<human>: I've now been lurking on loseit since December and I've really appreciated the information, support and motivation I see here.  I guess I just wanted to say hi and quit just lurking. 

A bit of info for those who care to read. . . 

In early January I split up with my fiance after being on the road for nearly a year and a half together.  

I looked around and realized the toll the last 3 years had taken on me.  I couldn't remember the last evening I'd gone without a (several) drinks. Depression had closed in.  A deep feeling of hopelessness.  A couple physical injuries.  Feeling trapped emotionally, physically and financially.  Comfort eating.  And, of course, as you might guess, 40+ pounds gained (and I wasn't all that thin to start out with)

Early January I had the hardest conversation of my life and broke it off with her and looked around and decided it was time to make some changes.  I was just shy of 253 pounds.

The easiest place to start seemed like the tangible things. ie, Eating, drinking, exercise, weight, finances. . .   

At this point I'm pleased to say I've reduced my drinking to a couple casual drinks with friends once or twice a week.  A relief, since I honestly didn't know if I could. I'm now exercising 5-6 days a week.  Also, I've started managing when, how much and what I eat. 

So far, I've dropped almost 15 pounds.  It's not a lot, but it's some much needed movement in the right direction. Also, I no longer wake up feeling like crap every day or at very least sluggish from booze.  I'm starting toward my goal of being able bicycle 50 miles with no problem as well as getting my finances in order to move on with my life. . . 

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Can you condense the text into three sentences or less?
<bot>: All this to say, I've been lurking on loseit and learning and gaining hope and motivation for life change.  I really appreciate the bits of life, of struggle and of hope people share here.