But how can u tell what your ideal daily caloric consumption is? I was eating about 1200 per day and not losing anything. I had just started walking, too. Finally I joined 1 of the big gyms and they said I needed @ 3000/day just to mantain, since I am so overweight. (over 100 lbs.) They said I was starving my body at 1200, and never to go below 1800 (at least until I'd lost a lot). How would I have ever known? I was able to drop 40 lbs after that. I just NEVER eat enough!