Confused~! How many calories SHOULD I be eating???

I am a large woman (>300 lbs), 43 years old, and I have been trying to lose weight for a month now.  I have changed my eating habits, and am exercising 5/6 days a week.  I usually do 30 min on a bike, a 30 min Curves-like circuit, and then another 30 min on a bike, which adds up to around 700 calories burned minimum for each day I work out. I feel great when I exercise, and great afterwards. Upon the advice of others, I have put my activity level at sedentary and add in my workouts in the activity log.  The calorie calculator thing says that I should be eating 1785 calories a day, and I have read other places that I should not have a deficit greater than 700 calories per day.  So, how much should I eat?  Doesn't it defeat at least some of the purpose of the exercise if I just turn around and eat it all back?  I have trouble consuming the calories I am supposed to eat at sedentary!

Results:  over the last month I have lost 20 lbs.  I know weight comes off easier the larger you are, but I am afraid it is coming off too fast, but also don't want it to stop :) ...  Advice for a newbie please!

Hi bubbles!

I would take the 1700 as a suggestion and say as long as you are getting over 1100 to 1200 calories (some suggest 1400 but I have had no problems being under that) you will be fine. Eat until you feel like you're not hungry. Whether that is 1100 or the full 1700 is up to your body. The more you exercise the hungrier you will get, so don't be afraid to indulge when your body needs fuel, just stay under the CC recommended number. That seems to be working for me so far.