New and kind of nervous

Hi, My name is Shelby and I am new to this site/community.

I am 45 years old and I'm tired of being overweight and unhealthy. After nearly 15 years of mostly sedentary work and home life, my weight has gradually risen to a level I am not at all comfortable with. I still work at a job that's sedentary, but not as much as in the past (about 50%). I spend a large part of my workday on the road, which leads to too much fast-food.

I want to feel good in my own skin. I quit smoking in October 2011, and I feel healthier because of that, but it isn't enough. I haven't felt comfortable in my clothes in a long time, and I would love to experience that again.

Most importantly, I want to be healthy and med-free as I age. When I finally retire, I want to enjoy it, not be stuck in a chair because I'm too big to move comfortably. I watch my parents struggle with medications and I have vowed to myself that I won't do that.

I am optimistic that the tools I've seen on this site will be useful in this journey. I am well aware that it won't be easy, but I believe it is time to actually live life, instead of watching it from a chair.