Nervous to start dieting / losing weight

Hello fellow Sobernauts --

I'm about 16 months sober. After initially dropping a lot of weight, it has all come back. The reason is that I have been 100% focused on my sobriety, and my coping mechanisms include fruit juice mocktails (lots of sugar), Jolly Ranchers by the handful, and fried foods.

I haven't been that concerned because sobriety was -- and is -- #1, but I'm at an unhealthy weight (195lbs, 5'8") and want to put a stop to it. It also affects my ability to ski and will eventually affect my ability to play golf, which are my two big loves. Plus we have a history of cardiovascular disease in my family. In other words, I know I need to drop the weight.

The thing is, I'm nervous (terrified?) to start making dietary changes that take away some of the crutches I use to maintain my sobriety. I'm also worried that if I fail in losing weight, that might give me just a general "Fuck it" attitude when it comes to drinking. (I don't think that's the case, but it's a concern.)

I'm guessing this is a pretty common thing folks have contended with. Any stories, experiences, or tips?

Thanks, and IWNDWYT