This might not be the best time to be even considering dieting. I had to stop when I became sick and just put it on the back burner. It sucked and I felt even more despondent but I am glad I did. I am afraid I might have harmed myself physically and health-wise if I would have added yet one more stress to my body.
I would wait until February 1st at the earliest or at least you have had a couple weeks of a more normal routine.
I have learned a couple of things in the past four months about how to be successful at losing the weight and keeping it off. Almost all of them I did not do before when I tried to lose weight and as a result I didn't lose the weight or keep it off for long either.
1) get on a schedule and stay on that schedule, especially sleeping. I used to like to stay up and watch late night tv but I would be bleary eyed for work and then I would feel like eating carbs to keep me awake. So, that cycle had to stop and it has. I honestly think this ended up being more important than exercising for me. Without a good night's sleep, you can't get through your day period.
2) Plan how you are going to handle food situations as well as you can. I know what I am going to eat and I pretty much stick to it.
3) I reverted to eating several smaller meals a day to keep my blood sugar level. I never used to do that but I now realize that is part of my success.
4) I have had some really stressful things to deal with since I began dieting. Life ebbs and flows. I may be losing my mom in the next couple of weeks. I have more debt than I care to admit. The bar has been raised at my job in terms of what I am expected to do. In other words, I have a normal life like any one else. Deal with what you can and then let it go.
5) Clear the decks and make this dieting the most important thing in your life right now.
6) Build other strategies in your life so it and you will succeed this time.
Don't worry, we have all been where you have been at. you can do this.