Good move, Merc. Getting in shape is the first step to feeling better about yourself. Anybody can transform their physique if they commit to regular workouts for a year. It is challenging and represents a long-term commitment, but the feeling of accomplishment from building a better body will serve you well in all aspects of life for years to come. It will give you the confidence in social and professional situations -- not just because you look and feel better, but because of the sense of accomplishment you'll get from the fruits of your labour.
If I may leave you with some pointers...
1. It is a gradual, incremental process, so don't expect miracles in a couple of months.
2. Start slow and don't be too eager to add reps and poundage too quickly. Let your body recover, too. Give your muscles 2-3 days rest between workouts. Most people make the mistake of pushing themselves too much too quickly before their bodies have been able to adapt. Connective tissue (joints, ligaments, tendons) takes longer to adapt than muscle, so even though you may have gained enough muscle strength to be able to lift another 10 pounds, your joints or ligaments may not be ready yet. ("rotator cuffs" are a perfect example of this -- your chest, back and shoulders may be getting stronger, but your rotator cuff muscles often lag behind, resulting in one of the more common injuries in athletes)
3. You need to create a plan and set goals. Set weekly goals like increasing the amount of reps you can do by 1 each week and monthly goals like ncreasing the poundage by 10% every month.
4. You'll need a good resource or two to point you in the right direction. You can always come here; Coug, myself, and others are always willing to help. I also recommend
http://www.exrx.net, one of the best online resources in this area IMO.
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com and
http://www.bodybuilding.com are also not too bad, but they have their share of young hotshots and meatheads on those forums.
5. Remember that nothing good in life comes easily.
