You're awesome!...the end

What Jaimie said. I'm so cheering you on, and I'm contemplating joining you because I'm afraid my laziness will be the death of me. Literally.

Oh, George, you go guy! I'm so proud of you. Maybe with your example I can get myself back on track.

George Simmons,
I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that you can and will reach your goals regarding weight loss, exercise and eating habits. My concern is that people often eat food because it provides a temporary comfort for stressful situations and/or emotional issues. I KNOW -- I have experienced exactly what you are experiencing now, many times throughout my life since about age 8. When I look back on all those times where I had some need to eat more than I needed for survival, there was something else that was chronic going on that caused me stress and/or emotional issues. Namely the feeling of having no control over my own life. It was never just "one particular thing", it was like a lot of smaller things, like a swarm of gnats, insidiously snuck up on me and chipped away at me such that I didn't recognize my behavioral patterns until my clothing seemed to fit differently.
Judging from the sound of this blog and the link to what you've written elsewhere, it sounds like it all just "suddenly hit you" and now you are in somewhat of a panic mode. I mean, "I" would be if I were to put myself in the state I percieve you to be in, because I have been in that state. I know I could be wrong about my perception, but I don't have anything but my own experiences to relate to what you have written.
George, let me just be as frank and kind as I know how to be. You will indeed reach your goals, and I suspect it will be important that you do not go at it all by yourself. You are doing that in one way by periodically posting your weight on another site for the public to see. If you also address and improve your ways of coping with the stress and/or internal issues in your life, which is something easier to do with assistance and personal determination, it will be addressing any obstacles that are on the road of willpower ahead, as well as help to stave off future tendencies that in the past have caused your current frustration. It took me years to really figure out that it really wasn't anything "wrong with me", instead I just needed to learn some better ways of coping with chronic stress and internal issues, IN ADDITION to making a good plan to follow like you have done (the initiative to exercise).
In the meantime, George, I just don't understand why you are unable to look at yourself in the mirror and see more than your outward appearance, and why do you judge it so harshly? Get out of that mindset unless you are using it as inspiration to reach your goals. You seem to be very disappointed with yourself. You now want to improve yourself. Just know that, well, I can't speak for everyone, but I believe you are being harder on yourself than anyone else is, and that works about as well as banging a broken arm on the concrete to help it heal better. Treat yourself with much kindness, the same that you give so unselfishly to everyone else, during this time both now and in the future. You deserve it whether you think you do or not.
I'd like to close this reply with this message that has always helped me, "Take care of the inside, and the outside will take care of itself."
Much respect to you, and I'm rooting for you!
Dantony C.

I'm behind you George! Way to go! Make those good choices....and don't forget, you are special just the way you are!
Mousie