New to Doing This Right

Hello! Tech, here. I am not necessarily new to MFP, but I would say I am new to doing it right. Looking for some friends and (I won't lie) words of encouragement.. I am 23 and just recently hit upwards of the 300 lb mark recently. Though it did make my heart sink, I can't say I was surprised. I went away from the working world a few months back and since then have made a myriad of unhealthy decisions for myself - mainly nights of eating while watching Netflix. Times of relaxation have, for some reason, always required food for me. Food actually is kind of the largest part of my life. It's sad and true, and I want to kick that mentality right out the door. I have been heavy since my teens, gradually increasing until I (formerly) plateaued around 260-70. But over the past few months I could practically feel all the food I was eating out of boredom add to my body. Feeling bloated and achy everywhere was new to me, as for being someone of heavier stature I was always at least a little active. My back is tight. My hands swell. My breath runs out easier. I snore!

So, I did some research. My first choice I couldn't believe I was making was to cut out soda. I knew a "diet" wasn't going to work out for me. I tried a few, my last few attempts being keto a while ago with my partner. I decided that the right kind of change would be for the long run, a lifestyle change where everything I loved wasn't being taken away but I was still accountable. I'm learning how to actually make this tracking thing work in my favor (seems like common sense, but it must not have clicked for me before?). Healthy and nutrient rich foods as a staple, which I am actually excited about. No more fast food - and a day by day meal plan to help with that. I naturally love fresh fruits and veggies of all kinds, even if I wasn't choosing them for a snack. I eat lots of chicken and make fresh veggie sides whenever I can (now I just have to work harder to do so!)

Added to the food side of thing is getting back into being active. I have started an online program that I really love and sits right at home with me. Not too hard but not too easy. (It's called DailyBurn, and no this isn't an advertisement, haha. But I really do like it!)

Processed sweets and really sugar and carbs in general will be my hardest challenge. I could use the friends so we could motivate each other and bounce ideas off of each other.
A few questions for the seasoned:
What drinks do you have besides water? I enjoy tea. A lot. A lot a lot. What is actually good for you, because I get confused with 0 calorie drink mixes like crystal light..
What are some healthier snacks to grab on the go? I like carrots, cucumber, and berries (and then I could name every single fruit) but what about for a sweet craving?

Anyhow thanks for reading, and again please add me - especially if anything I wrote resonated with you, too!