Your post is so similar to my life, except I did way more expanding than contracting.
I had a health scare last summer that literally changed my life and will effect me for the rest of my life as it was probably 99% due to my weight and hormone levels (i.e. I could have controlled it, I just never knew it could even happen).
So, after all that, I decided to get myself to a nutritionist and learn how to eat like a normal person. I follow a strict diet plan and time schedule (it's a range of time such as 12-2 for lunch, so I keep myself satisified and not hungry to go off plan) and can I tell you, being on a strict plan has been the most freeing thing I have ever done for myself??
Now, you might think, I am told what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, etc., how is that freeing? It keeps me from going off plan [read: eating junk food, drinking junk (whether soda or alcohol), no more guilt eating from friends or family, etc.]. My plan has freed me from boredom eating, sad eating, happy eating, all the reasons I used to stuff my face all day and all night. There is no mindless eating on my plan, I am eating for my health and for weightloss, I am learning portion control and everything is weighed, I am never hungry! Who knew you could eat healthy food and not be hungry? I have a feeling I never was hungry, it was to mask all the feelings I was trying to hide.
I am not saying it's easy or there aren't days that I want to throw in the towel. Of course my nutritionist gets paid from me (my insurance), but she's invested personally in me and that makes me feel accountable to her (in a good way). I enjoy (!!!) getting on the scale with her each week and seeing it go down, down, down. Some weeks are better than others but I have stayed on plan as a commitment to myself and what she is teaching me.
In the end, it really is all about calories in and calories out. Days I don't want to do exercise? TOO BAD. If I can't get on the treadmill, then I can't go get a coffee or go shop at the Goodwill. My exercise has to come first, even if it's only for a half hour.
You can do this, I promise you! Losing this weight has been the happiest thing I have done for myself in a good 10 years and even though I have bad days here or there, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world (esp. bad unhealthy food!).
Good luck.