Q: My husband and I just turned 40, and we both love going to beaches and frolicking in the sun with our children. But we noticed that we don’t look as great as we used to. Having bore 2 children left some unsightly love handles and sagging muscles that I wish would go away.  I heard from a friend that cosmetic surgeries that can be done in a jiff (which includes augmentation and reduction procedures) would certainly help regain our old forms.  As Christians, is it all right for us to avail of these in order to feel good about ourselves again?  Any suggestions?
iHuman

Dear iHuman,

All humans have a proclivity for looking and feeling good. Try driving past EDSA; billboards are sprawled across the long strip with various advertisements on beauty and health. Everyone seems to be in a frenzy to reclaim and retard the onset of aging. There is now the issue of the extent to which we, as Christians, can partake of this advancement in cosmetic technology. Some are in a quandary. Can we indulge in liposuction, rhinoplasty (noselift), tummy tuck and the like?

The Bible tells us, “’Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’ – but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23, NIV) My take on this matter is that most of us love to be admired for our physical attractiveness. Remarks such as “You look great!” or “You don’t grow old at all.” make our day. It feels as if we are in cloud 9, heavenly! But to achieve that, it entails hard work. Yes, hard work with a capital “H”.

Good health comes with a price. I read in a magazine that the best way to maintain one’s vitality, which involves a sound mind and conditioned body, is to follow the rudiment of healthy lifestyle:

Nutrition. Our body is made up of millions of cells that need proper feeding to be healthy and not diseased. If you take in good foods, it will not result in the mass development of fatty cells that is the primary cause for obesity. You ought to watch what you eat. Make sure you have at least six small meals a day (every 3 hours) to increase metabolism, and drink lots of water to wash away toxins.  Go for complex carbohydrates such as wheat and brown rice. Stay away from excessive drinking of canned or packed fruit juices because they contain too much sugar. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Keep away from pork. Supplement (take vitamins) if necessary.

Exercise. Your muscles lose their mass when not in regular motion.  Spend time to brisk walk or try enrolling in an aerobic exercise class to build your cardiopulmonary (or relating to the heart and lungs) capacity and to sweat.  Sweating causes your body to release excess water and to flush out the fatty build up. Add some strengthening exercises (anaerobic/weight training) to reduce the flabbiness and to tone the muscles.

Sleep well.  Adults need at least 8 to 9 hours of good sleep to maintain alertness throughout the day. Your capacity to feel good even relates to having ample rest. The serotonin (which are “molecules of happiness”) in your brain replenishes as you sleep. Feeling good allows you to be involved in more physical activities, resulting in more calories burned.

Outlook in life. Having a jovial disposition relates to eating less and avoiding depression. I saw a big board displayed in a first class gym that reads, “A healthy body begins with a sound mind.” Maintain a good and cheerful countenance. Avoid anger and bitterness at all cost. Minimize the stress in life. Laugh more. Frown less.

Reinvent.  Try new things. Be adventurous. Life is meant to be discovered and enjoyed. Discover things you can learn.  Find the creative “you”. And soon enough, you will begin to appreciate and love the new “YOU”.

Following these suggestions will provide you with a safer way to lose weight and to take away your conundrum.  It may be tedious, but it is certainly rewarding knowing that you have worked hard in attaining a goal sans the risk that a surgery may bring. Cosmetic surgeries are advised only if your health is in a compromising state and there is a dire need, especially when doctors have clearly recommended it not just for aesthetic reason, but primarily for the restoration of good health.