I was a high school and college athlete, playing both ice hockey and lacrosse. On top of almost daily practices for the sports, I was a HUGE gym buff. At my prime I was 225lbs, tons of muscle and very fast for my size. Then, I tore my ACL and things kind of went down from there. They repaired the ACL, I rehabbed to almost my previous level but, then the world post-college hit me (job, age, no energy) and the slow decline happened from there. I had been working out but, not at the intesity I needed. At the end of 2011, I was 33, just coming off of a surgery on my medial meniscus in my other knee, I had lost almost all my previous muscle and weighing 255. I looked in the mirror one day, I was honest with myself and decided to make a change. I got into a bet with a coworker to lose weight ($20 for the first to lose 20lbs), I really monitored my calorie intake and success started from there. Just be HONEST with yourself! Don't lie about things you've eaten/ exercise you've done. If you've REALLY worked at it THE WEIGHT WILL COME OFF.