Confused about dating

Hi, I know this probably seems like i very minor problem, but I feel very embarressed asking friends about it. I am fairly overweight, weighing in at 15st 4. I have tried to lose weight many times and I just get back into bad habits. I was in a relationship for 3 years, and I would be so self conscious about my body that I never was naked infront of him, including sex, I would always keep my top half of clothing on, and my ex made it very clear he did not like weight, and eventually cheated on me because of this. it has been 7 months now since we ended everything, and i now feel extremely ready to move on. there is also this guy that I really really like. It is more of a crush, but he seems really lovely, and nice and the type of guy that I would really go for and need. My friends think he might like me, but I really doubt it. I was just wondering do you think I am ready to get back into dating when I still feel this overwhelming sense of low self esteem with regarding my body. I think I have a pretty face, its just fat, but my body is definatley fat. I just dont want to be in the same situation again, and I tried to lose weight so that Id be comfertable in my own skin and ready to love again but I am also very scared. I dont want to wait until I also lose weight, because that could be ages away. I get all these messages from guys that are interested in me, or guys out, and I just think well, they can only see me neck up, and my face doesnt look that fat, so if I go on a date with them, they will get to see all of me, and I will be devasted. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Katie, if you really wanted to lose the weight, then you would. If you really wanted to set yourself a goal of losing the excess, then nothing and nobody would stop you. When you plan to do this and follow through with it, then you are succeeding to achieve it....yourself. You may think we think your problem in minor but it's very real to you and you need to knock it on the head to get your self esteem back 'up there'. And there's always true people out there who will accept you just the way you are. They will see the true you regardless of what you look like. And most importantly, they will respect you and this alone, will help you to get your self esteem back as well. Set yourself a challenge to lose your weight and you will find your confidence will begin to grow from the moment you do this. Bad habits will be a thing of the past.