I think I've met my twin.

Except I didn't have that many babies....I've always battled the bulge, but it got progressively worse after being rear-ended twice, 11 months apart. I'm 57. I was addicted to wine...and came dangerously close to becoming addicted to chocolate this spring, six months after I quite alcohol cold turkey. I'm almost half a foot shorter, and yet I started 11 lbs. heavier than you are now. I've been at this 6.5 weeks, but I'm committed to this healthier lifestyle for life. I'm on South Beach, and gone from 0 minutes of exercise a year to an hour to 1.5 hours a day. Dancing. Pure, old fashioned "fast" dancing is my exercise of choice.
Anyow, we have a LOT in common, including live in California. (but I'm south.) GOOD luck! I highly recommend creating a blog (via this site)...a bunch of great ladies are very supportive (like they are here), and you can wax on all you want on your own blog.
Best of luck, and I'm here to tell you that if you really want it bad enough, you CAN make it happen! At any age!