Two years ago I gained 30 pounds on lithium, which seems to stay put no matter what I do. Last year I went on a very strict diet of 1200 calories a day, but it didn't seem to help. I used a web program for weight loss and counted everything I ate. I can't exercise, because I'm having knee replacement surgery (on my right knee) on the 12th and can't even go for walks like I used to. I'm looking forward to getting both knees done so I can go for walks and bike rides again.

My daughter successfully lost 40 pounds last year. She spends 30 minutes on her treadmill every morning. She just told me that I should have eaten at least 1500 calories a day to lose weight. She's studied nutrition and she claims that at 1200 calories your body goes into starvation mode and holds on to every calorie. I wish she had told me this last year. She has OCD and she is very into fitness and good diet, and she has done meticulous research on it. She uses an app called My Fitness Pal, which is available for smart phones and also on the internet. I've never used it but my daughter really likes it.