I watched my husband's eyes follow the slim young moms at school pickup. He thought I didn't notice. But after 20 years of marriage, you notice everything. Especially when your own husband can't bear to look at you anymore.
The gym? Please. I lived there. Starved myself. Did those awful cleanses that had me running to the bathroom every hour. Lost a few pounds here and there... only to gain back even more. Each time I failed, I hated myself a little more.
Try keeping a career going, raising kids, running a house, AND spending hours meal prepping rabbit food. The stress alone made me want to scream. Or eat. Usually both.
I hit rock bottom at my daughter's wedding. The photographer asked for mother-daughter photos, and I... I made up an excuse to leave early. Missed my own daughter's reception because I couldn't stand seeing myself in those pictures.