They’re looking at me again. That ridiculous pair of low-rider Guess jeans. I know why they they’re called that – because they’re looking at me saying, “ Guess you can’t get into these.”

Or maybe they’re asking, “Guess how much weight, and how many inches in your hips, thighs and tummy you need to lose to get these on?” Ha! I actually know the answer to this. Because I did it once. Once.

The year was 2011. That’s right. This wasn’t high school or anything. My girlfriend gave me a bunch of her jeans, and when I went to put them on, forget having trouble buttoning them. I couldn’t get them up. And I mean up, over my knees.

Before I knew it, I had a fitness trainer standing in my living room weighing, measuring and counting my sit-ups. She told me what I needed to lose to be in great shape – and how long it’d take to get there: 18 pounds. Nine weeks. Without surgery. Just good ole-fashioned diet and exercise.

And while I’d love to sit here and say I exercise and eat right, I don’t do it every day – or even every week. But that’s what you have to do if you want to lose 18 pounds. Let me rephrase that. It’s ALL you have to do.

It really wasn’t that hard at all. I worked out every day. Cardio, weights, yoga, you-name-it. I cut out all sugar, bad carbs, alcohol, red meat, bad fats and cheese. And replaced them with non-fat yogurt, lean meats like chicken, turkey and fish, veggies, whole wheat and a lot of water. I wasn’t hungry and my energy level climbed.

At the end of nine weeks, I’d lost the 18 pounds. And I only needed one hand and no crowbar or grease to get into those jeans. They were the symbol of total body fitness, and I never felt better. Or cuter.

The mistake I made was thinking I was done. That I would just get to keep that body forever and not do anything else. And just as quickly as I transformed into a hard body in cute jeans, I turned back into something you might want to use as a warm comforter on a cold night.

I have no idea what I weigh now or how many extra inches I’m lugging around. All I know is that those jeans don’t fit. Yet. So I’m back on the plan – for however long it takes – working out and eating right every day, with NO cheating.

So for all of you out there who want to lose around 20 pounds, I promise you – if I can do it, you can do it. And if I can do it – well – guess what? I can do it again.