How to determine overall Caloric Intake

This may sound dumb, but I was wondering what to use as my calorie intake number. Average day is consuming 1500 (maintenance w/out exercise), then working out ( weights, cardio and pilates) about 700 calories. So at the end of the day if I subtract my exercise from what I ate I only "consumed" 800 calories that day. Now I KNOW that I need at least 1200 calories to avoid starvation mode and all that, but am I hitting that because I am eating 1500, or am I under that because my total calories are 800.?? That 1200 calorie number is that what you physically eat  before exercise or what you end up with at the end of the day??

Typically, maintenance calories for an adult female, average size and averagely active would be 1900-2100 a day.  If you're particularly overweight or very active it would be higher.  Use the 'tools' and 'allowance' section setting your activity level where you think is appropriate and your target weight the same as your current weight 

That's your average.  Deduct about 500-700 from that number as your steady average for weight-loss.  1200 is the absolute minimum, not the net minimum.  But if you can lose weight on 1400, 1500 or 1700 then it's a much more pleasant experience.

If you have a day when you do a lot more activity than normal, eat a little more accordingly.  But stick to a steady average the rest of the time.