Softly....You do carry the weight well, and in a very sexy way too. I think in this culture, the idea of dieting, and being on a diet is almost a club for the majority of women. Join the club. Tell them your on a diet, just not the kind of diet your on. In public with friends that may be critical, eat salad....with all the fixins, and dressings. They will think..."She's trying to get control...but just doesn't have the approach down!" and respect your attempts...all the while, you continue to gain. If you do actually want to stop, our entire culture is geared to help in all those ways we see on television everyday. Shouldn't be a problem to lose even if you take it quite far. In fact, get on biggest loser and pull in some cash and acclaim doing it.