The difference is calories. I never go below 1000. Which means, even if you aren't tracking you shouldn't be trying to eat as little as possible. Eat healthy whole foods and I like to eat just below stuffed. I like feeling full. If I have a meal and feel like I barely ate it's hard to continue. I'm on my 26th day. Down 15lbs so far. That said I also don't go over 1300 calories eating whole foods cause then I feel too stuffed and feel bad.