I may use one of those supports that you can put up for ceiling fans - to brace across the space, as a quick start and go from there. But yes, it's a matter of pulling the insulation out of the recessed area and determining where the cross-members are. And then I'll have to address all of the screw heads in view on that ceiling (but better screw heads than no ceiling!)

The most annoying part of trying to find studs is that damned popcorn on the ceiling. I hate that stuff and the stud finder doesn't move smoothly across it.

Day one of a summer of alternate day fasting (those days are actually 500 calories per day). I have a goal in mind, and this kind of fasting is much easier to do in warm weather. It worked well before (before Prednisone). Info here (my preferred method is about 35 minutes into the program).