In our society right now - the desire to be 'skinny' has gotten out of hand. It seems that there might be a trend to wanting healthier bodies (which is great). But someone today asked what my secret was for staying really thin.
I offered the polite response of 'diet and exercise', blah blah blah. But here is my secret. Here is REALLY how I stay thin:
First - My large intestine was removed. This was about 3 feet of organ and weighed about 6 lbs.
Second - Menopause. Some people gain, some people lose. I lost.
Third - low dose chemo medication. This gives me nausea and decreases my appetite.
Fourth - Crohn's disease. This makes any ingestion of food painful while going through my system. It also causes diarrhea and makes it so that I don't absorb food properly.
Fifth - I have issues with my muscles where they are always contracted. They never fully relax and therefore, as horribly painful as it is, it does continually tone my muscles. Physically painful but aesthetically pleasing.
Now in all reality I am (or was - and will be again) an athlete. I always stayed in great physical shape and made sure that my core was always strong - so I am sure that that helps.
But those are my secrets.
Trust me - I would trade having to focus my time on working out and eating right over all of this pain and discomfort.