I'll join cyclone4L on the getting healthy. I'm about 40 pounds overweight and on blood pressure medicine.
regarding the healthy eating, any ideas for some easy sides to prepare? I don't want to get in a rut of eating a salad with some lean protein for every meal.
Riced veggies aren't bad; you can either rice your own or buy frozen. There's no law that says you can't have a potato every now and again; just be careful with how you prepare it. Smothering it in butter and sour cream and bacon bits and cheese is what'll get you. Sweet potatoes (stick with recommended serving sizes) are a good bet. Any kind of squash is pretty versatile.