I would like to know approximatley how many calories, on an average should I consume a day? I would really appreciate some insight on this please. I don't want to eat too much.

It depends on your size, your activity level and your own metabolism. A good rule of thumb for most women is 1200 a day as a way to get all the nutrients you need and still lose weight.

But look around here and you'll find a lot of women that eat much less, more like 800 a day. They cant lose otherwise.

Personally, I've had no trouble losing on more like 1500 to 1800 calories a day, carbs included. I'm tall, five foot 10 and I'm VERY active. Its only now that I'm a healthy weight and wish to go just a touch lower that calorie counting has been important for me.

Play around with it and see how you go, because I really think that if you can lose on 1500 youre nuts to try to do it on 1000 kind of thing. Its satisfying to deny yourself or be strong and exist on less or however you feel about it, a lot of us do get some kind of subconscious pleasure from being strict on ourselves, but in reality the more you can eat, the more variety you can eat and still lose weight the better and healthier you'll feel. Its why I've never chased that elusive perfect restriction or half cup portion or the milestone of not being able to eat bread, why bother when I lost weight anyway?

Take your doctors guidelines and advice into account and then fine tune it to meet your own needs.