My mom has bad knees, she played sports, ran alot in the army and jumped put of planes. She streches with a flex band, which helps. Also take pain meds. Because if you walk a distance you bond to elevate your heart rate. If you just try a little farther each day. Or if you could walk up a hill. There are lots of natural joint and bone supplments to help. Good luck!

I have a medical discharge from the military because of my knees, and I feel your pain.Crunches are my exercise of choice for days when my knees are hurting too bad to run.

Oh and food-wise a final tip is to (you probably already know this) eat a lot of egg-whites (the yolk is bad for you, at least in excess amounts), cottage cheese, high fiber crisp bread, lean fish (tuna, etc.), always eat breakfast within 30min of waking up and don't eat late in the evening (3 hours before you go to bed should be the last meal)

Have you tried a rowing machine (ergo)? You will need to bend your knees but there shouldn't be any pressure on them and it's a great workout!

Other than swimming, you're just going to have to let it heal. I know you want to be fit and trim, but you're just going to have to take a break.

I had an accident where I to messed up my knees and couldn't walk. I gained weight and there was no way to take it off. I never thought I'd walk again, much less run. No amount of yoga, stretching or lifting weights is going to make you lose weight you want--I know, I tried! In fact, some stretches can HURT your knees. Some pilates moves too!

If you can go to a physical therapist, then do that. They have exercises that will help your knee heal. They're really stupid exercises, but they work, and you won't lose weight, but you'll be in less pain. These are exercises a personal trainer at gym probably won't know about, so don't go there for advice.

I didn't think my knees would ever heal, but after a year or so I was able to walk down the block, and then I walked a little more and more each day, and then one day I was able to run. My injury was different from yours, but I was in the same boat. You can message me if you want.

i know exactly how you feel...i had a my physical therapist say she was ending my therapy early because my knees are so bad i can't even do PT let alone exercise T_T  i'm only 26 too...grr...

mycontinuity is right about coming to grips with being fat as a result of reduced activity. i've gained a lot of weight since my knees started being extremely bad in college because i was exteremely active before my knee went kaput

swimming or aqua aerobics are really the best things for people with severe knee problems, but depending on where you live, finding a pool can be tough : (   
if you want to try pilates/yoga/tai chi for gentle excercise, you need to find an instructor who knows how to modify the movements for people with knee problems or you will injure your knees further.

Coming from a family full of these types of problems, here's what we, and I, have done:
1. Swimming - it's a great exercise, helps to loosen your "messed up" joints and burns calories. It's also a lot of fun IMO.
2. Pilates - while there is a lot of bending and stretching in pilates, from my experience the force acting on the legs and knees is not the type to aggravate injuries. And trust me, you're burning after a good session.
3. Crunches, floor work - such things as crunches, "the windshield wiper," sit ups, plank positions, exercise ball work (sitting on the ball doing all these things, or weight lifting) really don't put much stress on your knees - my favorite is the typical Jillian Michaels move - the squirmees...they really help tone and its all upper body work.
4. Using an exercise ball would be great for you...especially since some exercises like supermans can be adapted to the ball that takes the pressure off your knees.

Hope everyone's advice helps! Don't give up, I just got back on the horse after overstretching my Achilles. I've been on light duty for a few weeks and gained the pounds back I had been losing...now to start over and do it again!

Why don't you try swimming?

Like everyone says:swim! And book an appointment with a physiotherapist for a consultation.

Swimming is good for low impact, and many pilates tapes have low impact versions for people w/knee injuries or other considerations.  What ever you do, just be careful, if your knee starts to hurt then stop the exercise.  

Swim! If you can. Possibly try an elliptical machine. 

I assume you haven't reached your weight loss goal yet because you said you "reduced calories further" after hitting the plateau.

I gave moral support to a friend last winter after a procedure to correct atrial flutter failed. We worked out of Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book, _Eat to Live_ which you can get very reasonably at half.com. He lost 53 lbs. in less than 2 months, 2" each from chest, waist and hips. By then, he was able to ride his bike and swim. The lower weight reduced the stress on his joints.

The method: NO processed foods -- white flour, white rice, boxed dinners, fast foods, etc. We ate regular uncooked (not quick) oats mixed with several fruits and plain, low-fat yogurt in the mornings, lots of raw veggies, got very inventive with salads, and kept a pot of beans or other legumes going. Did you know broccoli contains almost twice the protein of steak?

Just reading the book is inspiring. At 138 lbs., I didn't think I had that much of a weight problem and had been at that weight for over 10 years. I lost 11 lbs!! And I didn't do everything suggested in the book or that my friend did. Twenty years ago, I went up to 163 lbs. by being house-bound one winter. I get tendonitis easily in one ankle and frequently have to wear a brace to do my mile a day. BTW, I'll be 73 next month.

I'd like to hear that you've tried one or two things to start and if they don't seem that much a struggle, add another. Now I feel deprived if I don't have several of my favorites every day, the plan has become such a habit and when I have those, I'm full and don't go grazing for empty calorie foods.

I wish you the best of luck!