i wouldn't worry about calories. personally, i have notice that as the months roll on i eat considerably less and less. some days i don't even have dinner. once you get started your appetite will practically go away if you were like me and craved carbs every minute of the day, and went to wal mart to by a package of cookies and couldn't stop eating them until they were gone...i've lost 40lbs eating this way, and trust me, your appetite will take care of it...