Dear Meg,
What a spectacularly selfless thing to do! I have no words to tell you how much I appreciate your feedback and your suggestions. I will follow your advice and check out the links you provided.
I like the idea and particularly the acceptance of the concept that we each are a "laboratory of one" and what works for one person may not for another. I think the diversity of plans and level of success is what makes these forums so priceless.
I have looked at the list carefully and I have to admit that I fall short in one area: strength training. I need to return to that long-ago, abandoned, habit. Other than that, I do and I have practiced all the other guidelines for wt. loss and healthy living, for at least 4 years or so. You are also right about the fact that a reasonable pace of wt. loss may not only be desirable, but it is one to which I do not object. ANY is the operative word for me, any wt. that is lost and STAYS lost is fine wit me! I also agree with you about using means of assessing progress other than or in addition to the scale. Were it not for measuring I think I'd often lose my mind! In fact, I hope you will be pleased to know that my goal/target for success is not a number on the scale but a particular set of measurements. They are not unreasonable ones, like I want to be a size 2 and look like I did when I was 10 years old. As for the arms, ouch! Touchy subject (did you see my "physical change" thread?). If there is one part of my body that I would like to get back, it is that.
This brings me to Jiffy's post of yesterday. Jiffy, I have to apologize, I was a bit distracted yesterday and I did not respond to two of the statements you made that I've visited and revisited for the last few years. One is the water retention: one of the most infuriating and diet sabotaging symptoms of this betraying body of mine is the water retention. No one may believe this, but if I stall for two months and the scale does not show any change, I can live with it. Not happily but I can manage. It is when it starts going back up that I lose all sense of reason, regardless of the irrationality of it and the fact that I KNOW I could not have gained 3# in one day, on 800 cals, or whatever, a day.
If things don't change in this regard, I may have to talk about it to my MD. Maybe a script will help my HEAD.
The second and I have to thank you for not only mentioning this but for validating my own experience, is the BMR muddle. The typical 10x your wt. or 12x your wt. for loss or maintenance or whatever formula anyone has ever used, never seemed to apply to me. During the last couple of years I searched out the equipment that is sold to the hospitals and despite the prohibitive cost, I wanted to buy one, in order to monitor myself ALL THE TIME! As it turned out, the companies would not sell to individuals. Can you imagine how frustrated I would have been, had I invested that kind of money and have the information mean nothing? Goodness, how happy I would be to be measured at 1900 cals at rest and have it be accurate!
As for the most important part of your posts, what did the tiny blond and the tiny dietician SAY to each other. AND spare no detail!
Peachie, yup, finally came to terms with the fact that if I am to get some help from you wise women, whose experiences are simply beyond price, I better skip the jokes and share some details. Well, maybe not skip the jokes entirely, unless my details are the jokes; often times they seem that way to me; meaningless unless they pave the way to something useful.
So, thank you, dear chickies! You are a treasure trove of information, good will and support and I appreciate it more than you know.
I am not ready for the gym and don't know that I ever will, but I will start at home, right after I finish snow blowing, which should take me no more than four hours or so... 
