Hello. I am sorry to hear of your troubles. First, clear your exercise program with your doctor. If, after following a reduced caloried diet and exercising you are not losing weight, you might want to check with your doctor for a hormone panel. The concern after a TBI is watching for hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism and/or growth hormone deficiency. It takes a deficit of 500 calories to lose 1 lb per week. Shoot for a 750 calorie reduction through a combination of a decrease in calories and an increase in exercise. If successful, great. If not, further studies may be needed. Please write back as needed depending on your weight loss program results. Determine your calorie needs by taking your height, age, weight and plug them into the Mifflin St. Jeor calculation available online for you. That is the most appropriate and accurate formula to use. Don t forget to use the appropriate energy factor. If you get stuck, I suggest you visit a Dietitian for a personal consultation. I am available for direct consultation via email. If you are in the US, you can find a local dietitian by going to eatright.org and looking one up in your zip code area. All qualified dietitians will want a sample food diary (at least one day), meds, supplements, diagnosis, labs, specific exercise plan. The more details the more personalized your program can be. For motivation, fitness tips, weight loss guidance, feel free to hang out on my free educational site at http://www.pinterest.com/kathyshattler/ . It is an infographic site I put up for the public and my clients to learn in a fun way when they need it or have time for it. Good luck. Don t lose faith. Don t give up. If it gets too discouraging, I invite you to come back and speak with me. Regards, Kathryn J. Shattler, MS,RDN