I had a colleague in my first company who used to eat just eggs for breakfast—not raw, of course. He would make an omelet, scramble them, or sometimes just boil them, constantly rotating styles to avoid boredom. But the real shocker?
He would eat at least 12–16 eggs for breakfast. Then he’d skip lunch. And for dinner?
Another egg-based meal. Similar quantity. At first, all of us were stunned. How could someone survive on just eggs? Naturally, I asked him. And that’s when I got introduced to a concept that would slowly change the way I looked at food. He said, “I’m not eating eggs. I’m focusing on protein.”
Eggs, according to him, were simply the most convenient and accessible source. Easy to cook, easy to track, and no unnecessary thinking involved. While the rest of us were juggling menus, cravings, and “what to eat today” dilemmas, he had eliminated decision fatigue entirely.
Looking back, that was my first exposure to intentional eating.
Discipline as I Had Never Seen Before
I will be honest, I’ve rarely seen someone that disciplined, who is not from an acting or modeling background. And this discipline wasn’t just restricted to office hours. Even during office parties, he’d order paneer tikka (his only acceptable alternative) and lime soda with salt and no sugar, of course! Alcohol? Not even a sip.
If someone offered him food, he would politely refuse even if it was something he immensely liked. Not because he didn’t feel tempted, but because he understood something most of us don’t: One “yes” leads to ten more, and he didn’t want to open that door. And honestly, that level of self-awareness was more impressive than the diet itself.
The Cheat Days That Made It Sustainable
What made his routine even more interesting was his approach to cheat days. He wouldn’t indulge randomly. Instead, he saved it all for when he went back home, which was in a different city. And when he did? He went all in because those days were numbered.
Everything he restricted during his workdays, he allowed himself to enjoy guilt-free at home. Because those days were limited, it never spiraled out of control. It was structured indulgence, not mindless cheating.
But Was It Actually Healthy?
Now, let’s be real. A diet consisting almost entirely of eggs is far from balanced. He knew that too, since his elder brother was a nutritionist who guided his diet and nutritional requirements.
That’s why he supplemented with multivitamins to compensate for the lack of essential nutrients—vitamins, minerals, fiber—that his diet was clearly missing. It worked for his goals, but it also made me realize something important: Not everything that is effective is sustainable or ideal.
What Stayed With Me
I never adopted his extreme approach. But the idea stayed. The concept of prioritizing protein, simplifying food choices, and eating with a purpose instead of just reacting to hunger or cravings stuck with me.
Over time, I started noticing how most of our meals are heavily carb-focused, with protein being more of an afterthought. And once you start seeing it, you can’t unsee it.
The Beginning of My Protein Obsession
That colleague unknowingly planted a seed. What started as curiosity slowly turned into awareness. Awareness turned into small changes. And those small changes eventually grew into what I can now call…My craze with protein.
I started reading a little. Observing more. Why do people emphasize protein so much? Why does every fitness conversation somehow come back to it? Why did I feel fuller on some meals and starve after others? And piece by piece, things started making sense.
Now, did I start eating 12–16 eggs a day after that? Absolutely not. But something about that conversation stayed with me. Until then, food for me was just… food. Whatever was cooked at home, whatever was available in the office cafeteria, whatever everyone else was eating. I never really questioned it.
But after meeting him, I started noticing things I hadn’t paid attention to before. Like how most of our meals were heavily carb-focused. Rice, roti, poha, upma… and protein? Just a side character. Sometimes dal, sometimes a little paneer, sometimes nothing at all. And suddenly, I couldn’t unsee it.
That’s how it started for me. Not with a diet plan. Not with a fitness goal. But with 12–16 eggs… and a question that refused to leave my mind.