I work 12 hour shifts (I'm an RN), so I NEED to have protein for breakfast or I am absolutely starving by lunch. I eat before I leave for work at 6 am. I usually have 2 eggs and some toast and fruit. Then I don't get to eat anything except for maybe a snack until 12 noon or so. Then I don't get to eat again until I get home at 8:30 pm. It's not the ideal schedule, I know, but it's what I have to work with. And that's why I'm asking for help!

So is there anything wrong with having the 2 eggs, or will they cause me to have the treatment effects that I keep hearing about?

Thanks,

Wow, Lisa, I don't know how you can sustain yourself like this.  My husband was recently in the hospital for emergency surgery.  I know the nurses work 10-12 hour shifts, and also know that each of them had bags of food on their work stations.  Typically I saw most of them ingesting a lot of granola and cereal.  There also are refrigerators and microwaves on the floor.  How about packing yourself some turkey or lean ham wrapped in lettuce?  A touch of Dijon mustard does wonders for those wraps.  Even a bit of shredded cabbage.  I buy the cole slaw pre shredded cabbage and carrot mix.  It's easy and very tasty.  Another very satisfying favorite of mine is a Portabella mushroom, broiled in the AM before I leave for work.  Chop the stems.  Sautee in a little bit of olive oil with garlic.  Bring a piece of Alpine Lace along.  Nuke it in the micro when you're ready to eat.  Yumm!

 I prefer "real" eggs to substitutes and have one hard boiled on a piece of toast or a whole wheat english muffin a couple of times a week.  Haven't had any "treatment effects" when I do that.  But as you know as an RN, you've got to watch the cholesterol too.  The "Better than Eggs" product is very good by the time you've added some tomato, cheese, veggies from the night before. 

Good luck.  I'm in your corner, kiddo!

Mary

Thanks, Mary - my total cholesterol level is actually fine. Although my "good" cholesterol is low, and I know the way to raise that is to exercise. :)

 I have been trying to eat more snacks at work, and then a granola bar on my way home from work, so I'm not totally famished by the time I get home. The eggs haven't been giving me TE's. Actually, I haven't had a problem with those at all! I'm thrilled!!

I just checked in for the first time this morning and was reading about keeping your stomach from being empty.  It makes a great deal of sense.  So I'm going to make sure I stock up on single serve mandarin oranges and fruit cups.  Being an egg lover too, I was just thinking I'd scramble two eggs but use only one yolk?

Looks like you're doing great.  Keep up the good work!

Mary

Lisa - you and I are in the same boat as far as horendous schedules go, although I think yours is slightly worse than mine.  I leave the house at 7:15, drive 45 minutes to work, never eat lunch because I just don't have time, and get home between 7-8:00 every night, six days a week.  Then I'm absolutely starving and eat everything in sight.  This past week, my first with Alli, I literally forced myself to eat breakfast, something I have NEVER done in my entire life.  My sleep was always more important than eating to me.  Well, I think that's made the difference for me.  While I only got to eat lunch 3 times last week, I took my Alli, and I still felt better overall because I had Cheerios, 2% milk, & blueberries for breatkfast.    So far no treatment effects.  I'm certainly no expert, but maybe you could use egg beaters instead to avoid the "T.E."  Best of luck, Lisa, you've done amazing so far - wait, actually luck has nothing to do with it!  YOU did it - just YOU!  I'll send a good thought of mental encouragement out to you during the work week and you send one to me, too, ok?