I turned 71 years old on Friday. That's an accomplishment, I think! I've lived in California for the past 20 years with my partner of 24 years. Moved here from New York City to follow the rest of my family -- I was the only one left in NY. Have had my own small consulting business for the last 8 years and I'm working on actually retiring this year.

I was thin all of my life and never worried about what I ate, although I ate in a fairly healthy way. Being Italian, only fresh vegetables were allowed in my home and lots of them. Then I started into menopause and that was the beginning of the end. Over the first 2 years I gained 30 pounds and have been struggling--and gaining-- ever since. The sad thing about having been thin most of your life is, that's the way you see yourself in your mind's eye. It never looks like what's in the mirror.