Your post caught my eye. You are absolutely not alone! Some of us can put on those pounds in months (or sooner) let alone a year. Weight can spiral up very easily sometimes for many various biological and or emotional reasons including injuries or ailments. You are not bad, you are human!
I am so sorry that statement was made to you, that can be very hurtful. Sometimes people just don't understand, why one puts on weight can be very complex and we are all so unique and different. From how you describe things, it sounds like it may be best you not discuss your weight, etc. with them right now.
You state you do not know what to do about how you feel inside, seeing as you ask I hope it is okay if I offer my input in the hopes it is helpful to you as it has been, is, to me! Try not to beat yourself up for the weight gain but do some reflecting as to maybe why it occurred or when it started happening so that you can be better equipped to deal with it in the future.
It really can help to keep a journal, helpful to learn our triggers and we all have them. From there, remind yourself that it's in the past, learn from it and start fresh! So you gained some weight, no fun I know, but there are much worse things that can happen to us.......the gained weight we can do something about!
The chicks here can be your support system and they are fabulous! I want to commend you and say
for taking that big first step and coming here and posting!
Take a look around the forums and threads to see what clicks with you or appeals to you and jump in anytime!
I hope to see you around the threads and welcome aboard to your new journey and chapter fellow chicky
you have a lot of fuel in you right now which can be to your advantage really, talk to yourself, work to turn that fuel around and woot you will be on fire! Show them a thing or two honey!