Ottawa, I remember reading the 100 calorie suggestion, too, but when I went back to double check, couldn't find it again.
But so long as someone else remembers reading it too, I'm happy.
I do believe a zero calorie fast is the most beneficial, and therefore the best goal, but i can't give up my morning coffee either, and tried unsuccessfully to switching to drinking it black/sweetened. I have reverted to using a small amout of powdered whitener as it is far less calories than real cream, and during the fasting, keeping the calories as low as possible is my goal. Besides, I could never develop a liking for the taste of real cream in my coffee, either.
I want to stick with this WOE long term, so need strategies that make it liveable and enjoyable for me.
Ruth, liked your thoughts about supporting each other through the holidays and getting right back on track. I'm not really having any problems though, and find IF to actually be making some aspects of the holidays easier.
Last night was my job's annual Christmas dinner. It was held at the same casino/buffet as last year. Last year I was LC, but not IF. The food/selections weren't that good, and I felt deprived and punished. Made several trips to the buffet looking for something to eat so (I guess?) I could feel like I was eating as much as everyone else and therefore enjoying myself. This year, same buffet, same overcooked carby selections, I didn't care. I made the one trip, put a piece of steak, porkloin, a bbq'd rib, some sauteed mushrooms, and 3 big fresh strawberries on my plate, ate most the pork, half the rather tatseless steak, one bite of the rib, all the mushrooms and strawberries, and was done. Wasn't hungry... didn't even occur to me to make a second trip to the buffet, even though everyone I was sitting with made at least 3.
I don't care much for the bars, but I make use of the Atkins shakes occasionally, when my calorie or protein count for the day has been low, and I want something sweet. Quite opposite of stalling me, I almost always show loss on the scale the day after drinking one. Now I'm not telling everyone "drink Atkins shakes! Lose weight!".. I'm just saying that they definitely don't stall me, and everyone's different.