Hi Martha
.
1 - You'll want to keep your effective carb count (ECC) at 30 - 35 gms per day in the beginning. Remember to subtract out the fiber content.
2 - From the PP web site faq page (
http://eatprotein.com/faq.htm), here is the following on protein:
How do you calculate protein requirements?
The minimum protein requirement ranges from 0.6 to 1 gram per pound of lean body mass depending on the level of physical activity. It is calculated like this:
Sedentary. A person who gets no physical activity needs 0.5 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass.
Moderately Active. Someone who exercises 20-30 minutes two or three times per week needs 0.6 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass.
Active. Someone who exercises 30 minutes or more three to five times per week needs 0.7 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass.
Very Active. A person who exercises an hour or more at least five times per week needs 0.8 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass.
Athlete. A competitive athlete who trains twice a day for an hour or more needs 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body mass.
We also recommend that if someone is more that 40% overweight they should increase their protein requirement one level.
3 - The Eadeses consider fat to be self-limiting and as long as you're eating good fats (primarily monounsaturated and saturated fats) you don't need to be too concerned about fat intake. Just avoid trans-fats!
4 - The Eadeses don't focus on ketosis and ketostix.
5 - Calories are definitely a YMMV thing. The Eadeses don't focus on counting calories unless you're a "small" person. Then they concede that you may need to watch calorie intake.
6 - I believe the basics are to keep your carbs under 40 ECC, try to get a minimum of 25 gms fiber, get at least your minimum protein intake, and use only good fats. Make sure you spread your carbs and protein out throughout the day. And drink plenty of water!
HTH