Wow. Sorry that so few people read your OP, OP.
Making dark fast as a th7 does suck, but all the answers are in there. Giant-wiz healer sounds like a winner for a reasonable training time length.
A good attack might get you inside a reasonable th8 with 1.5k plus.
Dragons overnight also a good plan.
Good luck, dark grinding isn't quick or easy.
The easier it gets as you go up in TH and troop levels, the amount you need increases exponentially.
