...overcome all the negative by replacing it with a positive.

Honestly, if she expected people to love her for her looks alone and then went out and ate like a wild woman then she set herself up for disappoinment.
It's easy to keep the pounds off whilest working non-stop with a work schedule that doesn't allow much time for anything else as when a person is constantly busy he/she isn't thinking about food all the time. That being said, I'm guessing that when she took a break from her daily grind her work ethic lessened and her diet changed allowing her to gain a bit of weight.

In any event her obvious sad reaction on stage shows that all the comments are affecting her in a bad way exposing feelings that she does indeed care and/or worry about her looks.
This contradicts any seriousness in which she may claim to have made in reguarding her musical career.

Either she wants to be a beauty queen who walks on stage to flaunt an "image"
Or.
She is someone who seriously wanted to compose music while hoping people love her for that talent.
To be able to accomplish both is near impossible. (search for Karen Carpenter as proof)

This is the same dilemma that will haunt Britney Spears in the years to come... as time flies by and age comes into play and the good looks start to falter a little... where will be the selling point of these stars?
Will fans rush out to buy Jessica's or even Britney's new music cds for its musical quality?
Song writers may keep them afloat for a while but I think Jessica should take a long hard look at true artists out there who simply do NOT rely on their good looks.

Here is one example David Gilmour

David Gilmour (of Pink Floyd fame) has a few extra pounds on him... (in fact he's got a pretty good beer gut going at the age of 64)
David Gilmour's living large

Yet the man can play Electric guitar, bass, acoustic guitars, steel guitars, saxophones, piano, 'Turkish banjos', and a host of other instruments some of which I've never even heard of before.
You think for one minute David Gilmour gives a frog's fat-(you know what) what people might say about his weight or age when he steps on stage?
Hell, he might pull out a Guiness (beer) toast 'em, down the beer, and rip into another amazing song without missing a beat.
I know it seems a little strange to use one of my favorite musicians here on Jessica Simpson's web page but really after I heard about her show lately I thought it my musical duty to come on here and point out to her that her focus doesn't seem to be where it should.

Basically what I'm suggesting is that Jessica read this post... and come to the same conclusion that Mr Gilmour came to about 30 years ago (before she was born)... which is to play music.
Putting the focus ON MUSIC and not on her looks... also remember that fans pay money to go to her concerts (whether she is the headlining act or not) and letting "distractions" cause her to lose focus doesn't set well with ticket buyers (especially in this economy).

She has to make up her mind.
If she wants to simply "stay a star" then go ahead lose the weight, look pretty on stage holding a mic, lip synch, and don't worry about how it sounds. (Limited Career)
Or.
Grow up, ignore everyone's comments about her weight, and simply focus on the music!

I'm not asking Jessica to try and sound like someone else... or change styles again..
But if Jessica Simpson followed Gilmour's example, and picked up a guitar, saxophone, and maybe even got behind a drum set at one of her concerts I bet 90% of her fans would have to pick their jaws up off of the ground from sheer astonishment.

Since she's learning country music, why not toss her a violin (fiddle) or a banjo and see what she can do with that?
Hell.. that would be an advantage over some other female country stars out there.. (I hear most dont play an instrument these days)
I'd be willing to bet Miley Cirus wouldn't ever be seen on stage playing a violin, a banjo, let alone a saxophone.
This is because most of today's "stars" are hell bent on "looking good" rather than sounding good.

Now let's all see how she handles this latest reaction... will she suddenly go on a diet and try to look all slim again to silence the fervor?

Or will she buckle down and really put some concentration into her music and sound?