Help-No energy-all hunger-not banded

Sorry I haven't been around much.  I just wanted to give you a bandster reply (not that any of the other comments or advice was wrong...).  I lost all of ONE pound when I tried so I also kinda keep quite on pre-op stuff since I wasn't very successful.  But getting yourself as healthy as you can (which may or may not -- but hopefully will) pre-op is only going to benefit you (well, the surgeon gets a benefit, too, because your anatomy changes in his/her favor to perform it). Personally I love the rain and being out in it (as long as I can come in and get warm occasionally).  Walking is really a wonderful exercise.  I saw a physical therapist as part of my pre-op evaluation.  He gave me specific exercises to work on to help me improve muscle strength and my cardiovascular abilities.  He told me that walking, even if it is only a dedicated five minutes at a time, for at least 30 minutes a day would be ideal.  He also had me training at home with those flex band things (you can find them online and at Target, WalMart, etc.).  They really helped. The other poster also said what I tend to say about nutrition.  As you're gearing up for surgery, try and follow the diet you'll be doing post-op but don't "diet".  In other words, make healthy food choices, eat proteins first, then fruits and veggies and, lastly, complex carbs but avoid drinking with your meals.  If you find you have a vice to a certain food -- say chocolate -- now is the time to start trying to avoid that food product or figure out a healthy way to include it in your diet that satisfies you. I, too, started out with a BMI of 65 and had really bad knee pain.  I mainly used a walker/wheelchair to get around.  Now I can manage short distances without either of them.  My current BMI is about 50 -- I haven't measured lately.  I'm also a very slow loser due to other medical reasons (which is why I got up over 400 pounds in the first place). We're all here willing to tell you this isn't easy.  Everything you are doing is going to be a challenge.  But the reward is SO worth it!  I don't even frequent the boards as much as I used to because I'm so busy out there living. I also really don't go to many other weight loss sights -- just here and another one that isn't surgery-specific. I'm not going to sugar-coat it for you.  Immediately post-op will be difficult, too.  You're on an emotional roller coaster that only gets better as you start to really re-introduce foods (that's why the period post-op until you really get a good adjustment in your band and start to actually lose weight is referred to as bandster hell -- because it is!).  The liquids portion of the diet post-op makes a lot of people weak (I know it did me).  As you start on mushy foods, though, that seems to get better. If you have any questions, just ask! Lori