I carried the extra 25 pounds all over. I have an unusually long torso, wide shoulders and long arms, almost nonexistent bust, and thick thighs - always thought I was a bit of a throwback to our simian ancestors! Thank God I don't have back hair ...

Oh, I spent a lot of years hating my shape! Now, though, after 6 weeks of hard swimming and a year of getting the fat off, I see something really new. Not curvy and feminine, but something I think I can get to love ... strength, power, and endurance. I'm inspired to see what I can do at 42.