The scale is now safely located in my basement, under a bunch of junk, and it won't be coming out for at least another month! Down with the scale!!!!!

I think that was a very positive step. Now, just worry about doing your program, whatever that may be, without being tormented by the stupid number on the stupid scale. But when you do get it out and weigh in, you are almost certain to see some progress.

I'm of the view that the scale is a friend not an enemy. The scale gives me info and I've realized that often the info is meaningless (i.e. a natural fluctuation). I recommend tracking your weight, whether daily or weekly, on a spreadsheet. I've been doing this for months so I dont feel bad when the scale goes up because the chart always shows it dropping again. I pay more attention to new lows or if I haven't had a new low in one or 2 weeks. When the scale goes up, it just serves to motivate me more, though I do now realize that its just a fluctuation. My pattern has been exactly the same almost every week. I lose to a new low, and then immediately gain back 2 pounds. By the end of the week I've taken off those 2 pounds I'd lost and gained back and hope to get 1 pound below the prior week's new low. Sometimes that doesnt happen but then I know it will happen in the following week.

I've also noticed that I can only go a few days eating really low. If I keep eating really low, I dont keep losing. Conversely, when I eat high for too long, I also dont lose. So the zig zagging has worked fabulously for me and allows me to eat a lot on my high days (up to 2200 calories) as long as I have some nice low days too. I'm starting to think I wouldn't lose wihtout those high days in there because this week I've eaten low for longer than usual and low and behold, I'm not losing. Also the last few days I've been going long periods without eating and again, I think that's contributing to not losing.

IMHO, muscles really are the key to a higher metabolism. Step that up a bit and go as heavy as possible while still retaining good form (though this is advanced and not for starting out lifting, but do this as soon as you're able).

Also, see if they offer the resting metabolic rate test in your area. This will tell you exactly how many calories you burn in a day. I got one and confirmed to me that 14 years of off and on again weight lifting has given me a "higher than normal" metabolism, according to the test. I've told this story a lot on here and its not to brag, but more to encourage people to build those muscles. You'll get to eat a lot more and it will keep you looking and feeling young and strong.