BMI @ 80% and feeling hopeless

First, I want to say hello.. and introduce myself.. I'm Brenda!

The surgeon that I chose.. and those in his office, only do the lap band and RNY.  They came highly recommended.  I will still being paying quite a bit even with insurance.  We will probably be paying every month for most of the rest of my life lol... but, it will be worth it! 
I know it is a struggle hon!  My doctors do not require that I lose weight first.. but, I plan to try nonetheless.  I am so into ... "perhaps I should have chinese, pizza..  icecream.. etc"  As if it is the last time that I will be able to enjoy these.. Those things, in over abundance, got me to where i am  now!  My thoughts and prayers are with you!!

Patty.. i am with you with the ciggs!!!! They will not operate if I am a smoker... I need to quit at least one month in advance.  (which will be this next week)  I have cut back considerably.  from a 1/2 pack or so a day to roughly 2-3 in halves.  My husband is joining me... so that will help.  We had one cigg left in a pack from yesterday that we shared this afternoon.  I am desperately going to try and quit without gaining extra weight.  I quit last year, for 6 months.. (after being a smoker for almost 20 years****il my dad had an aortic anyurism (ms) that almost took his life.. he was in the hospital for about a month and a half! 

eta: sorry.. not intending hijack!

 I started at a BMI of 76.2 and can tell you from my experience that you can do it. Last fall  I made the decision that I was going to loose weight and decided to put a program together for myself that I could live with.  I knew for me getting active was going to be vital and so decided due to my knees that an elliptical was key.  I got on that thing for 5 minutes the first time and slowly worked up until I was doing 30 minutes on a hill program (in 3 mos time) .  On November 6 I saw the surgeon for the first time and weighed in at 423-  had lost 50 pounds by that point.  Dr. Pohl of course counted his weigh in as the starting point and wanted me to loose another 30-50 pounds before surgery and suggested that I consider doing the pre-op diet (3 protein shakes and one dinner consisting of 1/2 C veg and 3 oz of chicken or fish).  I started that diet the next week and by January had lost another 40 pounds.  I met with the Dr. and he said that he guessed I was really serious about this.  (Keep in mind I lost 40 pounds through Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years).  So I had my surgery on Feb 25 and I am now down over 175# so there is hope.  Your case is not that much different from mine I am sure.  Before I started loosing it was work to get up the stairs but I found with the proper motivation (I did not want to die like I was) I was able to get moving, eat right and find a way to get healthy.  
Now the liquid diet was extreme especially when I did it from November through surgery and I think if you are going to try that make sure you are taking plenty of calcium, a multi vitamin, vitamin D and a B complex to make sure you are getting enough vitamins.  
Less than 1 year later my BMI is in the 40's so It is not hopeless.  
I have gained so much freedom in the past year that I would not change a thing.  For me the work that I did pre-op made me that much more determined and ready to deal with the post surgery dealings.  

Hang in there and best of luck on your journey.  No one has more power over your fate and the path you take thank you.  We each need to find our own ways and what works for us and I am confident that you can find yours too.  

I squeaked by with a BMI of 60 so I could have had surgery, but my insurance is requiring a 10% weight loss before they will pay. I'm thinking, like others have said, that pre op is a good time to establish some better habits. I'm working on drinking tons of water, cutting out the coffee, cooking lower calorie meals, avoiding my ole hang outs: McDonalds, Sonic, Startbucks and Panera.

I've learned to really appreciate a salad and I make my own vinaigrette dressing now. I've also learned to saute some boneless chicken breasts and bake some fish and roast veggies. So these are all good skills to have. I also make a mean Whey protein smoothie!!
 
I'm trying to make my environment better so I will feel calm. I'm organizing things and I have some lavendar essential oils in my bed room and craft room. I checked some books out from the library about the emotional aspects to over eating. I got people at work and at home on board with the plan.

So...having to do some weight loss pre op is not a terrible thing and I think it does make us appreciate the help that surgery will bring.

Some of you have very inspiring stories. I really appreciate this string of posts.

HI
Don't know how I ended up on this forum today, but I have to say that I have found the posts very inspirational.  I am 58 with a BMI of 40 and am usually on the over 50 (50 years in age) forum. 

I have been whining because I've had to wait for a surgical date and because my knees and back hurt too much for me to exercise.  (I'm feeling very guilty now)
 
I have done very little exercise - I have arthritis in my back, knees and ankle, but I am realizing that I must get exercising before surgery to get myself in the best physical condition that I can.

I've dreaded water aerobics because I see myself as a fat woman and think that I'll be embarrassed.  However, after I've read that many of you pushed yourselves to lose the weight you had to before surgery by walking, swimming, etc., I know that I am a weenie!!  I've got to get moving.

So...  you've inspired me to get this body moving and increase my metabolic rate and improve my overall physical self. 

Thank you all  -  I guess that I came for a reason and wasn't aware of it until I got here and started reading the posts.  Synchronicity at work!!
Margaret