how do I determine calories?

I multiply my goal by 10. ie My goal is 170 pounds x 10= 1700 calories per day. It may not be scientific, but it works.

You can use a TDEE calculator that allows you to put in your age, height, weight, and activity level and that gives a pretty good idea of what you should be eating. There are a lot of them out there so you can just Google it. Some work different than others though so some might give you maintenance calories and then you can take a cut from there, or some may ask what you want to lose and build it in for you. Also be aware of getting your activity level right. SO either sedentary with adding back in exercise calories or whatever your activity level is with exercise and then DON'T add them back.

Here are a few to get you started:
http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/CalRequire.html
http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/bmr/

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819055-setting-your-calorie-and-macro-targets

Pick a calculator, understand what it's calculating, follow the method for a month or more (regardless of short term progress/regression), then evaluate results. Tweak as necessary.

Me too,,,it was at 1200 and I was sticking to it but not losing a pound!! I upped it to 1400 and I do much better!:bigsmile:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/911089-calculating-calorie-macronutrient-needs

Jsyk pretty much any calculator you try will always be different and they're just ball park figures. I've tried at least 10 and my maintenance ranges from 3700 to 2300. The best thing to do is set a target maintenance and see if you lose or gain wait over the next 3 weeks and adjust your food intake as such. This will be far more accurate.

This is whats worked for me--I got this formula from a dietitian.

Take your goal weight in lbs and convert to kg by dividing by 2.2.

Take that number and multiply by anything between 25-30. This gives you a range for the maintenance calories for your goal weight. I am eating for the body I want, not the body I have. I'm losing slowly but steadily and I feel great.

Oh, and I do eat back most of my exercise calories. I dont eat them all bc I feel MFP overestimates calorie burns.

Would the resulting figure be net calories? I'm a small person and can't seem to get around the 1200 cal rule. 5' and GW of 120#'s. Currently, I'm aiming to burn 1700/day and net 1200. Just comparing the figures. The above calculation gives me 1363, so it's in the ball park.

Yes, its net calories. I eat back exercise and stuff. I got like 1500 and I aim to eat 1400-1500 a day. sometimes im low, sometimes im a little high, but im losing around a lb a week. My goal weight is 140.