Question:
How do you all balance a new way of eating and your work schedules

I am currently pre-op, but I am already concerned about returning to work after the surgery. How do you all incorporate your new way of eating into your work routines? I work a sit down job. Right now, I don't usually eat a breakfast, but I may munch on something in the morning to tide me over till lunch. I have a 45 minute drive to work in the morning and I leave very early. I can and do eat lunch or snacks at my desk. I am just curious, if I wait to eat my breakfast post-op at work when I get there, will I be able to drive in the morning? Or will I have to wake up an hour early to eat a breakfast at home(I already wake up at 5 AM)? How do you all feel in the morning and how do you balance food and work? Also, if it is suggested that I eat before going to work, can anyone suggest something easy for breakfast that I can eat slowly in my car during the ride? thanks    — enjo4 (posted on August 11, 2000)

August 11, 2000
Hi Erin: I had open RNY on 4/4/00. I have a sit down job from 9 am to 1 pm each day and here's what I usually do: For breakfast, I might scramble an egg and throw on some cheese and salsa. Or, I might stop and pick up a breakfast sandwich (if I do this, I eat the insides of sausage or bacon and egg and cheese and then skip most or all of the bread); or I might make a protein shake to drink on the way to work or I might take some cheese with me or pick up a piece of grilled meat or chicken from the night previous and eat that on the drive to work. You have lots of choices. I feel just fine in the mornings and am not hungry usually. I take my chewable vitamins before leaving for work. I also take along a liter of water to drink before lunch. That way, I have half of my water in before noon. I can also drink coffee at work and have been able to tolerate 1/2 the sugar and creamer that I used to use in it so I am pleased with that! Somedays I spice up the water with crystal lite powder or bring along a diet Snapple. String cheese is easy to nibble at your desk, cubes of ham or other meat are good, some occasional nuts are also good for us. You'll be fine. Best wishes on your upcoming surgery.
   — Cindy H.

August 11, 2000
You should get one of those big thermal cups and make your protein shake your breakfast. Put it in the blender with fruit and ice and take it with you. Also I think string cheese (part-skim mozzarella) is good for the car. Two of those is 160 calories. I think they sell them in bulk at Sam's.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 11, 2000
What I usually do in the morning is mix my protein shake drink half in the morning half in the evening when I get home. Sometimes depending if I am running late I would eat a bowl of cereal or take some yorgart to work with me. If I forget my yorgart I would eat a boiled egg at work. I take a liter bottle of water that I had frozen overnight so that I can get my water in. For lunch I sometimes eat a bowl of soup or what they have that has a lot of protein in it for lunch. Most time I eat protein soup for lunch. For snack I eat a protein bar or beef jerky. For dinner if I am hungry I eat a little dinner I prepare for my kids or drink a protein drink.
   — Sharon T.

August 11, 2000
It's not a problem to incorporate your new lifestyle. I work 8-4:45 in a professional environment. I keep my multivitamins in my desk and that's the first thing I do when I come in. I cleaned out a cabinet in my office for my "supplies", and I stock it with a hand-held blender for my protein drinks, protein powder, nuts, soups, Splenda (a WONDERFUL sugar substitute), and kool aid packets. I keep string cheese, individual quiches, bottled water, and some Lean Cuisines in the fridge. One small Lean Cuisine makes two meals for me. I might spend a little time preparing things for myself, but it amounts to about the same amount of time coworkers spend going to the snack machine or smoking. I do recommend that you have a relaxed environment while you eat so you can concentrate on eating slowly and chewing well. Best wishes!
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 11, 2000
I like Denise's ideas for lo sugar snacks here. Since I take several protein drinks per day, I usually take my first one by spoonful, then by the time I'm assmebled to run, I usually take a nice thick rich protein drink in the car that I can savor while I drive. I carry "shakable" models in the car with me. But when I worked at a desk, I often took a tuna sanwich cut into quarters, wrapped in individual baggies so I could eat a hunk every few hours. We start post-op life with 5-6 meals of 1 oz each until goal wt, so eating 1/4 sandwich filled up a decent break time nicely. Today, I am more likley to eat a protein bar if I need a snack, but then, I am a protein=aholic! The other stuff just isn't as much fun. You can break just about any food into small portions at home and take 'em in little plastic deals or baggies for use at work. The danger is in leaving a whole bag of soynuts or chips or crackers on your desk. Grazing can frustrate your wt loss.
   — vitalady

August 11, 2000
It was alot easier than I thought it would be. I work four ten hour days; I bring a container of yogart for breakfast, which I eat at about 8:00 am, a fruit or something similar for a snack at about 10:00, a small lunch which I eat one hour before I walk my two miles at lunch, and if I need to I have a snack in the afternoon around 4:00-5:00. I have a desk job so I eat at my desk. Some easy things to have in the morning are oatmeal, cream of wheat, yogart, an egg w/ cheese.
   — twenc

August 11, 2000
I've found a very easy solution to the breakfast thing...I eat a protein bar for breakfast. I've found some that I really like and it has the protein that we need. I have something for lunch and then another protein bar aroudn 3 in the afternoon, then dinner and maybe a protein bar before bed. I'm 5 months post-op and have lost 85 pounds, so it most be working. Good luck!
   — Gayle G.