If you could, would you?

Stick figure? LOL! That's okay, I'd pass too, I don't need it.

LOL!! You're 'stick-ier' than me I'm a girl though.

At five foot nine and weighing a whopping 103, I think I'm about as close to a stick figure as one can get

Of course there are. And often people forget about those consequences, no matter what they are. As a rule I would rather raise my activity level and make an effort to keep meals healthy but smaller than to take any pill at all.

I had to give realistic examples, there are always consequences or side effects to things that seem 'too good to be true'.

Portion control is one of the best diet concepts, and it works better than restricting WHAT you eat. Increasing activity and keeping a food journal/having smaller portions is a really good lifestyle tool that works in the long run.

Yeah, I chose some side effects that were severe... but not too severe... I figure that some people might be willing to put up with one or the other. So far I have seen nobody willing. I wouldn't do it either, but I am happy with myself. I did the diet and exercise thing and got myself back in shape after having a baby, as well as getting my bp and cholesterol back to normal without medication or doctors. I'm proud of myself for that, and that's one reason I keep up my gym routine. I want to avoid chronic medication for anything as long as I can, hopefully I will be an old senior citizen before I have to take any pills on a daily basis....

Well.... you know... there's that little quote by Dr. Seuss that says - be who you are and say how you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind? I like that philosophy. I figure IF I did something like this that people would learn to deal with it.. and those who couldn't weren't worthy of being my friend lol. Or really anybody's friend. If I had a friend this happened to or who chose this, I'd deal with it. If they were my friend, why not? Besides, while I was pregnant, I felt like I threw up everywhere for the first 5 months! It didn't do any permanent damage to me . It was highly embarrassing and frustrating but....

Well, since the first lesson I learned is that 'life isn't easy', I am very suspicious of anybody who tries to make me believe it IS, or is supposed to be lol. Some things that are apparently tough for other people are easy for me though, I like working out and it's fun. I also figured out that it is much easier to take care of yourself and prevent all of the garbage that comes with middle age like weight creeping up and health problems than it is to FIX them once you've let yourself go....

Me either. I'd rather go to the gym - which I already do. Dieting sucks but again, you can just make minimal changes there and go heavy on the workouts, which helps you look better faster anyway, and being in shape is healthier anyway.

*points at DJ* yeah! what he said! hahaha!

rofl on a fucckin' stick????? lmao!!!!!

In parts of North America, where it is cold for 6 months of the year, you can hide any bulging body parts under a coat most of the time. BUT, when summer time comes, it's the only time of year for shorts and swim suits.

People wear fewer clothes in the summers here... and it is pool and beach season. Where I live in CA, we get triple digit temps and it is sunny the majority of the year anyway. My preferred outfit includes shorts and a short sleeve or sleeveless shirt, and I'd dress like that year round if it didn't get cold in the winter. Some people unfortunately have a very very hard time losing weight and getting in shape, so for some people, it is not a simple matter of diet and exercise. That is why I posted this discussion. It takes awhile, even for someone who is relatively normal and in shape. When I started working out again and eating healthier, I only wanted to lose about 10-12 lbs. I was worried about elevated blood pressure and cholesterol, it really didn't have a lot to do with weight. It was noticing that I weighed about 12 lbs more though and THAT affected my energy, my joints, etc. It took me the better part of a year before I managed to get myself back in really good shape, partly because I had to work around having a toddler and partly because it was just so hard to stick to a regular routine. My gym gets SUPER busy when people are working out and tanning in prep for summer where they know they will be going to the pool and the beach and boating and camping and people will see them in bathing suits lol.

So, it is about hiding our tummy in winter but actually reducing it in summer so that no one can know about it. It is a tough task because it will going on for every year isn't it?

LOL! Well I wouldn't do it because I like my body (and I really dislike being sick and I try to contain my cussing to 'appropriate situations for it') but I figured this might bring out the people who care more about appearances than any detrimental side effects.... I actually would never have a tummy tuck either. I am afraid of scars and until they figure out how to do surgeries that do not include ANY cuts and therefore NO scars, I will not do it. Nope.