How did everyone choose their calorie goal

MFP suggested 1200. But later I fixed it by doing my TDEE - 20%.

I ate 500 calories under TDEE and lost 20 lbs. in just under 6 months, but everyone is different. I'd say stick to one plan for at least a couple of weeks to see how it works. If you get your desired results, keep it up, if not, shake it up. And exercise as much as you can without overdoing. For the first 3 months, I was mostly walking, the last 3 I was going to the gym 6 days a week, cardio 5 of those days and weights 3.

I think I did it more on a day to day basis though would roughly stick to 1400 a day, but zig-zag....e.g.

Monday 1200
Tuesday 1300
Wednesday 1600
Thursday 1200
Friday 1800
Saturday 1300
Sunday 1400

etc, but no particular format. I did eat exercise calories back but not necessarily on the days I burned them. So long as by the end of the week I had eaten my weekly goal and exercise calorie total that was it and it really allowed for flexibility and being able to eat when hungry, not eat when not hungry etc...

I use the Katch-McArdle formula for my BMR. Needs a pretty accurate reading of bodyfat though (I used the 8-point method for that).

BMR = 370 + (21.6 x LBM)Where LBM = [total weight (kg) x (100 - bodyfat %)]/100

From there I work my TDEE in, then remove a percentage for weight loss. Then I split those calories into Protein/Fat/Carbs for the macros. I do this customised, because the template ones like 40/30/30 and 40/40/20 are, in fact, rubbish most of the time.

^^ This

1200 cal didn't work for me. I used the road map thread to figure my TDEE. Now I have my intake set to my full TDEE of 2000 and aim to eat 10-15% under that. Exercise is already accounted for so no I don't eat that back. Usually I only log it for my own purposes in the notes section.

edit: For macros I aim for .8-1g of protein per LBM pound and then work my fat and carbs around that.

I do it the way any engineer would.

1) Weigh myself every day. Calculate a weighted moving average of that weight so I know what I actually weigh, not subject to all the quirky day to day fluctuations.
2) Sum up the calories I ate in the last two weeks, sum up the calories I spent in exercise in the last two weeks, and calculate my 2 week average net daily intake.
3) Calculate exactly what my metabolism was over the last 2 weeks by subtracting average daily weight change * 3500 to my average net daily intake.
4) Armed with the knowledge of precisely what my average metabolism was over the last 2 weeks, I can add or subtract calories as needed (500 cal/day = 1 lb) to create goals that can be achieved with precision.
5) Win
6) Profit

I use a spreadsheet and keep a continuous live calculation of this number. It is quite easy to do. Its intersting to watch how your metabolism changes over time. I'm not sure why more people don't do this, the math isn't hard at all, and unlike the formulas people use, it is not an estimate, it is a real number, and the way it is calculated cancels all the systemmic calorie counting errors you have. It allows for precision and easy troubleshooting, if you want to lose 24.6 pounds in the next 4 months, using this method will enable you to lose exactly 24.6 pounds in the next 4 months. Plus it pretty much eliminates the potential for plateaus, the only plateau you have to be wary of is the one that occurs when your deficit is too big.

...So I think for now MFP settings are the way to go. I've set it to 1.5lbs a week and I'll eat back some exercise calories.

That's what I do. I put zero thought into it and just eat how much it tells me to. I'm down 43lbs in 5 months. Works for me.

I used the calculations Dan sets forth in his excellent post here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

Doing it that way, you don't eat exercise calories back. Dan also explains the how and why of setting up your macros (carbs, fat, protein) and a lot of other good information.

This.

Though I just go by MFP settings, because it was so close to what was set up anyway. :P

Don't you find that you can eat loads though when you eat back exercise calories. Doesn't really feel like a diet. For example I'm going swimming tonight and even the lowest estimate of calories burned for an hour is like 600. thats on top on a walk with the dog @ 150cals plus my daily MFP total of 1350.

This is the second time you mentioned being on a diet. Is a diet a temporary thing for you? What will you do when you decide you're not on a diet?

I chose my calories based on MFPs recomendation. I'll adjust it if needed.

Don't you find that you can eat loads though when you eat back exercise calories. Doesn't really feel like a diet. For example I'm going swimming tonight and even the lowest estimate of calories burned for an hour is like 600. thats on top on a walk with the dog @ 150cals plus my daily MFP total of 1350.

This is the second time you mentioned being on a diet. Is a diet a temporary thing for you? What will you do when you decide you're not on a diet?

I chose my calories based on MFPs recomendation. I'll adjust it if needed.

Diet is just the word of choice. I want to increase my calories for maintenance and eat differently for the rest of my life. Sometimes its just easier to say diet as that is what we are all accustomed to saying.

I don't see the word "diet" as "restricting of calories" so much as "diet is the way that I eat". "My diet consists of" instead of "I'm going on a diet" Does that make sense? I'm pretty sure that's what was meant by that statement.

And, from dictionary.com

di·et    [dahy-it] Show IPA noun, verb, di·et·ed, di·et·ing, adjective noun

1.food and drink considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and its effects on health: "Milk is a wholesome article of diet."
2.a particular selection of food, especially as designed or prescribed to improve a person's physical condition or to prevent or treat a disease: "a diet low in sugar."
3.such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight: "No pie for me, I'm on a diet."
4.the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group: "The native diet consists of fish and fruit."
5.food or feed habitually eaten or provided: "The rabbits were fed a diet of carrots and lettuce."

Don't you find that you can eat loads though when you eat back exercise calories. Doesn't really feel like a diet. For example I'm going swimming tonight and even the lowest estimate of calories burned for an hour is like 600. thats on top on a walk with the dog @ 150cals plus my daily MFP total of 1350.

This is the second time you mentioned being on a diet. Is a diet a temporary thing for you? What will you do when you decide you're not on a diet?

I chose my calories based on MFPs recomendation. I'll adjust it if needed.

Diet is just the word of choice. I want to increase my calories for maintenance and eat differently for the rest of my life. Sometimes its just easier to say diet as that is what we are all accustomed to saying.

I don't see the word "diet" as "restricting of calories" so much as "diet is the way that I eat". "My diet consists of" instead of "I'm going on a diet" Does that make sense? I'm pretty sure that's what was meant by that statement.

And, from dictionary.com

di·et    [dahy-it] Show IPA noun, verb, di·et·ed, di·et·ing, adjective noun

1.food and drink considered in terms of its qualities, composition, and its effects on health: "Milk is a wholesome article of diet."
2.a particular selection of food, especially as designed or prescribed to improve a person's physical condition or to prevent or treat a disease: "a diet low in sugar."
3.such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight: "No pie for me, I'm on a diet."
4.the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group: "The native diet consists of fish and fruit."
5.food or feed habitually eaten or provided: "The rabbits were fed a diet of carrots and lettuce."

Understood, but everyone doesn't define diet the same.