3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

Hello, all! I've been reading posts here for quite some time but have finally decided to join in. The conversations, advice and support seem to be just what I need.
I have never really struggled with my weight...I would gain a bit then it would just be gone. Even with my two kids, it just wasn't an issue. When I went through an extremely difficult divorce, I lost a LOT of weight on an already thin body. I was depressed, sad, and became very physically active just to deal with my depression. I'm originally from Colorado and would climb mountains and back country hike as many as 26 miles in a day. As life "normalized", I returned to a healthy weight.
Eventually, I reconnected with my best friend whom I soon recognized as "the one". Only problem was, he lived in California. With almost no thought, I packed my two boys up and moved.
Since we've come here, I have gained over 30 lbs. I have made every excuse in the book for it from the stress of a new marriage with two teenaged boys to blaming the change in altitude...silly, I know :^: For a while I would tell my friends that I was "fat and happy", but I knew it just wasn't true. I hate not feeling good in my own skin.
I finally realized a few days ago when I ran into a friend who had asked to make an album of my wedding pictures why I kept putting her off...I don't even want to look at them. That thought-that one of the happiest days of my life-makes me so uncomfortable, made me FINALLY commit to changing my lifestyle and eating habits. And my husband is going there with me (we gained the weight together...time to lose it together)!
I have done a lot of research and have decided to do the IP (or IP like) plan. The threads here for alternatives are great! If I find I'm not having great success on my own, I'll join the local chiropractic group that offers it locally.
Thanks for listening to my story and wishing all of the other "newbies" out there great success.