HELP!!!

Absolutely nothing I said in the edited part was wrong but whatever.

When I separated from my husband I became a residential volunteer at a yoga retreat center. My program included a lot of personal growth work. 2/3 of my volunteer work was active. And then there was the yoga, of course. I can't think of a better way for me to have transitioned out of my marriage.

I realize running away to a yoga retreat center is not a practical suggestion for most people, so will break down the elements:
1. Change of scenery and people
2. Active and busy
3. Personal growth

Earlier in our marriage we were both in the military. He separated a year before I did, and took a job that kept him away from home most of the time. I realized I needed to do something to fill the void, so in addition to my 50 hour a week job, I took on a part time job, and two night time classes. I was in my 20s then and would not wanted to have had that schedule in my late 40s, but think the underlying principle of keeping busy remains valid.

These days I'm just volunteering one hour a week, at my senior center. They have 11 staff and over 300 volunteers. I bet any senior center needs volunteers. I'm also thinking about volunteering at my library. There are so many great resources at the library, and most people do not know about them, which is a shame. Before I buy cookbooks, I borrow them from the library. Mine also lets me have access to the New York Times Cooking.

You may be thinking, "I'm over 400 pounds! I don't have energy for myself, let alone other people!"

Since you're concerned about your health, the place to start is with your doctor. They should be able to refer you to a physical therapist, who can help you put together a program suitable for your abilities. They should also be able to refer you to a registered dietitian and a therapist. One good thing about the pandemic is the expansion of telehealth. I get my health care through the VA and see my therapist via video conferencing, and have also worked with a dietitian over the phone.

(Throwing this out there for those who are low income and in states with robust public health like mine of Massachusetts with MassHealth - my brother gets home visits by his social worker and many other amazing benefits.)

When you're up for it, do consider volunteer work. Giving back to the community is a great way to get your mind off yourself

I agree with all of the above. You're going through a lot at the moment, so be kind to yourself and take things slowly; don't try changing everything at the same time. Logging on to MFP and recognising that you want / need to lose weight is a huge start. Read some of the 'helpful' posts at the top of the forum as there's lots of useful info already on this site.

Some people like to set small goals, with a reward for reaching it. As an example, when you've lost 11 lbs such that you're below 400 lbs, treat yourself to a manicure or a facial or something that you wouldn't normally do. Don't set a time-frame for getting there, just aim to get there. Perhaps treat yourself every further 25 lbs lost after that.

The idea of eating foods that you know you like, but in smaller portions, is a good start. A smaller bowl of cereal, one less potato, a smaller portion of pasta or rice, one less cookie etc. Gradually you can make more tweaks to reduce your calories but it's far easier to be on a diet if you like the food you're eating. Be aware that some foods will make you feel fuller than others. Some people bulk up on vegetables, many find that more protein makes them feel fuller for longer. No-one is the same, so it's trial and error.

Log everything that you're eating, so that you know what your intake looks like. As much as you can, weigh everything solid and use measuring spoons for every liquid as packaging info isn't always accurate. Also, eyeballing a portion size / weight is invariably wildly inaccurate!

Aside from entering your info to the set-up screen in MFP to see how many calories a day would have you losing 2lb a week, I'd also suggest setting it, briefly, to 'maintain current weight' to see how many calories that is. Eating anything less than that number should see you losing weight, even if it's slowly. On days when you are really struggling, just not exceeding that 'maintain' number is a big positive. And if you do have a high-calorie day, log it, take a deep breath, and just get back on track the next day.

Good Luck. And Congratulations on making a start by coming here.