Coping with Compulsive Eating and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

I'm just starting out here. I'm 6'3" and 262 lbs as of this morning. I'm hoping to lose 60-70 lbs.

I've been a compulsive eater since I was a teenager. In the last 10-15 years, I've also developed a real interest in cooking, which hasn't helped since the sooner you finish one thing you've cooked, you get to make something else. Maybe if I had a family to cook for, it would be easier. The way I'm trying to combat this is to cut many of my recipes in half. For example, many ask for a three-lb roast or four lbs of chicken (I use my slow cooker a lot) and that's just too much for me even if I try to parcel it out over six or eight helpings. Better to make no more than two or maybe four servings of something and get to cook every day or other day.

I also struggle hugely with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I am extremely self-conscious about my height and size and I also lost my hair early in life. People blow my problem off because they say it's ridiculous me to hate being big because "lots of guys wish they were bigger" and to resent being bald because "lots of guys shave their heads even when they don't need to." In other words, dump your own opinion and learn to think like everyone else.

That's not going to happen, neither is the fantasy that "looks don't matter." However, I can't go through my life hating myself. I figure the best I can do is minimize the things I dislike about myself, at least those that are changeable (it's not like I can hide my height or wear hats all my life). I figure the best I can do with my body is get as lean as I can (conversely, everyone else thinks I should "take advantage of [my] size" and start going crazy lifting weights).

One thing I WILL not do is attempt to starve myself small. I am going to be using the calorie counter religiously and make sure I eat three meals a day regardless. Otherwise, I'll skip a meal or two and then end up pigging out, not even out of hunger but just boredom (and desire to cook some more).