Well, if it helps anyone I will share my story. I've never been small, genetics really do play a role, my father is a beast before his battle with cancer began he stood 6'5 and weighted in around 320lbs of pure Good'ol boy muscle (with 18 inch bicepts). I stand 5'11 and currently am at 220, down from 305 in december of 2010. For those of you who want a realistic life stlye change that is fairly easy and WORKS me being living proof here it is...

Up water intake: I bought a $10 Wal-Mart brand "Nalgene" knock off water bottle and drank 4 per day (64ml times 4). It also saved me a LOT of money, you don't think about the two dollars here and there grabbing a soda while your running paying bills and such.

Eat more!!! Yes eat more, due to the work I do and keep hours that would make a vampire give up, I was in a bad habbit of only eatting one meal a day, and grabbing junk food at every service station i came to. 6 smaller portion meal per day of REAL food, please do not try to eat like a rabbit, that will back fire in a heart beat!
My normal daily meals Morning 2 eggs, toast (I LOVE potato bread) with Nutella and some meat product with coffee and juice, in about 2-3 hours i would have a smaller meal or snack of fruit, trail mix (with M&M's) 2-3 hours later another meal, sandwictch or a salad, I try my best to get 3 salads a week 2-3 hours later maybe carrots or celory w peanut budder, 2 hours after that my "dinner" usually left overs from the night before, Lord help me i can only cook for an Army. Eatting yor largest meal in the morning and supper being a little smaller is best b.c breakfast you are doing just that, BREAKing the FAST from sleeping.

Take the stairs, or park further away from the door at the store: I am as lazy as anyone, elevators are amazing, and getting the sport beside the handiecap van is great, but just those few exra steps can make a big differance.

Ok, I have rambled enough, but these little things work! I was in a size 46-48 now im in a 36 waist down from a XXL shirt to L or XL depending on the cut, and it also saved me $46,000 from not having to have another knee surgry! I still have some weight to drop, but I feel better, and am told I look better (even if you can't fix ugly)! I'll be reading everyone's progress and keeping you up to date one mine!