Is there a real difference in what protein bars such as power bars will do for you as opposed to stuff like whey mixes etc.? Is it best to eat them right after working out?

im a 20 year old university student... sort of just frustrated with fitness... i weigh about 120 - 125 and im probably 5' 10" - 5' 11"... i guess i kind of want to gain some weight but it seems way to easy to just gain that in the middle... in fat... i guess one question ive had is is ther...

So I boiled myself a stalk of broccoli tonite and ate it with a little rice. I'm wondering what anyone can tell me on whether boiling broccoli sucks a lot the nutritional value out of it?

Can drinking water help you feel less hungry in between meals? Is there an amount of water you should drink everyday regardless of activity level?

I eat rice as a component of one of meals almost everyday. It probably amounts to about a cup a day. Is this doing more bad than good? Are the carbs in rice negative? I run 4 or 5 miles about 3 times a week.