Those aren't dumb questions at all....
How do I find the right calorie intake for my weight and height?
Second, how do I figure out how many calories I am burning?
Sign up for this site:
www.fitday.com
They give you an estimate of how many calories you are taking in and how many you are burning based on your activities. The caveat is that it's an estimate at best, but it's a good guideline.
Third, is cardio the fastest way to burn calories? I believe so. Activities such as running, swimming, biking, etc will burn a lot of calories.
And fourth, how many calories equal out to a pound? Approx 3500