yes, you subtract fibre.

i eat 20 grams a day to make sure i stay in ketosis. personally i don't see a point to do low carb unless you're in ketosis, but that's me.

i eat way more fat than is reccomended (high fat, low carb)

you should read the atkins book. takes about an hour to go through all the sciency stuff and understand why it works.
i dont count cals but i always end up eating between 800 and 1400 or so.

Some of the physicians I work for tend to go for a benchmark between 120g-150g per day, but this depends greatly on how high the A1C readings come back with.

My A1C began at 11.2 approximately one year ago, this September. For my situation, I was advised 120g per day, no more than 40g per meal if I ate three meals.

Come December 2011, my A1C was redone and measured 5.2....... Four months time, with dietary changes, and I completely erased Diabetes from coming. Three weeks ago, it was redone.. .and Im still 5.2!!!!

As of now, I'm shooting for around 70-100g. Ideally, I'd like to be under 50 and I feel much better when I eat less carbs, which I've done in the past. However, right now I'm living at home until I get married in the fall so I'm kinda stuck with the family plan. My family is very big on the family dinner thing and my dad loves to cook (which is great, but it is usually something high in carbs and mega calories). I can usually stay under the 100 mark and still feel ok and not insult anyone by not eating dinner and making my own dinner.

I try to watch my carbs for health reasons over weight loss so it is about finding the balance that works for you. Some people do well on the keto plan and others do well with just monitoring it. I find the keto plan works really well if you aren't worried about cooking for a family. Otherwise, it gets to be a nuisance cooking multiple meals for kids, spouse, etc.

Some things that really help are just reducing certain types of carbs. Like you said, getting carbs from fruits and vegetables. Also, limiting breads, pastas, etc. A big one that helps me is what cramernh said and that is limited the amount of carbs per meal. Other things that work for me, if I have pasta for lunch, then I don't have potatoes for dinner. I try to limit my carb load to one meal, and one item per meal, if I can. It's all about finding what works for you!

20-30 carbs a day minus fiber and 2400 calories.

wow you guys are SUPER low carb! I don't know how you do it. I strive for 100g day usually stay under but i find it pretty difficult. But alot of my carbs are from fruits (which i will not cut just because it has carbs).

Hi All

I'm doing up to 20 carbs per day. Yesterday was my first day. I was out of control with carbs, kept gaining, trying to diet, failing, negative self-talk until yesterday. Today I feel less bloated and big than I have in a long long time. I'm aiming to follow Atkin's induction until I get down to my goal weight, then I'll add some healthy carbs. Only 6 lbs. to go! Calorie intake around 1500 per day.

I agree about what's the point unless you're in ketosis...

lower carbs means fewer post-meal energy spike and massive dips. it all means improved overall blood sugar levels - which with that whole insulin means less fat storage. Even if you're not doing low-carb to force your body into burning fats, it can still have massive weight-loss AND overall health and energy benefits.

I shoot for no more than 50, and lately I've been at less than 30. I don't deduct fiber. I've just cut out dairy products so it might be easier for me to keep them pretty low now

25-35 net... 1400 cals

Interesting thread. I've never followed a specific diet, but have focused on grams of carbs per meal and per day. My endo said no more than 45 grams per meal, and I keep to that, but I also try to aim for around 60 grams per day (net, minus the fiber). I'm maintaining now, and have found that if I go too low (below 50 per day), I will keep losing. Over 70 and I might gain. Different for everyone. If you're trying to lose, the lower the carb level the better, I would say.

I allow myself up to 50g carbs a day but am usually between 18-30. I don't eat any pasta, rice, flour, wheat etc at all if I can avoid it and I feel fantastic. I've been trying to control my weight for 35 years with calorie counting (a calorie's a calorie - yeah right) low fat, high carb and at 50 weighed more than ever with insulin resistance, high blood pressure, lifelong migraines, the usual. Oh, and constant cravings and hunger. Now? I eat well, haven't had a migraine since beginning of April, and all the niggly health issues are clear. I'm never going back

Been trying to keep it low, but honestly it's still been as high as 160g (sometimes higher =\) over the past month that I've been on MFP. I found some awesome bread that only has 1 net carb per slice, and I'm switching up my diet a bit as well, so hopefully I'll be keeping my carbs under 80g/day as soon as today.

I have started back on low carb today after returning to my bad eating ways, and yes I did gain weight. The upside of it was energy levels during exercise were better, and my breath didn't stink anymore but my sugar cravings havegotten out of control! Thats where the weight has come from, full on sugar binges. Other than that my diet is perfectly clean. And I need to fix this. I am not going as low this time maybe around 50g net (- fibre). I will still eat fruit but cut way, way down. And maybe before a workout. Not sure if I want to do the ketosis thing, my main goal is to eliminate mad cravings which turn into gorges! besides, without refined sugar I had no acne anymore. I always thought it was fat!
I gave up on low carb last time because everytime I went out for a meal there would be hidden sugars in dressings ect, and I felt so sick. The thought of eating out was awful, which made me not much fun! I figure by staying out of keto but still very low carb (50-70) it will suit ME better. 20g net was just too low for too long but everyone is different!

I too have just been diagnosed with PCOS. I am trying to figure all this out as well. For NET CARBS you take the carbs minus the fiber. My carb goal is 30, as that is the Stage 1 Atkins goal, but I have not been able to achieve it yet. The Dr. has said I must stay away from bad carbs and all grains and starches. Imagine the horror - telling an Irish girl she can't have her potatoes MFP has said my calories should be 1200. I haven't been able to hit that either - seem to be coming in about 1400. I have been logging every day and have been eating SO much better, it's amazing. Have not managed to lose any weight the first week, but am not giving up.