[BrianSCohen]

I have followed a low carb diet for nearly two years. I feel smarter about this sort of diet and often feel like there are serious misconceptions. Your body goes through changes as you adapt to a low carb diet. After adaptation (about two weeks) you will lose your cravings. Trust me on this.

I find it really amusing that people find low carb a starvation diet. I like this diet because I can eat as much as I want. I routinely eat 3,000 calories a day, sometimes up to 5,000 calories a day. I also learned to love, not fear fat. Over time I have developed a broad range of things that I can eat. I have gained muscle and lost fat on this diet.

There is no strict definition of what is low carb and what is ultra low carb. There is a transition your body will go through that is of marked importance. As you reduce your carbs, you will start to primarily burn fat, producing ketones. You can test for these using ketostix. I usually only have trace levels. These are the hallmark of an ultra low carb diet and for diets like atkins are clear markers that you have successfully reduced your carbs. A low carb diet (typically 50-100 gm/day) may not take you into ketosis. An ultra low carb diet will take you and keep you in ketosis. I prefer to stay in ketosis.

I recommend a low carb diet, and an ultra low carb if you can do it. There don't seem to be any ill effects, it optimally controls blood sugar, you don't ever have to go hungry, and you generally can get very good health and cholesterol results.