Forget the calculators. Just forget em'. ESPECIALLY once you start factoring in the activity levels. They're insanely over the top high. Stick to that 1400 to perhaps 1500. It's a great starting level. You'll see. You'll see.

I agree that it can be very confusing with all the conflicting information out there. I started out around 1200 calories (weighing 230) and this was on advice from a weight clinic! Needless to say, I felt terrible and had NO energy. I went up to 1300 calories and felt a little better. I stayed at 1300 for a couple months and then started really feeling bad. I had lost weight, but was having trouble getting through the work day. I've now increased my calories to 1500-1600, and feel much better, but my weight is barely going down (3 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks). I'm going to stay at this for now though, since I feel so much better. I'd love quick weight loss, but I have such a demanding job, I need the energy.
Anyway, I sympathize with the confusion you're experiencing!!

I used a calorie calculator for BMR at the Calorie Council website. I compared it to the ones that Amanda recommended and that CatR recommended. I was surprised but happy to see that based on my age, height, weight, and activity level. they were all within 2 or 3 calories of each other.

I do know that in the past I have read magazine articles or seen tv spots mentioning calories and they almost always gave a calorie count way above what the above mentioned calculators and my own experience told me I should be eating.

When I said feel I didn't mean it as in how you personally feel. I meant "feel" out the process to see how many calories it takes for you to lose.