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I was overweight as a child. My parents were small business owners, so sit-down dinners were often an afterthought, always defaulting to pizza or fast food. And, that added up. But, I was never really conscious of my weight or looks until I transferred from a small, private elementary school to a larger, public junior high. I was kind of slapped in the face with a completely new boy/girl dynamic. I learned really quickly that how I looked on the outside, determined how I was treated on a daily basis.

I so rarely loved myself in the moment. Now, I can easily look back through photographs and think, gosh, I was stunning, why on earth did I think I was fat? But, I will say, on my wedding day and honeymoon, I felt gorgeous. I haven't been able to recapture that feeling again, yet.

I read it on my phone in the hallway during preschool pickup, and by the time I snapped my son into the car, I had my response written. I thought, wow. In this time of bullying and teen suicide and prejudice, how on earth could a magazine find the justification for publishing something so offensive and bitter? I was angry and hurt and sickened. To be told that overweight people, myself included, were somehow undeserving of affection or being loved, what kind of horrible message does that send?

I shouldn't be surprised. Andy is, probably, the best husband and father in the world. I am so thankful every morning when I wake up next to him (give or take a child or two). But, I think the fact that his words still surprise me speaks to the depth at which body image affects me. I want to trust that he sees me the way he says he does, and I want to see myself the same way.

I love and hate myself in front of an audience of 180,000 people every month. Every day I try to love myself more; to not hate the reflection I catch in the mirror or a shop window. I'm not entirely there yet. Ask me again in five minutes.

I do. Seldom do you see men torn apart in magazines. Curvy women don't star in television shows or movies. We're the best friends — the comic relief. That's a pretty strong message.

I think there are lots of things society can do to change the way people who are different are depicted. But, as a woman, I think the strongest force in positive body image is other women. We are each other's worst critics, and that has to end. In November, I helped launch the Curvy Girl Guide — a site for women and teenage girls to talk about real life, body image, and their value outside of their weight or their jeans size. It's funny, and honest, and sad, and real. I think it's a step toward the movement that needs to happen for women to stop hating their bodies and start respecting themselves and seeing the beauty in their curves.

A woman who exudes happiness and contentment — having nothing to do with how big or small she is.

All the time. It starts on the playground; the meanness and bullying. I don't want her to be on either end of that. My daughter is one of my biggest motivators to love myself. Because I never want her to feel about her body the way I often feel about mine. To me, she is flawless.

In the last four months, as a family, we have made a real effort to be more active. It is important to me that my kids don't find themselves in an uphill battle with their weight the way I did. So, we head to our local metro park four times a week, my husband and I run, the kids bike. I made him swear from the start, that no matter what, he'd always make me go, even if I had a million and one excuses not to. And the funny thing is...he hasn't had to force me yet. Knock on wood.