looking for tips to keep me on track!!!

you're off to a good start with a MFP account.

Use the food diary, and log every single scrap of food that you eat - even one potato chip, a bit of ketchup, or a carrot stick. Everything!

Take all your measurements, and measure once a month - they will often show progress when the scale doesn't budge.

Get an accurate scale, and weigh once a week - but don't obsess.

Track your physical activity, and enter it into the exercise diary - or get a Fitbit (I don't get commission - but I LOVE my fitbit) and use that to track physical activity. Try to do something active every day if you are not used to it - and gradually increase your time spent being active (even a gentle walk is better than sitting on the sofa).

Eat back your exercise calories.

Set a modest first goal (maybe 5 pounds) and reward yourself when you achieve it - maybe a pedicure, or a movie?

good luck - lots of people here have some amazing success stories, no reason you can't be one of them!

Any suggestions on how to keep "stress eating" at bay???? Thanks for making feel better about using this site!! :happy:
really hard to express anything on the weight-loss front to DH.

I don't stress eat.. I take a walk (or a run). But logging EVERYTHING will help you keep yourself more accountable for stuff that you shouldn't eat.