Really?

I read a headline on Huffington Post the other day that read, "50% of Men Would Dump Partner Over Weight Gain."  What?!  Seriously?!  What is wrong with people?  This headline frustrated me and made me really angry.  It brought me back to being in my teens and twenties and living in LA.  Always struggling with my weight left me not wanting to date for a number of reasons.  One in particular was not wanting to deal with a boyfriend who made me feel badly about my weight.  I've known several women whose self-esteem was in the toilet because the men they dated were critical of their weight.  They became obssessed with their outward appearance forgetting to take care of themselves in a personal or spiritual way.  Forget enjoying dinner out - everything they ate became a source of guilt.  I never wanted that kind of relationship with a man.  I never wanted to get stuck in the vicious cycle of not feeling good enough because I didn't have a man, and not feeling good enough for the man I had.  At parties I have often overheard boyfriends questioning the food choices of their girlfriends.  Not ok!  What happened to unconditional love?  I know I found it.  Chad made it clear from the get go that he loved me for who I was, whether I lost 50 pounds, or gained 50 pounds.  In fact one day he said it didn't matter to him if I gained weight as long as it didn't require him to remove a wall in the house to get me out. (This made me laugh).  And I can say, he has stuck true to his word.  Since moving to Washington I have struggled with depression, anxiety, boredom, health problems, lost pregnancy, crazy hormone changes and a thyroid problem.  And, along with all of this - weight gain.  It's been a lot to deal with in a 5 year period.  But, you  know what?  Chad has been by my side the entire time.  Even while I would be crying while standing in front of my closet because none of my clothes are fitting.  During all of this I realized I was not giving Chad the same unconditional love and support he was giving me.  I would have panic attacks and visions of him keeling over from a heartattack.  I became obsessed with everything he was eating and drinking.  I have become hyper critical of his mother, who I believe instilled a lot of negative health thinking and patterns in him.  But, aren't I as bad as the LA boyfriends being critical of their girlfriends?  I would justify my judgement of Chad's weight and food choices on my concern for his health, and this is true.  It is my biggest fear that he will die from health implications caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise.  Just like Chad loves me at any size, so I love him.  But, my criticism needs to stop.  It's not helping him or me.  Since starting this weight loss program together I find all of the critisizing slowly melting away.  I no longer watch with eagle eyes what Chad is eating.  On cheat day I can let it all go and let him enjoy the foods he loves.  This whole thing has been a freeing thing for me and it's made me determined to not become and LA boyfriend.