The beginning of Marlaine's journal is definitely a good read for beginners - as are many of the journals.

For your weight, you probably don't want your calories to get much about 1800 to 2000, but you don't want them to drop below about 1300, either. I would urge you to track your numbers - calories, carbs, protein, and fat - for a couple of weeks so that you can calibrate your eating. After that, only spot check them occasionally. You will probably need to watch for undereating - it's real easy to do and it does NOT result in faster weight loss, it slows you down.

As for why you can take in so many calories and still lose weight:

First off, you can't eat an unlimited amount of calories. LC is not an excuse to stuff yourself to bursting. In the first couple of weeks you need to set a minimum number of calories (about 10x body weight) and be sure to consume at least that much. But above that, if you are hungry then eat. Conversely, if you are not hungry, then don't eat or take smaller portions. You do want to eat SOMETHING on a regular routine - three to six meals a day - but those meals do not have to be much more than a snack.

Second, your body's metabolism is very different when you are in ketosis versus when you are in glucosis. When you are in glucosis, your body is trying to store as much fat as it can. Your whole metabolism is geared toward creating fat and getting it into the fat cells. When you are in ketosis, your body is doing just the opposite. It is relying on your internal stores and it is set up to utilize them fully. In particular, the hormones needed to get fat into the cells are replaced with hormones needed to get fat out of the cells. Because of this set up, only about half of your dietary fat can be processed and used for energy - the body has an easier supply of energy - the ketones being released from your fat cells - ready to go and will principally opt to use that.

This is the "metabolic advantage" that Dr. A talks about at some length in his book.

HTH