I stick to a strict 20 or less net carbs per day. I have massive insulin resistance, so when I eat many carbs there is no stopping the hunger until I've really, really overeaten.

As far as calories go, I just try to listen to my body. If I'm hungry, I eat, and if I'm not I don't. It usually ends up being around 1500-1700 cals on weekdays and 1200-1400 on weekends.

If I were you and I were still feeling hungry, I would try to reduce carbs and increase fat while maintaining the calorie deficit. That SHOULD help you feel more satiated.

I keep mine around 100-120 a day. I have lost 20 lbs. it is very slow but I am happy and feel great. Do what's best for you. Adjust if you need to,

I have also been struggling with this. I have been doing what I thought was "low carb" only to read what others are doing is far less than myself.

I think I'm leaning in the direction this must be a personal thing. If I adjust my carb intake to less than 50, I just feel horrible but I bump it back up to between 75 and 100 and I feel like I could accomplish anything. I'm eating around 1200 calories a day and don't feel hungry. (The 100+ temps might have something to do with that)

I tried so hard to get into what everyone calls Ketosis, but my head hurt so bad and I couldn't do my Zumba workouts I was so out of energy. I'm resigned to the fact that this may never happen for me but I'm ok with that.

I'm going to do what feels the best for me. I am still losing weight, it seems to be melting off. I didn't think it was possible after the hysterectomy and hormone replacement meds but it's working great. Until that changes and slows down, 75 to 100 is going to be ok. I can lower it later if I feel I'm stuck right?

I just hope I still fit into this Low Carb group, I really like this particular board and hope I can contribute after I feel more confident in what I'm doing.

Hey there, sorry to hear that you are struggling.

To be honest I would not worry about the holy grail of Ketosis initially, just cutting back on the carbs should provide some benefits.

If you aren't feeling too good on 50g carbs I would try adding a little salt into your diet, this is a common complaint (Atkins Flu) as the body naturally dumps sodium as part of the process of adjusting to a fat-based diet.

The adaptation process can take up to 4 weeks so I wouldn't quit until then

During this period trying the exercise regimes that you are used to may be tricky too, I would just back off and give it some time ...

Can't say I blame you. I'm somewhat new to low-carb and my love of all things bad for me has made me keep at least 50 carbs/day, but I aim for about 75. First couple of days weren't that fun, but now it's awesome!

I love that book! I think I've read it cover to cover at least five times. Ha.

Thanks for the replies!! I just worry about taking in too many calories, because it seems like if I am hungry, and I want to eat something low carb, its usually higher in fat and cals, so I would end up eating more cals over all. I am trying to keep the carbs low, and if it wasnt for a fruit per day it would be well under 50, but I NEED the fiber to keep things moving....

You want lean protein then, maybe. Chicken, sliced turkey, grilled marinated tofu squares, dried edamame, an ounce or two of cheese.

Math_Geek, I am also an analytical kind of person (a software engineer by trade so it figures), I like reading up about the science, the hormones, the whole holistic thing (hippy alert ) and absorbing the different viewpoints and angles.

I swallowed (literally) the flawed 3500 calories deficit thing and paid for it big time.

I have been lucky enough to have had some spare time to read up lately (read: Nobody wants to give me a job Soon to be rectified) so I've read a heap of, admittedly, mostly complementary books.

But time and time again the science bears it out ... Just manage the insulin with whole, filling, natural foods, avoid the potentially bad stuff (processed stuff, sugar, grains, legumes and dairy for some), don't go nuts with stressors such as bad sleep and excessive exercise and the body will adjust down to a naturally lean state, existing medical conditions excepted.

I find re-reading stuff like Good Calories, Bad Calories, The Primal Blueprint, The Smarter Science Of Slim, The Perfect Health Diet, etc also makes it crystal clear that many people are finding the same things.

And I ramble a lot I should just confine all this to the blog but I can't help banging on about how this has completely freed me from worrying about food or fitness.

And it makes me ANGRY that people have, understandably, been conditioned to think that:
- Dietary fat is bad
- Calories are all that matter
- We need to exercise off xxxx calories to manage caloric balance
- Cholesterol intake is an issue
- High cholesterol is an issue, just take the statins ... argggghhh!
- The food pyramid/myplate/whatever is a sane way of managing weight

So many people struggling when they need not be. Yes, it doesn't work as well for some people but for the insulin resistant it generally works spectacularly well.

And don't get me started on the advice for diabetics ... Eat 300g of carbs, take the insulin, you have a condition that will only get worse ... THIS IS MENTAL.

<Soap Box Off and Relax>

You might open your food diary so people could see what exactly you are eating for your low carb diet. 5 days isn't a lot of time, but generally you should experience a pretty significant weight loss in the first couple of weeks.

Since you are so new to low carb have you considered following a plan to help you understand what types of foods you should be eating and how much? There are so many different nutrition plans to choose from and I think it might help you. Or talk to a nutritionist or your doctor to see what they might recommend as a healthy diet for your individual needs.

Good luck!

Hi Pennell12,

No problems here, I work a couple tablespoons of ground flaxseed into my daily diet and drink lots of water. I also make sure to have some low carb veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, etc every day.

If you stick to meat and cheese I could see trouble a-brewin though!! :P

When I first started losing weight I gradually dropped the carbs. I learned about pre-diabetes and insulin resistance because of some issues my son was going through, but believed all the bad reports about Atkins. Went from the standard 300 per day to 100 and lost 25 pounds or so. Then started stalling out and bouncing around and decided to go lower and dropped to half that and lost more before stalling again. Went on Atkins induction, and it is hard cutting down to less than 20 carbs a day. But lost 11 pounds in a week and got motivated. There was a carb withdrawal when I first started. Headache, nausea, sometimes sluggishness--might be your body starting to change over to burning fat for energy instead of the sugar/insulin.

By all means do what feels good to you. From experience I think it's okay to gradually step down--just a slower weight loss process. I've seen folks drop in months what it's taken me 2 years to do. But on the flip side, I also think going slower and doing a weight regimen leaves less loose skin to deal with.

I have less than 20 to go now, and am back on induction and I feel SOOO much better on induction these days. Eat too many carbs and I feel like crap. Before low carb I was plagued by heartburn 4-5 days a week. The bad kind where I was up all night feeling like someone had me in a bear hug. Have not had it one single time in the past year.

I also don't believe there is anything wrong with being in ketosis if you have no other health issues. I feel much more energetic now...I think it's all a matter of listening to your body--we're all different--and taking it at your own pace. When you feel like your stuck etc., you'll make adjustments to get the momentum back.

I to was confused...but this article helped me:
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-primal-carbohydrate-continuum/