Hi all. I've been reading as much as I can and I wanted to let you know how happy I am to have found such a helpful and enthusiastic group! Even with all I've read, I think I need to ask a few questions.

I started out on a Protein Power plan on Jan. 1, '04 (nothing like resolutions, huh!). Initially I lost about 13 pounds in 2 weeks, a lot of which may have been water, but I am now up to 22 pounds lost (as long as I don't get on the scale before bed, in which case I'm up nearly 8-10##!!- but back down in the morning!) Now, I've very pleased to have lost this amount, but it comes off achingly slow- I think I've been at 250/252 now for 3 weeks, which is very frustrating. I just found fitday, and started keeping track there on Monday, but I had been keeping a food journal before that (but didn't feel comfie going in and back-entering some things, as I'm not convinced it would be totally accurate). I do a Kathy Smith aerobics w/weights 2-3 times a week for about 35-40 min (improving!), and I walk whenever I can. I started keeping measurement track a few weeks ago, but no changes there or in my clothes (since the beginning, actually, which is odd!)

On to my questions:
I hadn't counted fat before, just tried to stick with lean meats and fish. I was very suprised to see that my fat is about equaling my protein on a daily basis! (Coming from a low fat life that left me fatter, you can imagine my shock to see the numbers so high!) My carbs have all been well below 30 net per day, I have a diet soda in the am, but have been cutting back on volume. My protein requirement is 70g/day. I'm eating about 140-150! I'm hoping this is okay! My calories, however, have remained under 1500, and I've read that can cause the starvation response (which my body has probably been in for the last 10 years). I can't eat more than I am (not having any fullness issues), so I am concerned about not getting enough calories, but am also concerned about getting too many. I don't think when you have been a long-time "watcher" on consistently below 1500cal/day, your basal rate works properly, and you actually burn the 3000/day that fitday says I burn to maintain. Calories in/out, I should have always been losing, but it's not the case. Especially since I am forcing myself to be more and more active again, which burns more, and...
So, I am reducing my fat a little (most was coming from Caesar dressing, and I have found one that moves me from 1 to 2 carbs, but reduces fat by 10g!), and I am concerned that I'll get too few calories.
I feel great, miss the occasional beer (I had two a week ago- anyone have the carb count for Guinness?), but am concerned about:
Not enough calories,
No weight loss,
No measurement change
And I have never been in verifyable ketosis! (Some WEEKS my daily carb intake was well below 20g/day!), but those strips never change color. I drink copiuos amounts of water though.
Lastly, when you consider a "cup" of spinach or other leafy green, can you lightly pack it into the cup?? I'm not smushing it, but I'd be hard pressed to get any real salad out of loose packed greens!
Also, I've had no breads, pastas or grains other than a low-carb tortilla available from GNC or as one of the Subway wraps. Almost all my carb comes from veggies, dressing (or Miracle Whip), or the 1 TB of peanut butter I have as a treat in the evening with (in the last week) coco powder.

Thoughts, suggestions, critiques? I'm anxiously waiting for the "losing trend" I hear comes with sticking to this plan. Yes, I want to lose fat, but I really feel much better too. I would just like to see some newer progress, seems I've hit a stall? I'd be dancing in the streets for 1-2#/week! I'm publishing my stuff on fitday if anyone want to take a look!! (User is SusanVanA) Thanks in advance, you all rock!

Susan