This is a very thoughtful essay and I agree with you on all of it. Losing weight that you will gain right back because you were hooked and chained to the Big Diet Industry treadmill is one thing; losing weight for your health as part of loving yourself and wanting to be around for your family is something different. People can be whatever weight they want to be and I will not say anything (live and let live) but if you work to get healthy for yourself and your family, that is commendable. Also, as you mention, the work is letting yourself be you, at any size. Dropping pounds doesn't mean dropping insecurities. Those stick until you deal with them. Thank you for publishing this.