As sports fans, we tend to think of professional athletes as athletic Gods. These finely sculpted men and women hit the gym eight days a week (you know what we mean), eat a stricter-than-strict diet, and hire an army of personal trainers to ensure that they are always competing at the top level.

But, not all of these pros have been physically gifted throughout their lives. In fact, some of them looked just like one of us, or weren't quite given the athletic frame they've grown into now. Whether it's because they had to grow into their body as kids, had poor eating habits, or simply gave up, in order for many of these athletes to become (and remain) professionals in their respective sports, they had to go through drastic changes to perform at a high level in the pros. Sometimes when an athlete has to change positions, they may have to alter their body type to fit that position.

Some athletes tend to improve their game as they get into better shape but that's not always the case. Let's not waste time anymore and join 20 athletes who had to undergo some fairly dramatic transformations when they went pro.

20 Noah Syndergaard

New York Mets pitcher, Noah Syndergaard, hasn't always looked like a Norse God. The right hander nicknamed Thor grew up an awkward, chunky kid down in north Texas. According to an interview with TODAY, the 25-year-old talked about his childhood...

"I had this summer where I’d just put on a lot of weight and I was pretty chubby for about three years or so. Girls didn’t really pay much attention to me growing up, in middle school or in high school."

So, how exactly did Syndergaard make it into the big league if he wasn't the most athletic teenager? The answer: lots and lots of practice. Every night growing up, his pops would play ball with him "until his dad’s glove hand couldn’t take any more." Even today, the New York Mets All-Star still credits his parents' dedication to for his ultimate success and still says that he talks to them on the phone "probably twice a day."

Now that Syndergaard is all grown up, he has shed the image of that chubby, goofy, glasses-wearing high schooler and is now a rich, handsome professional MLBer with a 100-mph fastball. Noah's journey to the big leagues is truly a "Synderalla" story.

19 Zach Banner

Former USC offensive tackle, Zach Banner, relied on his shear size to dominate the lower levels of football. He notched two USA Today High School All-American nominations in high school and even made the First-Team All Pac-12 in 2016. Yet, his weight was a serious issue for NFL scouts.  Compared to the average 315-lb. average NFL linemen, the 6'8" Banner ballooned up to 400 lbs. in 2015 according to Sports Illustrated.

Typically, NFL teams want a solid player to protect their quarterback, but this USC Trojan's dimensions were cause for concern. Many believe that the extra pounds will put too much pressure on a player's knees, making him less durable. Others think that these large linemen won't have enough stamina to last all four quarters. Well, Banner knew all of this and actually came back to USC for a fifth season to prove to NFL scouts that he could shed some pounds, and maintain a healthy weight.

Banner had a strict training regimen that included plenty of work in the gym and a strict diet.

He even had to change up his diet, saying "every time I take a bite of food, it’s like: up a dollar, down a dollar. Literally.” Luckily, the tackle dropped down to 345-lbs. and was snagged in the fourth-round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Colts.

18 Tom Brady

In a stark contrast from his ridiculously strict fitness regimen, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was on the chunkier side as a kid. The San Mateo, California native was always a little pudgy, but still had a winning quality about him. According to the Daily Mail Online, Brady's former football coach, Tom Mackenzie, said that when he first met the future five-time Super Bowl champion, "he was just the back up" and that Tom was just "lanky kid with a bit of baby fat."  Yet, during his sophomore year at Junipero Serra High School, Brady grew a couple inches and started improving his accuracy.

Nowadays, the three-time NFL MVP claims to be a nutrition guru selling his supposedly pseudoscience-based TB12 Method. He has some crazy rules like drinking over two gallons of water a day, avoiding foods that are too acidic, and even ingesting "neutral ash" to maintain a healthy pH. While nutritionists and food experts believe that many of Brady's claims are have no scientific backing, it seems to be working for the soon-to-be 41-year-old as he plans to compete for a few more seasons on the gridiron. Patriots fans are optimistic that their geriatric leader can grab another ring before he finally retires.

17 Leonard Fournette

Former LSU Tiger, Leonard Fournette, had all the tangibles of becoming a dominant NFL running back. At 6'0", 235 lbs. in college, the New Orleans native dominated the SEC, rushing for 3,830 yards and 40 TDs during his college career, notching a consensus All-American nomination during his sophomore year. After a less-than-stellar junior year hindered by an ankle injury, Fournette declared for the 2017 NFL Draft.

During the NFL combine though, Fournette weighed in at 240 lbs., five pounds heavier than one-month prior. While the running back claimed it was because he drank too much water before the weigh-in, scouts were still concerned that the slight weight gain may continue to rise. But, less than a month later, Fournette proved the doubters wrong as he weighed 228 lbs. at LSU's pro day per Nola.com.

With his 12-pound loss, Jacksonville felt confident taking the running back off the board with the fourth overall pick, and it paid off.

Fournette rushed for over 1,000 yards and crossed the goalline 10 times during his rookie campaign, helping the Jaguars to the AFC South title for the first time since the league restructured the divisions back in 2002. Unfortunately, they lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship, but look to have another resurgent season in 2018.

16 James Conner

Running back James Conner is a true warrior, overcoming challenges both on and off the gridiron. The former Pitt Panther caught the eye of NFL scouts after rushing for 1,765 yards during his sophomore season, but the following year would spell trouble for Conner. During the first game of the year, Conner tore his MCL, and during his rehab process, it was discovered that he had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After battling through chemotherapy, and becoming cancer-free in the following offseason, Conner returned to the field to rush for 1,092 yards. A truly incredible journey.

The running back's toughness and tenacity came to fruition when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Conner in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. But, he didn't stop improving his game after becoming a professional. Before his rookie season in the league, Conner dropped from around 245 lbs. during his college days, to 230 lbs. in training camp. The 15-pound loss came at no surprise to hardcore Steelers fans, as per behindthesteel.com, Pittsburgh running back coach James Saxon likes his players lean and strong. Still backing up the electric LeVeon Bell, Conner is still contributing in his limited supporting role, yet is looking to have break into the spotlight.

15 John Shuster

Sports fans don't usually view curling as a very athletic sport, but if you ask 2018 Olympic gold medalist John Shuster, fitness is still important on the ice. The Duluth, MN native competed in three-straight Winter Games for Team USA (2006-2014), but it wasn't until he was rejected from the USA Curling High Performance Program in 2014 that he really became a serious athlete. For the next four-years, Shuster focused on his exercise and diet, dropping thirty pounds in the process. During an interview with teamusa.org, he said:

"I’m the best shape I’ve ever been in my life. That was one of the knocks on me for my entire career. I think as the skip it doesn’t really matter because you don’t have that much physical stuff going on, but definitely making that change I travel way better, jet lag doesn’t affect me nearly as much and just generally I’m in a better place to be the best I can be."

The long hours in the gym paid off for Shuster at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. After losing four of their first six matches in qualifying play, Shuster led Team USA to an impressive three-straight wins to qualify for the medal round. In the semifinals, Shuster and his team dominated reigning champions Canada, yet after a long two weeks of play, they faced an uphill battle against a dominant Swedish team.Fortunately, thanks to Shuster's newfound stamina, he led America to a victory, and finally could call himself Olympic Champion.

14 LenDale White

LenDale White was the thunder in the electric "thunder and lightning" backfield at USC back in the mid-2000s. White's north-south style of rushing complimented fellow rusher Reggie Bush's video game-esque highlights and the two Trojans dominated the Pac-12. After his junior season, White declared for the 2006 NFL Draft; that's when his weight became an issue.

At the combine weigh-in, White bared his chest and reportedly an audible gasp went over the crowd. Per MSNBC, one NFL GM said of the running back: "It was ridiculous. You come to the combine looking like that and you want to be a first-round pick? Come on. The guy had obviously been doing nothing."

Potentially a first rounder, White slid down to the Tennessee Titans in the second round.

His weight was a big issue in his rookie season when he only rushed for 244 yards, but had a resurgent season in his second-year notching 1,110 yards and seven TDs. Still his weight remained a major factor in his game.

Finally in 2009, he showed up to the Titans trainng camp 30 lbs. lighter, ready to make a sustainable mark in the league. White achieved his epic weight loss simply by changing his diet and according to Bleacher Report, cutting out tequila. Unfortunately, Chris Johnson usurped the slimmed down 228-pounder and he soon fizzled out of NFL relevancy.

13 Josh Augusta

Former Missouri Tigers defensive lineman, Josh Augusta, is a true mountain of a man. Coming out of college, he was 6'4", 390 lbs., a near anomaly of an athlete. But in the NFL, among men who are strong enough to lift a car, size isn't everything. Augusta was forced to lose weight and improve his athletic ability in order to get an opprotunity to strap up as a professional football player; and he did exactly that.

In just a few months, Augusta dropped from nearly 400 lbs., to an athletic 335 lb. prior to the 2017 NFL Draft. According to the Columbia Missourian, the defensive linemen went through an intense training program and cut out unhealthy foods, like his beloved Gumby's pizza. Augusta said "(Gumby's) is always open. I like both of the toppings, so I always got them on there. It's hard to give up." Fortunately, he was able to cut out the fatty, carb-rich, delicious pizza, which allowed him to be quicker and more effective on the field.

Although he wasn't actually selected in the draft, Augusta signed on as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots, but never saw the field in 2017. In January 2018, he signed a reserve-futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in hopes of making the squad this offseason.

12 Jared Sullinger

Two-time first team All-American, Jared Sullinger, had a rough transition into the NBA. The Boston Celtics selected the former Ohio State power forward with the 21st overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but has never truly made an impact on the league thus far.

While he has struggled with injuries in the past, his weight seemed to be a bigger factor.

During the 2014-15 NBA season, Sullinger ballooned up to 300 lbs. according to ESPN. When Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge was asked about the former Buckeye's body issues, he replied with a roundabout answer...

"I think every guy has met the goals that they have set in regards to strength and conditioning, and body-fat, and weight, and all the different things our strength coaches do on a regular basis. Jared just hasn’t met his goals."

Although he had worked out in the offseason, Sullinger never did achieve his goal and was shipped off to the Raptors. After only one year in Toronto, the former McDonald's All-American didn't quite look like himself. He even admitted to The Columbus Dispatch that "[his] weight and [his] eating habits” cost him a year of basketball. Currently, he's looking a little bit slimmer as he plays with the Shenzhen Leopards in China, Sullinger is looking to make a resurgence in the NBA in the future.

11 Yulia Lipnitskaya

Not all of these weight loss stories have a happy ending. Russian figure skater Yulia Lipnitskaya has suffered from body image issues since she was a child. The Yekaterinburg native dazzled audiences in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi with her "Schindler's List" themed routine, and ended up taking home the gold medal. She became the youngest medalist ever in the history of women's figure skating, but her exultation on the ice was masked by a dark secret.

Ever since she was a child, Lipnitskaya suffered from chronic annorexia. The pressures on the ice and intense drive of competition morphed her body image, and it started to affect her overall health. At 19 years old, she was forced to retire from the sport that she loved in order to focus on her mental and physical health. But, this is not a story of disappointment or failure; it is a story of courage.

Despite all the negative media attention, Lipnitskaya was able to open up about her illness, exuding a bravery that many of us could only dream of. She said in a news interview in 2017 that she had checked into an Israeli rehab clinic to fight her disorder, and that her "only regret is that [she] didn't do this before." Truly, she possesses the courage and bravery of an Olympic champion.

10 Caleb Swanigan

Portland Trail Blazers power forward, Caleb Swanigan, had to drop shed some pounds before he entered the big league. Since his family was not very well off financially, Swanigan grew up on low-quality foods and in eighth-grade, weighed nearly 400 pounds. But the future McDonald's All-American's large frame was no laughing matter. Obesity ran rampant in Swanigan's family as his father weighed 500 lbs. and passed away from complications due to diabetes. That's when family friend Roosevelt Barnes stepped in.

As a former NFL linebacker, Barnes saw plenty of potential in a young Swanigan, and soon became his legal guardian. He helped the 360-lb. 14-year-old through conditioning, discipline, and healthy eating. Eventually, Swanigan was able to drop enough pounds. to become a dominant basketball player, and was recruited by Barnes' alma mater, Purdue.

With the Boiler Makers, the now 6'9", 245 lb. muscular power forward dominated in the NCAA.

He won a plethora awards over his time at Purdue, including the 2017 Big 10 Player of the Year, all while improving his physicality. Portland took Swanigan in the first-round of the 2017 NBA Draft, and while he played in the NBA G-League with the Canton Charge as a rookie, he has a bright future ahead of him.

9 D'Onta Foreman

Former University of Texas running back, D'Onta Foreman, was an absolute beast in college. Despite a dismal first two seasons with the Longhorns, Foreman broke out for 2,000+ rushing yard performance in 2016, catching the eye of scouts around the NFL. He won the Doak Walker award, given to the best running back in the country, but his journey into the pros wasn't written in stone.

Weighing 246 pounds, Foreman was still able to outrun the lesser competition in the Big 12, but some people questioned how he would fair in the NFL. Prior to the draft, the running back knew he had to make a change, and that's exactly what he did. According to a column in Men's Health written by Foreman, he began "eating clean and fueling [his] body better" and "pushed [himself] in the weight room and on the field five days a week."

All the hard work seemed to pay off as Foreman dropped 16 pounds total and was in the best shape of his life. The Houston Texans saw the running back's transformation, and snagged him off the board in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Despite playing behind starter Lamar Miller, Foreman still played a productive role as a third-down back, and will continue to improve over his career.

8 Glen Davis

Glen "Big Baby" Davis has always struggled with his weight. The former LSU big man used his large 6'9", 320-lb. frame to crush the competition in college, earning a 2006 SEC Player of the Year in the process. The Seattle Supersonics came calling in the second round of 2007 NBA Draft, but they still had questions about his weight, and Davis' rights were shipped over to the Boston Celtics.

Still, the big power forward was athletic enough to compete on the court, but 300-plus pound body caused issues with his durability. In 2013, after Davis  (who was then on the Orlando Magic) was bed ridden by an injured foot, he knew he had to make a change in order to keep the weight off.  He worked hard over the next few months and claimed it was the lightest he was since 8th grade. According to the team's official site, Davis said...

"First off, it’s a mental thing. And then it’s a lifestyle thing. You basically have to change your lifestyle and the way you’ve been living all your life."

Now that he's out of the NBA, Davis still continues to lose weight, and even tried to make a comeback in 2016 at 31 years old. He told TMZ that he was 30 pounds away from a resurgent return in the league, but it didn't seem to pan out.

7 Joshua Smith

Another large basketball player, Joshua Smith, had been using his size to obliterate smaller competition in high school and college. The 6'10" Washington native took his talents south to UCLA, as according to ESPN Rise, he was the number one recruit in the nation at the time. Even then Bruins coach Ben Howland said of his big man.

"He's 6-10½ in shoes and he's got a 7-foot-3 wingspan. … When he is planted on the block, you're not moving him."

Smith had a dominant first year in college as he was nominated to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team, but instead of progressing his game and working out, he just simply got bigger and bigger. During his sophomore year, his stamina was poor and he could barely make it up and down the floor. Although he did shed 15 pounds. going into his junior year, he left the UCLA program for personal reasons.

Heading across the country, Smith played two seasons with Georgetown, listed at 350 pounds. After a few decent performances, the big man had aspiration of entering the NBA in 2015. Although he was never drafted, Smith ended up on the NBA G-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2015, and finally worked hard to keep his weight down. Now listed at 290 lbs., Smith is playing professionally in the Philippines yet hopes to make his way back to the NBA.

6 Dominic Smith

Baseball isn't typically a sport where overall weight matters as much. Sure, teams want players to be able to compete for nine innings, but it's not like their physical endurance is comparable to other athletes. Still, Mets first baseman Dominic Smith struggled so much with his weight that it almost cost him his job.

He worked his way up through the Mets' farm system and finally was able to play in the big leagues in 2017, yet had an extremely poor major league debut, batting only 0.198.

Many scouts were not only concerned about his overall performance, but his ballooning weight, as Smith tipped the scales at nearly 260 pounds.

Whether it was criticism from the fans or the sheer desire to succeed, Smith knew that he would have to make a change in order to succeed in the big leagues. The 22-year-old did exactly that as he entered 2018 spring training 40 pounds lighter according to the New York Post. Smith says that he feels the difference in his new, fit physique.

"I feel like my whole posture is better. The way I walk around is better. My body doesn’t hurt. I just feel more like an athlete. And that’s something that I didn’t have in the past."

Now, only time will tell if he can improve his actual game.

5 Conor McGregor

In any combat sport, weight can be a serious factor. For many fighters, they fluctuate in weight so much that they even have serious health issues. Although, for the former lightweight and featherweight UFC champion, Conor McGregor, his size is no match for his ego.

The 29-year-old has jumped up and down over the years, gaining muscle to move up a class, and cutting down to mere skin, bones, and muscles. For the big money boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, McGregor had to lose ten pounds in just a few days, but that seems to be the norm among most fighters. But, it was Mystic Mac's 25 lb. weight loss in just over a week before UFC 189 that was absolutely amazing.

Yet, this extreme weight loss can have serious long-term effects for fighters like McGregor. They use techniques to dehydrate themselves, like saunas, sweat suits, and even water pills, which rid their body of any excessive liquid so they can slide in under the weight limit. According to the Scientific American, this dramatic dehydration can cause the brain to become less cushioned, increase risks for heart attack, literally dry up your kidneys. Somehow, Conor still seems to be at the top of his game, but let's hope that his constant weight fluctuation doesn't hurt him in the future.

4 Kevin Love

An odd combination of a great three-point shooter and productive rebounder, Cleveland power forward Kevin Love is one of today's top NBA stars. Although he's seen his numbers dip in the shadow of LeBron, K-Love is still an vital asset to the Cavs roster. Listed at 6'10", 251-pound, the former UCLA excels in the transition game, running up and down the court, but he hasn't always been that physically fit.

During his college days, Love still had plenty of baby fat and when he entered the NBA with the as the fifth overall pick in the 2005, he still was on the chunkier side. But, Love worked hard to stay increase his endurance and shed off the unnecessary weight. His secret? Proper nutrition. According to Stack, Love is 100% focused on healthy eating, stating...

"I've always been a gym rat and always constantly played basketball, but back then I didn't really look like it. Your body is made in the kitchen. If you can hit nutrition on the head early on in your career, it will really help you in the long run."

It appears as if the the five-time NBA All-Star's strict diet has paid off, as he dropped nearly 30 lbs. after being traded from Minnesota to Cleveland, and looks a lot leaner on the court.

3 Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy didn't exactly lose weight before he became a professional football player, but he did have to lose weight to remain a professional football player. The former University of Alabama running back was a beast in college, as he had a unique combination of size and strength, and the Packers took the 231-pounder off the board with the 61st-overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He immediately made an impact on the field, rushing for over-1,000 yards in his first two NFL seasons, and making a Pro Bowl in the process. Yet, he soon faced criticism about his size.

In 2016, Lacy had a really bad year hampered by injury, but most notably, he was hindered by his weight. According to CBS Sports, Lacy had ballooned up to 267 pounds. and there was no end in sight.

When he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency the following offseason, they included a weight-loss clause in his contract.

The running back had to achieve a weight of 255 pounds by May, 250 pounds by June, and 245 by the season opener. Oh yeah, and he received a $55,000 bonus for every month he hit his target. The clause drew headlines across the sports tabloids, and even though Lacy achieved his goals, he hasn't been productive in the league since.

2 Marc Gasol

Memphis Grizzlies big man, Marc Gasol, is a force to be reckoned with in the paint. The Spanish-born seven-footer is a three-time All-Star and has been named NBA Defensive Player of the Year. While now he's an athletic 255 lbs., Gasol has struggled with weight issues ever since he was a child.

After emigrating from Spain at 16 years old, per Bleacher Report, the alleged 310-pounder (the scale didn't go that high) played high school basketball at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis where his teammates gave him the nickname "Big Burrito." While someone clearly got Mexico and Spain mixed up, there was no doubt that Gasol was a big kid. So was it simply genetics or what? Well, it was actually Marc's obsession with American fast food. He told ESPN...

"There was always a McDonald's that I went to, it was really close to the high school. It's like the best looking McDonald's there is now. I think I invested so much in that one that they were able to put LED lights [in]. Everything is newer."

Although he loved to indulge in a few Big Macs every now and again, a young Gasol knew he would have to change his eating habits in order to have a long career in the NBA. Instead of simply working out harder, Gasol focused on his nutrition, and now follows a strict paleo diet to keep the pounds from coming back.

1 Jesus Montero

Highly touted as one of the countries top baseball prospects, former Seattle Mariner Jesus Montero was forced to make some serious changes to his lifestyle in order continue his baseball career. During the 2014 season, while he was trying to make a name for himself in the league, Montero ballooned up to a whopping 275 pounds. Sure, you may think baseball players don't always need to be uber athletic, but Montero was just plain fat. Heck, he even through an ice cream sandwich at one of the Mariner's scouts!

Apart from that incident, according to the Seattle Times, Montero gained the weight because simply overate all the time, and the Seattle front office was not happy. Even then-manager Lloyd McClendon told his once-top prospect that "he's at a crossroads. It's time to put up or shut up."

Well, Montero stepped up to the plate big time as he came into the following spring training 45 pounds lighter and in much better shape. According to the Tribune, General Manager Jack Zduriencik appeared to be pleased with his catcher/first-baseman's weight loss progress, but still had some doubts, saying "Obviously, he’s got a big egg on his face. But he deserves a second chance. He deserves a third chance."

Unfortunately, Montero fizzled out of the MLB and has been bouncing around the Mexican baseball league ever since.