I work for myself, and sometimes that means really long days. This morning I headed out thinking I'd eat my Protein bar from my purse for Breakfast. Whoops, no Protein Bar. I was crazy busy and stopped for Water a couple of times, but didn't find anything at either stop that I felt okay with eating. At 2pm, I had some family crap come up (you know how it goes) that left me pretty upset and food went out of my head totally.

By 5:30, I was home and I was a blubbering, ready to keel over and die, practically suicidal, mess. It wasn't until 7pm that I realized I hadn't eaten all day. By then, I could barely manage half a piece of chicken. However, once it kicked in, I started feeling like ME again.

Moral of the story: ALWAYS stick to your schedule and eat. I discovered today that, although I don't feel hunger, I am totally insane when I don't fuel my body. Shame on me for letting it happen.

I have re-stocked my protein bar supply in my purse.

I have a "car pack" that travels with me. It has a small pack of almonds, some Peanut Butter crackers (I don't low-carb), a Protein bar--careful if your car gets super warm--and some spoons so I can run into a store and grab a yogurt or some Soup, since lots of places now carry ready-to-eat soup.

I have experienced that frazzled, really-not-myself feeling many times, and they are ALWAYS tied to times when I don't eat properly. Having a sleeve sometimes means you don't feel hunger, or you don't feel it in the same way, so definitely stock your purse or your car (I also have a couple of things in a desk drawer at work) to avoid having the crash. Don't forget that good old vending machine peanuts will work in a crunch (ha!), as will a cheese stick or beef Jerky from a convenience store if your sleeve tolerates them (cheese yes, jerky no for me).

Glad you're feeling better, and now you know!!

At what point can you usually start eating protein bars?

Lissa, I am glad you are OK. I feel awful when I go over 4 hours without Protein. I can't imagine how bad it would be if it was all day.

I keep emergency stuff in my purse, my desk at work and in my car. My emergency supplies include: a packets of nuts, individual packets of jerky, packets of white tuna and smoked salmon, baby bell cheese (if I have an ice pack or fridge available) and small cans of green Beans. I keep a knife, fork and spoon in both my car and my office. This way I can stop and have a quick protein meal, or eat some carbs if I want.

The few times I have been caught totally without supplies I have driven though a drive in fast food place and ordered a hamburger patty (no bun) and eaten it, or stopped at a convenience store. I have also discovered most of the convenience stores will have something that will do (tuna, cheese, sliced turkey lunch meat). Some of them even keep a Protein Drink selection in the refrigerated case.

Lissa, I'm glad you are feeling better.