Like most severely overweight people, I had to hit a rock-hard bottom before I'd take responsibility for the consequences of neglecting my own health.

I didn't get a Bachelor's degree - I got a Bachelor's of Fine Arts, which means I didn't have to take humanities, math, and stuff like that. I think I had to take Art History, which I failed a few times.

The way to deal with the devil of obesity and diabetes is literally one day at a time.

I had a great childhood, a very close-knit family. We were all overweight, and we had good times eating together, I imagine.

I also have a degree in marriage, family and child counseling - I'm a therapist.

When my parents died they both were 47, and they died of complications of different diseases; one being diabetes.

Like most severely overweight people, I had to hit a rock-hard bottom before I'd take responsibility for the consequences of neglecting my own health.