Time to get serious

Hello everyone. I am new to this site, but by no means new to dieting and weight loss. I will be turning 50 in a couple of years - I have heart disease in my family - I have slightly high blood pressure - and at my last checkup, my cholesterol was up. I told the doctor I was not going on a pill, that I would get it down in 6 months. He told me I have 4. So here I am. I'm glad to have found this site. I know what I need to do, now I just have to do it. I am not happy with my body and would be very happy to get 30 pounds off. I have been walking 2 miles at least 4 times a week and I have started planking(love this) and I am doing a biggest looser weekly weigh in with some of my friends. So hopefully with being motivated by the doctor, weekly weigh ins and not being happy with my body I can do this. I would love to have a few friends along the way to help keep me motivated and that I can help keep motivated. Add me if you are looking for the same. Thank you for all of the great resources on this site.