Welcome to the forum
The following link may help you to settle in.
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/57955-My-advice-to-newcomers
It should certainly help you make friends here and thus build your support network. That is two of the three things that you are looking for...
As for motivation... I believe that in some ways that has to come from within... We have to be mentally in a place where we
actually believe that we can do what we want to do... I know that I didnt actually believe that it was possible during many failed attempts to lose weight... I thought that I was too big... in too deep... We have to really want to make changes - no amount of other people saying that you should lose weight does it... I know... I have been very big myself... I have also been married to a very big person and worried about him...
Having said that - we can feed our motivation with all sorts of things... We can drive ourself forward tomorrow with the success that we achieve today... I think that getting onto a roll is the most motivating things that we can do... We can get to be almost addicted to the buzz of success and wanting more of it...
I think that things like Cates lovely motivational quotes thread can help too... That is well worth reading.
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/33533-Motivational-sayings-and-or-affirmations
If you are confused with anything - then it is always a good idea to put your confusion into words...
- is it a confusion about how the site works?
- is it a confusion of how to control your weight? - what to eat?, how much to eat?, what exercise is appropriate for your size and aims?
Put it into words - and if you do not get an answer - send a private message to someone like me and I am sure that you will get no shortage of people who are happy to help.
Good luck with your project.