I worked for a pharm company in the late 90s/early 2000s in NJ.*
   They're not all cheerleader types, and not all women (just as
   many men), but they all have "the charm". Thankfully, by then
   they had limited the amount of 'perks' they could give for
   switching over to their drug. --   I don't like taking pills,
   outside of the basics, unless I must.* Then again, I'm
   relatively healthy right now.* When I do have to take some kind
   of medicine, even antibiotics, I read up on them first.* I
   always take them as prescribed, but eat yogurt or kefir to build
   back the good bacteria 'cause I don't like how it feels
   internally when I don't. I like to know what I'm taking, what
   side-effects are, and most importantly, what alternatives are
   available.* If I get diabetes and losing 30 lbs may fix it, I'll
   shoot for that first etc.* If I can't do it myself, or if it's
   ridiculous for me to go to extremes, then I won't hesitate.* But
   I always research 'cause I don't like surprises. -- I can't
   complain though.* Never been prescribed anything except
   antibiotics for the dentist a few times.* I was on zantac for an
   ulcer when it was prescription.* It worked (that's before it was
   otc).* And Lorazapam for panic attacks when I was like 25 or
   so.* Didn't follow the prescription there though* I'd break them
   in half and take as LITTLE as possible.* Only needed it for a
   short time anyway. -- Well I personally don't have the
   dedication as such for that but I don't see doctors unless I
   must and that's so far quite rare. I take Zinc on a semi-regular
   basis.* I once played around with various doses of different
   vitamins and settled on a more or less daily zinc, and I try to
   have b12 and Magnesium a few times a week (especially if I feel
   I've been low on meat or salad/other veggies). I try to get
   between 50-100 grams of protein a day, very little sugar, and I
   avoid white flour.* Not exclusive or anything; but when I have a
   choice, I avoid them. If I have something bad-fatty, I have some
   good fat in the day to balance it. I don't use flouride
   toothpaste either - gives me a belly ache (and I know the
   chemical properties of flourine and how it reacts to silicon
   (one of the main ingredients of gum tissue - why its
   waterproof). It may be fine for your teeth, but your gums and
   the rest of you, not so much.* So, I remineralize my teeth by...
   breathing (#1 tooth remineralization method - your teeth
   recalicify without much trouble), massage my gums and brush or
   wipe my teeth with baking soda or I'll use a basic toothpaste
   now and again* [even with flouride sometimes, but I try to avoid
   it] I made my own kefir for a few years but it got to be a bit
   much keeping the seed going, so I buy store greek yogurt in the
   big tub.* [I used to make my own as well - super-easy to do,
   just haven't bothered for a while) --   I think it's awesome
   that you have a plan that you're successful at it!* If it works,
   it works :)* Best weight loss I had that I was happy with 30 lbs
   and that's when I switched to splenda from sugar and stopped
   drinking beer every night.* 30 lbs in 4 months and I set my goal
   to keep it off for a time before continuing the downward
   plunge.* Kept it off so far for about 6 years.* I'm still at my
   weight when I was 18 and I got my "college 20" or whatever it
   was; but it's still overweight.* I'm 220, and the charts from
   the 1950s say I should be 175 - , but 13 yrs ago I got down to
   195 through protein stuff (Atkin-ish but I kept the fat lower
   and added occasional fruit, veggies and good oils; when the
   South Beach Diet came out a few years later I was like, "Woah,
   that's pretty much how I modified it") Anyway, when I got to
   195, and went to the gym a lot... I started feeling sickish.*
   Might have been the dieting or the exercise, but when I bounced
   back to 205 I felt much better and then a 2nd bounce back to
   220, I felt normal and healthy.* So I'm not ready to try to push
   it down further just yet.* I should of course but not ready yet.
   I consider maintaining as much of a victory as losing. --