Even though exercise is an important part of managing your weight, diet is ultimately a much more influential factor. You'll want to read my book and start making changes in regards to how you approach food. If you haven't already read it, don't be scared. Nothing about the book is drastic or restrictive. If you've already read it, you might want to read it again and refresh your memory.
That being said, exercise is still important. With your spine issues, you're obviously going to have to be careful with your body. You'll want to find something to do that is very low-impact like simply walking a few times around the block. An exercise like Tai Chi might be a really good idea for you in particular, since it is very concerned with elongating and taking pressure off the spine. At the same time, it can be done indoors. I would imagine this is a plus during the Maine winter.
When you are able to get your spine issues worked out and feel more comfortable with your body, you can look into more vigorous exercise if you'd like. For now, just start doing something to get your blood moving a little. Doing what you can, no matter how minimal it might seem, is better than doing nothing at all.