That's the one thing I'm even a bit concerned about with my upcoming surgery. When my sister had her bypass a few years back, she ended up with A-cups and is seriously considering having a boob job when she gets employed again and can afford it. Nothing extravagant--she just wants her B-cups back!

I think a lot of it also depends on how and where your body carries the weight.

Right. I was pointing out that, in general, that distribution changes a lot depending on how tall one is. A size whatever is going to look different depending on how tall someone is.

sj, I thought you looked great.

I'm at a 16 in pants at the moment, usually a 14 in dresses. It's heavier than I'm comfortable with, as I'm actively aware of my flab. Also, I am vain, and if I get above a 12, my candids look crappy.

I won't lie: I miss the 8/10 I was a couple years ago, but I'd really just be happy to live my life out as a 12.

I won't lie: I miss the 8/10 I was a couple years ago

This is me. I was happiest in terms of my appearance and energy (and how easy it was to get dressed in the morning!)at 8.

sj, I thought you looked great.

Thanks. I really don't feel great. I'm in pain a lot and hate the way I look right now. I'd ideally like to be a 6/8.

If I could have had my entire wardrobe magically resized to 8 I wouldn't have minded (and I resent now not fitting into the things I did buy then), but I hated the insatiable appetite I had. There was no off switch. It felt awful.

I just want to stay a 12. And maybe take an inch or so off my waist, because that looks better on my mutant short-waisted frame.

My wavering-24 self wonders when I was last a 12. Possibly college 30 years ago.

OK, this is almost counter-intuitive, but this could be a useful tip for some travelers: Pack a Gun to Protect Valuables from Airline Theft or Loss

If you don't like your bags being out of your sight and it makes you uncomfortable to think that airline workers are rifling through your stuff, you can take advantage of the TSA's own security rules by—eek—packing a gun.

Most of the time, travelers are on the short-end of TSA regulations. In this instance, however, you can use travel rules to your advantage. If you're traveling with equipment you would prefer locked up and watched more closely than your run of the mill luggage, you can pack a firearm with the equipment or luggage. Whether or not you own an actual firearm isn't important—the TSA considers a starter pistol a firearm, and it must be checked in and secured properly. Bruce Shneier, on his security and privacy centered blog, highlights how some creative professional photographers have been using this rule to their advantage. One of the photographers writes:

A "weapons" is defined as a rifle, shotgun, pistol, airgun, and STARTER PISTOL. Yes, starter pistols - those little guns that fire blanks at track and swim meets - are considered weapons...and do NOT have to be registered in any state in the United States.

I have a starter pistol for all my cases. All I have to do upon check-in is tell the airline ticket agent that I have a weapon to declare...I'm given a little card to sign, the card is put in the case, the case is given to a TSA official who takes my key and locks the case, and gives my key back to me.

That's the procedure. The case is extra-tracked...TSA does not want to lose a weapons case. This reduces the chance of the case being lost to virtually zero.

It's a great way to travel with camera gear...I've been doing this since Dec 2001 and have had no problems whatsoever.

You can pick up a super basic starter pistol for around $16-20—really nice starter pistols can easily cost $100-200, but you're not concerned about the quality—a rather small sum to ensure that your case of photography equipment or personal effects will be watched more carefully and only opened in your presence.

I always figured 8 was the lowest I could not be skeletal, but I'm actually at a six right now and still carrying a fair load of belly flab. If I was actually in shape I'm not sure where I'd play out. I have no hips or ass to speak of though, so my size really is all about waist measurement.