There is a gym here that is $ 10 a month unlimited. The average is $35 a month. That being said......

Would you rather look fat or dead?

(I had to ask Myself this question, too!!!)

Sorry, I used to tan as well. Then I realized what H*LL I would look like by the time I was 40 if I didn't stop, and I knew a lot of people with skin cancer.

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“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

I won't tan - I haven't a doubt that I am a strong contender for skin cancer.

BUT I actually did have a doctor say to one of the boys that I worked with that MILD tanning in a booth might help a bit with depression. I stress MILD and I would like to note that our last winter was especially gloomy. In fact I even had problems with depression and it had never been an issue before. And this kid was dealing with major depression.

I have my own tanning bed, but I only use it here and there, I'm not fanatical about it, I just dont like the idea of laying in another bed that hundreds use, not knowing how clean they are...yuck

I used to tan, but now, no way. I can be a whitey. I don't care for the excessive "fake bake" look either - I just think of how they will look in 20 years - wrinkled spotty skin.

That said, I SUCK at remembering to put on sunscreen on a regular basis when I'm outdoors - which is a lot. I do end up tanned by summer because of the amount of fishing we do all day on the weekends, but I try to stop how much I get burned.

I also love the spray tan stuff when I want a little color, especially on my legs. Of course, I can't remember the type I have, but it' sure come a long way since it came out long ago - no more orange ankles and streaks! LOL!

I'm not one to be hyper vigilant about avoiding every cancer-causing agent out there, but I'm not interested in sacrificing my health for vanity. I get tan from the sun because it happens, not because it looks awesome - if I cared about that, then I wouldn't end up with myriad of tan lines I end up with at the end of the year.

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My parents used to own a tanning salon and I worked at it. I love to tan. It is so very relaxing. The quiet time, the warmth, I don't know it just really relaxes me. I don't tan anymore. We don't have the salon anymore and I would never spend the money to buy a bed. And most salons cost too much nowadays.

Tanning can be dangerous but it can also be safe. When you tan you should do it in moderation. Never over do it. When you first start out you should do five minutes a day and three to four days a week. After a week, up it to ten minutes, another week, fiftteen, another week, twenty, then if you are doing okay you can start thirty (if it is as thirty minunte bed). Once you have a base tan (most people it takes about six weeks or so) you should cut back to only going once or twice a week to maintain the tan. And ALWAYS moisturize! Always wear a tanning lotion (one made for a tanning bed otherwise the beds are very hard to clean) and always put a good moisturizer all over your body after tanning.

If you have had skin cancer in the past you should get a doctors opinion AND a second opinion before tanning again.

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Jenifer
Proud wife to one amazing man
Proud mom to four awesome kids

Have a safe and blessed New Year!

I used to be so addicted to tanning in the salon, until I was diagosed with Stage IIIA Malignant Melanoma. My son was a year old, I was thirty and thought I was going to die. It has been three years and an adjustment. Yes, fat does look better tan, but there are many safe alternatives to tanning beds out on the market. There are good spray tanners that you can purchase and do at home as well as places you can go to get spray tanned. I just think it is too much effort now and I am just pale. It is so much better than being dead! My son needs his mama!!!

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Jennifer

There is no way I would use a tanning bed. I did in my late teens/early 20s when I didn't know better and just wanted to be cute. The word tanning means to turn into leather. Sunscreen is my friend! Jergens self-tanners are really good.

i tanned a few times before my wedding, but i don't have the patience to lay there in a bed, plus i hated the closed in feeling. and i don't really need to tan, i am already brown, not very dark, but not pale. i always forget to sunscreen myself in the summer, and i get very dark then, even when i wear sunscreen i still get dark. but if i was pale i would rather be pale than dead or dying from cancer.

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Kimberley

"there is nothing to worry about, just plenty to think about" from an episode of Extreme Makeover House edition

check out my blog:
http://mommysavers.com/boards/journa...owjournal&j=21

No I don't have a tanning bed and do not tan. Even though tan skin looks better while you're young, the age spotted, leathery look later does not. Not to mention being vain is not worth the risks.

Incidentally, is this a dermatologist or a family physician that told you it was okay for you to tan? Are they fully aware of your melanoma history? I think their judgement is lacking. My dermatologist has told me that everyone needs sunblock every day, even if you don't spend much time outside -- the sun shining through car windows is enough to do serious damage. If car-window tanning is an unsafe level, then certainly tanning beds would be out of the question...