This is a fantastic point of view, thanks for sharing your experience!

The biggest problem with "weight loss" is that weight lost is typically 50% fat and 50% muscle, unless all 3 of the following conditions are met:

1) Sufficient protein (at least 0.8g per pound of bodyweight per day)

2) Strength training (full body)

3) Dieting <4 weeks at a time (preferably 2 weeks or less)

Point #3 results in fat gain as an "obesity rebound" even if points #1 and #2 are met.

You can imagine if you're 120lb body weight and 30lb fat (25%), and you lose 20lb (100lb body weight) but only 50% as fat (20lb fat remaining), you're only 20% body fat -- but you lost 10lbs of muscle as well. You almost certainly look and perform worse, compared to losing 20lb fat (10lb fat remaining), which would result in 10% body fat: that's an insanely ripped physique for a woman.

Alternatively you could lose 10lb fat and gain 10lb muscle (20lb fat at 120lb body weight) to be 17% body fat at 120lb: fit and athletic -- but you didn't see a single change on the scale.