By: Becky Fulton

I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just got the notice that my divorce was final and I knew I was ready for change. I don’t remember if I saw a picture of myself, heard a comment from someone, or what exactly “clicked," but Gary (my new personal trainer) must have noticed something.

Though some people may vehemently disagree, weight loss is relatively easy to accomplish. If you really want to lose weight and you commit to taking in fewer calories than you expend, the weight is very likely to come off. So then, what's the tricky part? Maintenance. Let's discuss.

I've been open and honest with you about my daily weight loss struggles -- everything from food addiction to making excuses for not working out. And I have shared with you how weight loss isn't easy. But here are 3 things that rarely get brought up during a weight loss discussion.

By: Tracey Byrd

366 days ago, I began a mission to reverse the damage I'd been inflicting on my body for 29 years. From as far back as my childhood —a sedentary lifestyle, and poor eating habits had defined my life. I was always waiting to be "rescued," never realizing that the only person who could truly save me, was myself.

Today marks my 367th consecutive day of working out. Here's my story....

I think I give people the wrong idea.

I always talk about how hard it was to put on a seat belt and wipe my butt when I was obese.

The Starting Line

It’s was the end of September in 2011. I sat in a crowded room, wearing a size 60-suit coat, dress pants with a 58-inch waste. I sat around my peers, who had all made fitness a priority. Together, we listened to stories of others' successes. I thought to myself, why not me?

Weight loss is the top resolution year in year out. Yet, 68% of our country is still overweight or obese. The weight loss industry is a $20 billion industry and over 100 million people dieting in the US at any given moment. So, with all of these diet solutions, why are so many people still overweight?

Are you tired of fad diets that promise miracle results but never deliver? Welcome to the club. Too many of us turn to diet pills, detoxes, and juice cleanses for fast and easy weight loss results without ever seeing lasting change.

As you may know, I've struggled with weight most of my life — and for a long time I felt alone in my journey. But all that changed when I started working at Anytime Fitness. I shared with you my story, and you've been open and honest with me about yours. And together, we've been a great support system for one another.

My first heart rate monitor changed the way I worked out. I absolutely love making my workouts more efficient and I finally understand my heart rate zones. Plus, I saw instant results with my endurance. After testing the Polar FT7, I know that a heart rate monitor is a must on my fitness gadgetry list!