Really hoping to meet some new like-minded friends here :)

Good day everyone!
I'm taking a much needed break from a research project at work to start a "hello" topic and introduce myself

I'm a (soon to be) 40 year old male who grew up in Texas, but now lives in Des Moines, IA.
I'm learning that in order to properly meet my goals it is important to let others know just where I'm at and where I've come from so hopefully my honesty will be well met haha!

At the age of 38 in November of 2009, I learned that I had gotten to the unbelievable weight of roughly 389 pounds (that was the lowest weight I could make the doctor's scale read). I knew I was overweight and felt horrible most all of the time, but I honestly didn't see just how bad it was (I'd look in the mirror and see what I once was, not what I currently was). I had become dangerously obese. I had allowed it to completely alter my personality. I had become embarrassed to wear some types of clothes.
I was in a sinking ship and I had to change things. Not long after that I found out my (now ex)wife had been looking outside the marriage and was no longer interested in being in a marriage with a guy like me. In March of 2010 I began to change who I was as my life was changing around me (divorce, etc.) and officially began my weight loss plan.

Fast forward to just over 13 months later...
I'm an almost 40 year old guy with two incredible children and I'm 287 pounds. I've been at this weight now for almost 6 months. A lot has changed in the last 13 months, I'm single, I had to change jobs, I've moved, and I've had to learn how to start dating again lol.

When I first began I fasted for 3 days, then began eating in a more healthy way - mostly organic - and went from eating roughly 4,500 calories a day to eating roughly 1,800 calories a day. I also began a cardio program for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
I still eat roughly 1,600 to 1,800 calories a day, but I'm sorry to say that about 8 months ago I stopped my workouts... I'm working on starting that back up and making that a new priority (any motivational help would be outstanding!!!).

I started reading 344pounds.com and as of today I've begun trying to make "Myfitnesspal" a daily part of my life...

I'm here to hopefully make friends that will help to motivate me, and who knows, if they live near me, maybe even workout together, etc..

I'm feeling unmotivated and a little like a failure even with a 102+ pound weight loss (to date)... My goal is roughly 185 so I am about half way to my goal...

Hopefully I haven't provided a TMI moment for too many people and that I will achieve my goals both for myself and for the site!

I look forward to hearing from the members here!
CJ