Hi, I'm 44 and falling apart. I really need a change. I'm in really bad shape. Some days I feel like giving up on life. Other days, I wish I was my 22 year old self again. All that keeps me going at this point is my responsibility to my family.

Anyway, I'm glad I found this forum and hope to contribute as I learn and get fit.

Welcome.

If you can afford it, include wild fatty fish like salmon in your paleo diet, as well as fatty grass finished beef.  Avoid vegetable oils, and definitely avoid peanuts.  The improved omega 3:6 ratio should help your mental state.  You may want to jump start the process with a fish oil supplement initially.

Also, if you are in the northern hemisphere where it is winter or you don't get much sun, take a 2000 IU vitamin D supplement.

Stick with it.  You should see some improvements in a few weeks.

Thanks for the tips! I'm swamped with information and trying to figure out a few easy meals to replace my routine breakfast and lunch.

For breakfast I usually have coffee with milk and a bowl of maple and brown sugar oatmeal with a pat of butter. I'm going to start having oolong tea and a meal of apple, banana, strawberry, and either fish or a cube steak and a couple eggs.

For lunch I usually have a tuna or ham or turkey sandwich on pumpernickel and a diet soda. I'm going to get rid of the bread and mayo and double and triple up on the lettuce. And I'll drink water.

I'm off to read the FAQ now.

PS, my wife is NOT on board with this so it's going to be a struggle.

For breakfast I usually have coffee with milk and a bowl of maple and brown sugar oatmeal with a pat of butter. I'm going to start having oolong tea and a meal of apple, banana, strawberry, and either fish or a cube steak and a couple eggs.

Fruit and meat are fine.  For eggs, get pastured eggs or organic omega 3 eggs.  Commercial eggs can have a rather bad omega 3:6 ratio, which affects mental health; eggs with adequate omega 3s may help a lot.