctic, you would die naked, fat, and cold. We aren't designed to access our fat stores.
The Dr. that designed the AB did research on squirells for 18 years, looking to see how they metabolized fat throughout the winter. He took what he found there and designed the AB.
Benefits: A continuous supply of energy when exercising, less fatigue, little to no soreness due to less lactic acid being produced as a byproduct of burning muscle glucose, a better workout due to increased muscle recruitment, and burns your body fat.

Granted ABs aren't to be found in stores and can only be gotten by being a customer of the company that makes the AB. But you're already buying the stuff you buy from somewhere, you're already somebodys customer, so it's really just switching to a better store.

And regarding cost, they're neither expensive nor way expensive. I pay less than $1.35 for mine, and at worst it would be $1.65 plus s&h. There's lots of bars out there that don't do as much for you for $2 or more. Hell, how much are those little sugar goo packets?

And I could tell you lots more, with stories and experience and all that. Bottom line is, I and my girlfriend use ABs for every workout because they make a big difference for us. I'm a massage therapist and use them on busy days because they support me in what I'm doing.

I you didn't try the bars 6 months ago and still haven't, go knock on your friend's door and get a couple.

JT

This is new information for me! I got other input that suggested it was simply another bar! I will look into getting some from my friend or at The Vitamine Shop (right next to my office).

Thanks for the input

Bill

I did a Google on Access Bar and found several "studies" that suggest the bar has no merit.
FWIW.

I did a Google on Access Bar and found several "studies" that suggest the bar has no merit.
FWIW.

I didn't have to do a search to figure that one out! :D

Yeah, I've seen a couple of studies that say it doesn't make a difference, and ones that say it does. I'm sure there's all sorts of debate available about which ones are true.

Did the other input you got about it come from people that had tried/used the Access Bar?

It is patented on its ability to do what it says it does, by the way.

As a consumer, I don't really care what the research says (food pyramid, anyone?). I primarily care whether it works or not, whether it makes a difference for me or not, and whether or not it's safe/healthy for me. And it scores extremely high on all three of those factors.

Like anything else out there or on this forum, until you try something you just don't know. I could tell you (and would be happy to if asked), all sorts of great things about the Access Bar but it's not true until it's true for you. Skepticism is healthy and appropriate, and ya just have to try it.

JT

Shalane Flanagan who came in 2nd in the NY marathon is a avid user as well as a exculisve sport drink. Both patented.

The bars help tap into your fat stores, and helps when Denosine kicks in. Avoids burning muscles, less fatigue and pain during long distant excersice. Fat conversion :)

Hope this helps some of you.

MrsJ2U

It is patented on its ability to do what it says it does, by the way.
I'm assuming you're referring to U.S. patents 5,192,740 or 5,296,463, both of which deal with "improving cold tolerance in animals and humans" using "an adenosine receptor antagonist." Examples of which (from the patents) include theobromine (found in chocolate) and caffeine, among other chemicals.

Also: "adenosine is formed as an end product of ATP hydrolysis following physiological stimulation, e.g. adrenergic or local hypoxia." Adrenergic = adrenaline based energy? hypoxia = cold weather? Adrenaline doesn't seem that useful for endurance sports and cold resistance is probably better achieved through layering clothing instead of burning fat stores for performance athletes. Not sure, but it seems like the "extra fat" is going towards increased heat generation ("thermogenesis") and not used as fuel for exercise. So you're burning your fat stores but not getting any work out of it, just making yourself warmer. I wonder about the effect when it's not cold out?

maybe somebody with bio/medical background can correct me on this, it's not my field at all.

From http://www.ultrunr.com/study.html
"Effect of a sports food bar on fat utilisation and exercise duration"
Submitted by Rich Schick

Author: Kolkhorst FW; MacTaggart JN; Hansen MR
Address: School of Health, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls 50614-0241, USA
Source: Can J Appl Physiol, 23(3):271-8 1998 Jun
Abstract:
The manufacturer claims that using the Access Fat Conversion Activity Bar increases fat utilisation, which would have a glycogen-sparing effect and delay the onset of fatigue from endurance exercise. This claim was tested using seven trained distance runners who performed two trials of treadmill running at 73% of VO2max to exhaustion. In a counterbalanced design, subjects ingested either one Access Bar with water or water only prior to treadmill running. Times to exhaustion for the control and Access treatment trials were 104.6 +/- 24.9 min and 93.9 +/- 21.4 min, respectively, and were not significantly different (p > .05). Differences between trials were not observed for the respiratory exchange ratio, blood lactate or glucose concentrations, plasma glycerol concentration, or perceived exertion. Based on results from this study, it was concluded that the Access Bar does not affect fat or carbohydrate utilisation and does not improve exercise endurance. "

One lesson we can take away from this thread is don't believe users with one or two posts who are hyping a product. It's just plain useless. If you want to improve fat utilization during exercise, drink coffee. This thing doesn't even work as well as plain coffee.

I just starting using these because of various reasons. They are sold by Melaleuca. I've only used one on a 40 mile ride and really didn't feel any different than eating other energy bars (Powerbar, Cliff, Protien bits, etc). I'll update you all once I have more riding with them. I am not counting on the whole fat burning thing. I'm also going to give their sport drink a try, I usually stick with cytomax but I'm always willing to try something new.