Half The Man I Use To Be!!!! Next stop 300 lbs. Lost!!!

Hello MFP,

28 months ago I tipped the scale at 560 lbs. , I hadn't left the house in over 2 years, and I couldn't walk from my recliner to the kitchen. I had a computer chair that I had ripped the back off of and would roll myself around the house. I had not stepped foot inside a major chain store in over 7 years and had been living in severe depression and social phobia fears for the past decade. I finally had my aha moment in may of 2009 and finally admitted that I needed help. So with the help of my wife and family we started the process of doctor visits and getting me into therapy. I was determined to lose the weight naturally or die trying. (No offense to those who have had weightloss surgery, my personal belief has always been that if I can't fix what is wrong in my head then no surgery will make any difference)
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and all the classic super morbidly obese systems (fat liver, etc) I had/have stage 3 osteoarthritis both knee's, torn meniscus both knee's, and a torn ACL in my left knee. I had to lose the weight so on the advice of my Dr. he wrote me a script for Aquatic therapy. After drilling the lady on the phone (do to my social phobia fears) I scheduled an appt. and got up the nerve to go. I lasted all of 10 minutes the first session but committed myself to the process and continued to go and as I did, added more and more time. Over the course of the next year and a half I had managed to lose over 170 lbs. (all in the pool) and working with a dietician to control my carb intake. As the weight came off, my therapist started pushing me to the shallow end of the pool which added gravity and of course more of my own body weight. I was fitted for two DonJoy Knee braces and began injection therapy and 2 prescription pain meds to help with the chronic pain. I began walking the indoor track last fall. splitting my time between the pool and the track and also was able to start weight training a couple days a week. Over the course of the winter and spring I dropped another 70+ lbs. and by spring had entered in my first of several 5k's. I can't run and don't walk very fast but with the help of my braces and pain meds I completed every 5k I have entered. This past week was a major milestone for me surpassing the half way point of my over all weight. 281 lbs. down / current weight 279 lbs. Next stop is 260 lbs. which will put me at 300 lbs, lost!!! I am finishing my weightloss journey before I have my knee's done (It's time to face the inevitable of knee replacements but with the pain I deal with daily. it will be a blessing) My journey has not been easy but I can tell you it has been worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears....... My social phobia is still real and I continue to work on it everyday but I am realizing more and more as I go through my own journey (what if) What if there is someone out there who is exactly where I was and my story is all they need to show them it is possible and can be done. So I am taking that leap of faith and stepping out of my comfort zone in hopes of inspiring others... Thanks for reading (Sorry so long lol) Have a Great Day all........