08 Apr
Healthy Train Halfway Point
I said last Friday that I thought Bobbi would be posting Healthy Train progress pictures, but she gave everyone a one week extension. That extension ends today and I’m 99% sure that she will be posting any of the comparison pictures she’s received. Keep checking her blog to see the results because mine are awesome and there are people who have lost almost twice what I have!
T1 tried to join in and take some comparison pictures too.
Have you forgotten what I looked like back in January? Don’t worry I have prepared plenty of ways for you to see the comparison! 
Here I am on January 14th.
And here I am on March 30th.
I’m wearing the exact same shirt here (look, no more pulling in between the breast which means they shrank a little, hooray!) but I do have different jeans. I wanted to put the same ones on but I can’t find them, I think I packed them away in storage. I’ll dig them up for the after photos so I can have my biggest loser “dropping the jeans” moment. The jeans I’m wearing above are a size 16, and the ones below are from my mom’s closet, a size 12. I actually tweeted a picture a few weeks ago that I was able to button up my pre-pregnancy jeans again! I can’t wear them still though, because my chunky monkey stomach flops over creating a lovely little muffin top. I’m working on that.
I don’t see as much change in the side view, I think I lose the most in my face, hips, thighs, and bum. My belly is still enormous so I’ll have to keep working on that.
An animated GIF.
TH suggested I make a movie that made the transition a little bit smoother, so I did.
I enjoyed these comparison photos so much that I decided to try on another outfit that I hope to fit into without looking like I’m about to burst the buttons off. This is a JCrew size medium white shirt, and JCrew size 8 bottoms. If I really buckle down maybe these will even be a little bit big!
If you aren’t taking before/comparison photos, I highly recommend you do so. To be honest, I don’t feel any different than I did back in January. I know I look different because so many people have been kind enough to say something, but I don’t feel it. You can see in the picture above that I’m still carrying a lot of abdominal fat, and that’s the area where I’ve seen the least amount of change. I’m not looking for washboard abs, but I would like to have a stomach that doesn’t stick out farther than my breasts. When you have breasts as big as mine, that should never happen.
I’m currently in sixth place of That Weight Loss Challenge. Have you weighed in lately? I’ve been kind of relaxed about reminding people to weigh-in, and I know a lot of you have given up by now. Don’t tell yourself “well, I can’t win anymore so I give up”. Don’t do that to yourself. JUST DON’T! See those changes I made above? You still have plenty of time to make that amount of progress yourself. It doesn’t matter anymore if you win (and to be perfectly frank, odds are that BellaLoma or lkristine7 or mars220 or jennalosesit or KariC (the current Top 5) will be the winners because they’ve been working at it constantly the entire time). The way I see it, you have three choices:
1. Do nothing. Don’t lose any weight. Be just as unhappy with where you are at in September as you are right now.
2. Jump in with both feet and commit 100%, aiming to knock one of those girls above out of first place. Tell yourself every day that you are going to be more committed than any other person in the challenge (that’s what I tell myself every day for the Healthy Train!).
3. Accept that you might not win, but decide that 20 lbs lost, 10 lbs lost, even 5 lbs lost by September is better than nothing. You can feel better about yourself, be healthier, be excited about getting dressed in the morning again, but you have to DO SOMETHING!
So get back on the scale, head over to my DailyBurn site and weigh in once again. Then write down one thing you are going to change when it comes to diet and exercise (this week I decided I wanted to run every single day, I bought a jogging stroller and I’ve been able to follow-through with my goal, but I did it because I wrote it down on Twitter and felt some accountability) and act on it. If you missing signing up on the Daily Burn site in the beginning, go ahead and do it now! You won’t be eligible to win a free session with me, but I think that joining the challenge on that site and seeing where you line up compared to your hoping-to-lose-weight peers will be motivating. It’s so exciting to post a loss and watch yourself jump from 15th place to 6th, like I did the other day!
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
Jenna-way to go! This is a really visible improvement and I hope it motivates you as much as it motivates me and the rest of us in TWLC. I feel the same way about not really noticing the progress on my body when it happens so gradually, but the before pictures really emphasize how much you’ve lost!
super encouraging Friday post! (ps. see you soon!)
1Go girl, what a great feeling!!!!
2Good for you! You look amazing and your dedication is inspiring
3You look fantastic, Jenna! Way to kick this challenge’s butt!
4jenna! wow, what an awesome change! you are looking fantastic and i’m sure you feel good about all the good you are doing for yourself! i am inspired to take a few shots of myself…wish i had done it before i lost the little i already have! thanks for the inspiration!
Jenna Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 10:34 am
Try to choose a shirt you can wear in both before and after, it makes a big difference to wear the same thing!
I can definitely see a difference! Congrats chika!
6BRAVO!! Jenna, you are so beautiful, what amazing progress you have made, you should be very proud!
7You look amazing! Thank you so much for posting the pictures and encouraging all of us. I haven’t been participating in the challenge. My husband and I were going to the gym together pretty regularly, but I’ve been slacking off the past few weeks. This is great encouragement to keep going so that I can look and feel better about myself.
8Congrats Jenna! That is awesome progress! You should be very proud of yourself
9Jenna, you look fabulous!! It’s so evident that all of your hard work and dedication is paying off. Keep at it! I’ve lost a good amount of wait through your challenge, and the differences I feel in how my clothes fit and my feelings about my body in general make the hard work worth it!
10Holy moly, Jenna! You look awesome! I knew you’d made huge progress, but it wasn’t until I saw the photos side by side that I could really appreciate all the changes.
I can see such a huge difference in your face and thighs. And I think you aren’t giving yourself enough credit for your stomach, I can for sure see a difference there and in your bum (in the side view photos).
Keep up the great work!
11Congrats, those pics are proof that whatever you’re doing is working! Keep it up!
12Jenna, you look great! I can see a huge difference in your face and I agree with PPs, there is definitely a difference in your stomach, even if you can’t see it right now. Good work girl!
13Pure and utter jealousy. Of course, the jealousy would be well-founded if your weight loss was because of dumb luck, but, as you know, you’ve worked your tail off for your results so what I’m really jealous of is your resolve.
But - - lets hear the choir of angels singing now - - I started this week to truly get myself back to normal. I’ve been not in more normal, semi-healthy groove for months now and it has shown. Finally a few days ago I was able to get through the day eating the normal way I do, instead of this insane fat and sugar fest I’ve been addicted to. It feels great just to feel like I’M in control again! Now I just have to get back into exercise like I was doing.
So, I’m having a hard time weighing in on the daily burn site because I’ll have to record a much higher number. That pains me a little.
But let me add my comments to the others - - you look great and you are doing so well!!
Jenna Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 11:32 am
I binged last weekend (big time!) and I’ve been paying my dues for it all week. I know we both can do better!
You look SO great!
15Good for you, you look great! Like you, I lose/gain in my face easily and I also have very stubborn belly fat, always have. Are you still running? I have tried a lot of different forms of cardio and for me nnothing burns belly fat off as well as running. It’s hard for me to think I look as fit as a I feel sometimes as someone who naturally carries weight around the belly.
BTW, I can really see a difference in your hips/upper thigh area too. Hot mama!
Jenna Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 11:33 am
Yep, still running at least 3 days a week though this week I’m shooting for 6. I like how hard it makes me work.
Sara Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Ugh, my belly was my last weight hurdle. I was a size 8 everywhere else, but I needed pants in a 10/12 because of it. Now that I’m pregnant and everything is flowy and loose in the belly, I’m wearing a 6. Frustrating!
Stephanie C Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:16 am
I’ve had the same problem and while running helped me lose some weight in part of my stomach, the lower abdominals were the hardest. I’ve found doing side crunches and leg lifts are the only things that help in any way - although only a bit
my sister and I both struggle with it and we’ve determined it’s gotta be hereditary.
I think your face looks WAY thinner. I feel like I always gain weight first in my face which is so lousy because it’s impossible to hide.
Good job!
17Such a great comparison! You are so motivating with the way you have stuck to it!
18You look great Jenna! The obvious changes (face, hips, thighs) seem to overshadow the more subtle ones (stomach, arms), but don’t discount them. I also noticed that your posture is better (in the side pictures, less of a swayed back), which will help with the stomach. Keep up the great work! My recommendation is to work on core strengthening. I think you would be happy with the results.
19I like the idea of trying on a now before picture with another outfit you hope to fit into! I have a box of “one day” jeans that I will be working towards after this baby comes in July.
After you had T1, how long did it take you to jump on the weight loss train? I’m working hard to stop thinking “Well, I will start after 6 weeks”- I feel like for me that will become a trend. I want to start as soon as the baby is placed in my arms! Because in the hospital last time I gorged on cheese burgers and cheese cake..Because I felt like I deserved it (what horrible thinking)
Did you fall in to that trap or did you start changing your eating habit quickly after T1? If not, do you wish you did?
Jenna Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I had him in April and started my food diary in June, which is when I think I started trying to lose weight. I had him at around 220 lbs, and was 195 lbs in June. I exercised of and on and focused on my eating which took me to 185 by the end of December. So it took me 7 months to lose 10 pounds.
Then I joined the Healthy train and lost close to 20 lbs in 3 months. I’ve worked much harder the last 3 months than I did those previous 6 though.
Wow!!! You are doing SO well! I’m not a member of the healthy train or anything, but I am trying to lose weight, slowly. And you keep inspiring me! I’m going to try on some of my summer clothes that I know still don’t fit so I can have some comparison.
21Jenna, you are doing such a great job. I really admire your ability to stay committed to being healthy and losing weight. I’m looking forward to giving birth to my babe this summer and getting back in shape. I definitely will be referring back to all of your weight loss posts for inspiration.
Are you looking forward to the farmer’s markets as much as I am? I feel like eating healthy is SO much easier when all of the farm fresh goodness is readily available each weekend! I actually get excited about which veggies and fruits will be at the market each week. I’m so ready for asparagus and radishes and greens! Yum!
Jenna Reply:
April 8th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
My Spring CSA started this week and she said next week we might have asparagus. I’m drooling just thinking about it!
Great progress!
I have to say I like the angle of the half way point picture better, I think it shows more and it makes it easier to see a difference.
As for me, I’m not really doing this to loose weight but just as a fun way to keep motivated.
23I decided to sign up for a Half Marathon! Crazy!
It’s been on my mind for a while and running the 12k told me I could do it. Plus my company will pay for half of the entry fee
I don’t know that I’ve lost much pounds since January (no scale at home to check).
I was at he same weight last month after lunch and breakfast that I was in January after the flu (and light eating). However I sure feel it, some of my clothes are getting baggy, I’ve definitely lost weight around my hips and belly and it feels good.
I already said you look amazing on Twitter, but I had to comment again! Also, I like your bum! It’s cute and gives you a nice curvy figure!!
24NICE!!! You really can see the difference, especially in your thighs, face and butt! Go you!
25You look great!
26YOu look really great! I just checked the website and you are doing awesome! I think you are #3 on the site right now, but I think if you can keep a steady loss that you really have a shot at this! Keep up the awesome work!!
27Hi Jenna! Just commenting to say — you look so fantastic!
28You look great! I can tell a VERY big difference in your face - I’m totally jealous of your gorgeous jawline!
29Jenna, have I told you how beautiful your hair color is? It’s so gorgeous with your skin color + eyes! You look fantastic!
30you look great jenna! i wish you would be kinder to yourself (you’re not enormous!) because you’re doing a great job.
31Congratulations, Jenna, on all your hard work and progress! You look great. Keep it up. You’re inspiring!
32you look so wonderful!!! congratulations, and keep up the hard work! the motivation is the toughest part, but it seems like you have that down!
33Your thighs are MUCH smaller, and your face is thinner, and your arms are quite thinner as well!!! And those are just the differences I saw right away. Good on you, girl!!!!
34YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!
35Awesome progress, you look great!! I’m so happy for you, that must be an amazing feeling. Keep up the great work!
36What an incredible difference! So proud of you for all your hard work, way to go.
37I think it is amazing the difference that can be seen in your face! You looks SOOOOOO good!!!
38Awesome progress.
What I’m really jealous of? That hair! Gorgeous. 
39You look fantastic! Keep up the good work!
I’d really appreciate hearing anything you’ve learned about working off belly fat. Mine is ridiculous.
Jenna Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
Unfortunately there is no such thing as areas specific weight loss. Calories in/calories out and you’ll shrink where your body wants to shrink!
Sharon Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 12:29 am
Thanks - I should phrase my question better: is the running your primary exercise? Do you choose other toning or strength-training type things?
Jenna Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 9:50 am
You can see the answer to your question here: https://thatwifeblog.com/diet/chartingdata/
you look fabulous, and you’re inspiring so many of us! great work. you look totally gorgeous!
do you find now that you are so much lighter you are burning less calories?
Jenna Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Yes, it’s very frustrating sometimes. I have to do a lot more to burn the same amount. But I’m also in better shape so my endurance is better.
While you may not feel it, you look terrific!! I think like you said it does show in your face especially, but in the side-shot you look more toned!!Always a good thing:) Your shoulders also look less rounded….all round you’re looking good. The biggest change I noticed was facially you looked happier (maybe just the photos?:) I know I feel better when I’m doing something to make me healthier!! I’m so excited for you!!
42Just wanted to tell you I think you look amazing. Hope you make it by Italy. I’m already looking forward to those pictures!
43You look awesome! You are doing so well you are an inspiration! Keep up the good work!
44I’ve decided I love this quote from this post, it’s going on my bathroom mirror STAT:
1. Do nothing. Don’t lose any weight. Be just as unhappy with where you are at in September as you are right now.
2. Jump in with both feet and commit 100%, aiming to knock one of those girls above out of first place. Tell yourself every day that you are going to be more committed than any other person in the challenge (that’s what I tell myself every day for the Healthy Train!).
3. Accept that you might not win, but decide that 20 lbs lost, 10 lbs lost, even 5 lbs lost by September is better than nothing. You can feel better about yourself, be healthier, be excited about getting dressed in the morning again, but you have to DO SOMETHING!
45I am so happy you have new jeans. Those jeans you have on in the January pictures are AWFUL. I am growing out of my size 8 jeans, so maybe I will have to loan them to you when you are an 8. Then you will have beautiful, flattering designer jeans. Designer jeans make me look skinnier and therefore make me happier.
46Jenna,
47I found your website some months ago through OMG MOM! and I sporadically click in and check in to see pics of you and your gorgeous son.
I’m usually on and off so quickly there isn’t time to comment, but I had to slow down enough to show you some Blogger love.
You look amazing, your progress is truly motivating, and you should be very proud of what you are accomplishing. Especially given that you are chasing little one around all day long. It’s not easy being with the baby, trying to keep up with him, feed him healthy AND take care of yourself. Especially all before his 1st birthday.
You should feel great, because you sure look great!
Keep up the good work and the updates.