6 weeks was my GO! point...I started on the eliptical and tread then moved to weight training about 2 weeks later...gotta keep up the weight training because you WILL lose muscle mass no matter how much protein you eat. I still feel like a weakiling 2 years out.

Hey everyone! It's been some time since I posted. Just a quick bit about me, Surgery date:October 5th, 2009 (best day ever!) Highest weight:315 Lowest weight:173, Now:181 and maintaining that since February :) I still want to lose more weight, 181 does not look good in a bikini!!! I bought the INSANITY program from Beachbody last week and started it yesterday. On day 1 you do a fit test so you can measure your progress as you go, then the program consists of 60 days of high intensity workouts. So I am on my way to further weight loss! To keep myself motivated and commited I am going to do a YouTube video diary of my progress and updates every week. Many people have used this as a way to "stick with it". If you want to see my Fit test video (kinda embarrasing and funny) here's the link:
http://youtu.be/tKr-t0dfUjw
Have a great day!
-Amber

THIS IS VERY LONG.
Over the two year period that I was putting off surgery and researching my butt off, I would read about these people who either left their spouse or significant other after surgery OR got left by someone who had the surgery. I thought how sad, egotistical, superficial,and pathetic these people are for dropping their other half just because they are thin and get more attention now. WELL...I am officially one of those sad, egotistical, superficial,and pathetic persons.
I am going to somewhat convict and condone my own actions here.
I have been together with who I thought was the love of my life for the last 3 years, engaged for the last two, a wedding was in the works. He was the type of person who took care of me when I was sick, would bend over backwards to get me anything I wanted and he is a father to my daughter since she was 4 months old, now 3. BUT, he has a dark side to him, if something upsets him he yells, he doesnt know how to use a regular tone of voice to express negative feelings, he is a drug user(I was ok with it B4), partier, he has no patience for my older two daughters 6 and 9 so again all of us had to hear him yell constantly, we would argue EVERY day over anything because he has zero tolerance.
With THAT said...I am an extremely hard person to live with, everything HAS to be my way and if it isn't, you'll hear about it for the next week. I'm one of those people who acts like they're better than everyone else, even though I'm NOT. I'm a hypocrite, I was allowed to do things that he wasn't, So, the fighting and arguing wasn't ALWAYS his fault.

Before surgery I couldn't leave him, he was the bringer of bacon...like I said he was a provider through and through ( for the most part)...There was nothing I couldn't have and that he wouldn't give me if it was within his means to do so. Besides I weighed 315 lbs, who else would want me? A single mom with 3 kids. Needless to say my self-esteem was low and he loved every bit of me the way I was, he didn't care if I had the surgery or not.
A year ago October 5th, I had the surgery, he was there by my side every step of the way, when I was in pain he brought medicine, when I was feeling ill he comforted me, as I lost weight he admired and encouraged me. There was still fighting and arguing throughout. I sent my children to stay with their dad during the last year to either make it easier on myself or to protect them from the hostile environment, I havent convinced myself of which one is the truth yet.

So as of today I have lost 142 lbs. I went from 308 day of surgery to 173 this morning.
I feel like a new person, I have a new appreciation for life, my children(They came back), (I love being a mom now!) I hated it before(I know it's sad), I wanna be out and enjoy life with my family. I want better things for myself and my girls and I believe I have the power to do that now. AMAZING what losing a little weight will do for your confidence and drive. I want to to make us happy and if there is anything or ANYONE keeping us from being happy then whatever it is HAS to go away.
Some people might say, "She probably gets more male attention and thinks she's hot stuff and can do better." For those people I'd like to say **** Off. I don't get any more attention NOW than I did back then. If I do then I'm not noticing it. As far as "doing better", HE was genuine, I trusted him with every fiber of my being. I never had to suspect him and he never gave me a reason to. THAT is hard to find.
All I want is to be happy and I wasn't happy with him. That's it. There's nothing else to it. There was no "other person" coming between us, nothing like that.

So two months ago I moved out and in with my parents to start our new life. So far it's been good. Aside from the constant harrassment I get from "HIM",  We are relatively happy. I'm starting my new job on the 29th, We have a roof over our heads, food on the table and the future is only what we make of it.