How many calories should you eat daily?

I know it may sound like a stupid question but when I first had my sleeve (August 26,2014) a few weeks afterward I was eating about 600-800 calories daily. Now it appears as if I can eat 1200 calories and on a really good/bad day even 1600! I don't want my stomach to stretch and be able to eat and accept more calories over time. I mean it's not that I am eating bad food or gobbling but when you consider I eat 3 meals and 2 snacks it can add up. 

For example: Pre-workout meal 5am: 1/2 banana and tsp peanut butter-100 cal. After work out-7am: protein shake-160 cal. Breakfast 9:30am: Oatmeal, or Scrambled eggs, etc-usually about 200-250 cal. Lunch 12:00-12:30pm: Salad, or 1/2 sandwich, or turkey chili, etc-usually about 300 cal. Mid-day snack 3:00pm: Fruit, or nuts, or small salad, etc-usually about 100-150 cal. Dinner 6:30pm: Meat, veggie, complex carbs: 300-400 cals. Then I'll have either a protein drink or protein bar if I'm behind in protein, 160-200 cals. So it's not all bad food and it is spread out but it does add up to about 1200-1600 calories. I am exercising 4 times a week (burning about 400-600 calories a workout)and I am still losing weight albeit very slow-1/2 lb to 1.5 lbs a week.  I don't mind losing weight slow and especially with exercise I feel great and I think it'll help with my skin not getting too baggy. And as I said, it's not like I am eating bad food, actually most of what I eat is very healthy. Just wondering if I should cut out a few calories or just continue on my journey as is. At 12 weeks is there a certain amount of calories we should only have? I would hate to find myself able to eat and accepting 1800 calories daily, and then 2000, and then 2400 and so forth. That is what got me here in the first place. Probably went over all this but of course I forgot! Would appreciate some suggestions, ideas, constructive criticism, counsel? Thanks!

Are you asking how many calories I should eat or how many you should eat?

I should eat about 1500.  I base that on the fact that I am in maintenance, not trying to lose or gain any weight, and that seems to be the number of calories that allows me to maintain my weight.

The number you should eat depends on how much you burn in a day and of course on whether or not you're still trying to lose.  At 12 weeks out, I was eating less than 1000 calories a day.  You needs may vary.  What does your surgeon's plan say?

I agree with the last poster, there isn't really any right or wrong. If you are losing weight, that is the amount you should be eating. If you are not, you are eating too many! I lost on around 1200 and maintain onan average of around 1500. 

But neither Poet_Kelly nor I are sleeved so we are commenting on intake in general, not for the sleeve. 

Another thing to consider is that we tend to underestimate our eaten calories by about 25% and over-estimate our calorie burn by up to about 40%.

Even if you use a heart rate monitor, or the numbers on the machines you work out on, they have been proven to over-estimate calorie burn.

So, if you are concerned, be diligent about tracking every bite -- maybe use a site like MyFitnessPal -- and put your exercise in at 1/2 or 3/4 and see where you come up.

My rule of thumb when I was in 'losing mode' and exercising about an hour a day was to eat 3 meals not more than 300 calories per meal -- and 2-3 snacks of not more than 100 calories each. 

An example of where you might get more protein for your calorie 'buck' would be to replace the 1/2 banana and peanut butter for a 100-calorie Greek yogurt.

Probably the same sugar content, but more protein for your pre-workout snack -- and about 100 calories, but more protein.

I'm in the "losing mode" and try to stay within my surgeon's guidelines:  800 calories, 40 carbs and at least 60g protein.  I could eat more, but I don't.  I could eat a lot more!  But, I want to make the most of the "honeymoon stage".  😇

I just had the surgery 2 weeks ago and my doctor said I would be eating 500 calories a day for a while and by 1 year out I would be up to 1200 calories a day. 

I wasn't told to have a certain amount of calories, just to make my protein goals, around 80, & to keep up with my water. After the protein then have veggies. I wouldn't depend on the calories the machines show that you're burning off, those numbers are way inaccurate. I usually keep my calorie count around 1000 & aim for less when I can, but never under 700.

My plan does not call for counting calories, however, I eat significantly less than you do!  I'm supposed to aim for 60-80 grams of protein a day and over 64 ounces of fluids.  

My plan calls for 3 meals a day, 4-8 ounces each, no liquid calories, and no snacks.  I currently have a shake and two meals that are 4 ounces each every day.  I exercise about 13 hours a week.  I'm 8.5 months post-op, rarely feel hungry, and I've lost 120 pounds this year.  

I would say do some tracking on my fitness pal of diet and exercise to get an idea of what you are really doing. Does your surgeon's office have a nutritionist you can talk to?

Thanks! All very good suggestions and some great ideas regarding getting in more protein for my buck! I'll go back to the 80 grams of protein, at least 64 oz of water, more veggies and low carbs. Although I do want to lose weight I also want to do it correctly and be educated in how to live a healthy lifestyle. I do use FitDay and lately I put in 1/2 of what the machines say I burned as exercise. The key is to get used to eating less and better healthy food and not more. Because in the end it is our mindset that will determine if we succeed or fail. Appreciate all the suggestions!