@Hamster. I am overweight - got it on prednisone and it is slowly (very) coming off just by eliminating certain high carb useless 'foods' such as soda, packaged cereal, baked goods and candy etc. This was not easy and they had to go one at a time. I still struggle with desserts.

My husband gained a great deal of weigh over the last few years, he is now over 270 lbs -but to me, his sexual attractiveness has almost nothing to do with his weight and everything to do with his humanity, his lively mind, his sensuality, his lovely skin, his scent etc. It may be different from a male point of view. Men are often visually stimulated and some are put off by excess body weight, expecting women to look like the anorexic, plasti-boobed, airbrushed Playboy models. But just as many men like a bit of sensual body fat. They might like the way clothes hang on a skinny model, but in bed, many love the sensuality of the fuller figure.

I think it best to be honest up front with your lover. Gently let him know, or see you on Skype, that you have gained weight over the years. He probably expects it since many women do as they mature. My feeling is, that if he cares deeply for you, his response will be based on that, since you speak of his kindness and other wonderful qualities. It might be time to trust in your own value as a human being and in your lover's warmth and caring. Your worth as a sexual being, has nothing to do with weight and everyhting to do with love, caring and communication. Hope this helps a little as one overweight woman to another.