Wow, Indeed.

Saw this ad while browsing online:

 It's true. If you put your bridesmaids in these dresses, people will definitely be saying wow, but not for the reasons you want them to!

"Wow. The 70's called; they want their curtains back."

What would YOU say after wow?

How does Jessie measure up? Read on to find out.

Happy Pioneer Day, all.  I hope you all have your snappers, parachutes, and fountains ready to go.

Part of my first appointment with Allison at the Diet Center was getting measured.  Everywhere.  Ever wondered what your knee size is?  I now know.

Here are my beginning measurements (all in inches):

Neck:  13.5
Upper arm: 13.25
Upper chest:  36.25
Chest:  37.25
Midriff (ribs):  32.5
Waist:  37
Abdomen:  42.25
Hips:  45.5
Bum:  45.25
Thigh: 25.0
Knee:  17.75
Calf:  16.25

If you're paying attention you'll notice a few things.  First, I'm a pear shape.  Second, I carry approximately 2/3 of my body weight in my thighs.  Twenty-five inches around just one of those babies!  Yikes.  Third, I have a bunch of work to do.

So now we're all caught up.  And you all know way too much about me.  I'm sorry / you're welcome.

JD loves JD!

How do you celebrate the cool down portion of a work out?  I listen to a couple of songs by John Denver.  You read that right.  Turns out "For Baby" and "Goodbye Again" are amazing for that.  The tough part is not singing along.  (I run outside.)

My C25k is going well.  I finally made it through week five, day two.  I've been on week five, day one for weeks.  I didn't think I could jog for eight minutes.  Tonight I did it.  I totally did it.  Twice!  I jogged for eight minutes, walked for five, and jogged again!  It might not sound like much to you but I am really proud of myself.  Yay for Jessie!

Meeting with my dietician is going well.  It's sad I had to pay someone to tell me to eat my veggies.  It's good to get her advice and to have someone to be accountable to twice a week. 

Ok.  I found the paper with my measurements on it.  I'll post those tomorrow.  I know you (my imaginary reader) can hardly wait!  Today I'll post my yesterday weigh in.  I'm at 171.something.  I'm nearly 48 lbs down.  When I drop another twenty I'm getting my hair cut short.

I almost forgot!  I was able to wear some really cute pants today.  Pants that haven't fit since 2008.  Everyone clap for Jessie!  Plus they're dress pants so I can totes wear them to church on Sunday.

I'm heading to DC!

And by DC I mean the Diet Center.  (Please don't judge the whole franchise based on the sad, sad website.)

It's how I lost the weight in my mid-twinties (sic).  I went from 180 to 140ish.  It was amazing.  I kept the weight off till I moved to Rochester, MN.  I knew no one, it was too cold to walk around outside, had no job, and couldn't go anywhere because I'd get lost.  So the fridge, LoveSac, and I became good friends.  Oh, and the PS2.  I played the entire RPG Kingdom Hearts before I eventually found a job there.

I digress.  I went from 140ish to 160 in almost no time at all.  It's impressive, really.

Five years later I'm back (down, sadly) to the mid-170's.  I am ready to get back in to my smaller clothes, have more energy, and I saved enough of my babysitting money (I'm not twelve, honest) to go back to my favorite dietician, Allison.

Today she took my measurements.  Turns out my arm and neck are about the same size.  She said that's typical.  I will never look at people the same again.  I didn't get a copy of my before measurements.  I'll get those and post them.  I go back on Friday.  I'll go twice a week and weigh in each time.  I'm excited to see progress. 

My current weight is 174.5.  Good luck, Jessie!

mid-day weigh in for Jessie

I have just a minute or two left of my break.  I weighed in this afternoon at 175.6.  Yay!  Progress.

I'm sticking with the C25K program.  I'm in the midst of week four.  That means I'm up to jogging for five minute stretches.  It's not easy, but it's doable and I can still move the next day.  I'm liking this running thing.

Imagine what my weight loss ticker would be at if I hadn't had about a gallon of ice cream over the last six weeks. 

Running with friends and I get pantsed.

I have started a couch to 5k program.  I picked a free app for my iPod, downloaded it, and waited several weeks for it to cure.  You don't want to open apps before they're ready.

I started the program late in May.  The first week the schedule was five minute warm up, jog for 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, jog, walk, jog, walk, etc, cool down for last five minutes, totaling 30 minutes.  It is amazing how much longer a jogging minute is than a minute and a half of walking.  Time bends around me when I jog. 

I have been 'running' with two amazing women from the neighborhood.  We meet up at the park and cheer each other on.  It's nice to have support in this.  And it's super wonderful to have friends in the neighborhood! 

Tonight I am going to do Week 2, Day 3 of the C25K program.  (I missed a few days due to birthdays.)  I'm jogging for 90 seconds and walking for 2 minutes.  It's getting easier.  I don't feel a stitch in my side ten seconds in to my first run.  I may turn in to one of those obnoxious people who prescribe running for everything.

You're feeling blue?  Get out and run.

You're tired?  Get out and run.

You can't find your keys or wallet?  Get out and run.

You need to go grocery shopping?  Get out and run.

We all know those people.  I hope to not become one.  I think keeping away from professional running gear will help me keep my joy in check.  It's not that I don't want to enjoy exercise.  It's that I don't want to carry it like a disease, always looking for a new host.

Yesterday I had time to go to the DI and get new pants.  I now have two pairs of pants that are the right size!  I never thought I would be glad to shop for a 14 (12 according to Old Navy).  I found one Dockers pair that are sized for petite and curvy.  So ... short and fat, right?  Needless to say they fit me perfectly.  (:  The other pair are a great fit, aside from the twelve inches I need to lop off the bottom.  It really is about a foot of extra fabric at the end of each leg.  How big can cuffs be at the bottom of pants before it's insane?  Are cuffs ok at all?

Wish me luck with my jogging.

Weigh in coming soon.  But I won't expect too much loss.  I've been eating lots of pizza, ice cream, and cake.  Aren't birthdays the best?

I can't go out in public like this but I can blog about it. -or- Everyone clap for Jessie!

Right now I am wearing size 12 pants!  They don't look great, and they are my most forgiving pair of 12's, but they are on and zipped!  They fit about as well as the 16's I've been wearing.  (Size 14 in Old Navy's opinion.) 

I have shopped around for some 14's.  But only at Old Navy.  (So, a size 12 in Old Navy speak.)  Has anyone else noticed their jeans are paper thin? Yikes!  Also the rise was insanely low.  Or I'm getting old.  Mix of both?

I went to the DI to find some pants.  DI has racks and racks of jeans.  That's great!  But I don't have time to sort through all of them.  And so I am making due with my way too big 16's and I can get them zipped, but just barely 12's.  Ugh, first world problems. 

The weather is getting warm enough to start exercising outside in the evenings.  I'm really excited about that! 

Anyone volunteering to call/come over to make sure I actually leave the house? 

What are you going to do to get in more exercise this summer?  I need ideas!  A Slinky to the best idea left in the comments.  (I'm old school so it'll be a classic metal one.)