Bodfather: Ready to Soar

Subject #4 in the "Bodfather"

Witness Reduction Program: Jodi

Height: 5' 8"
Current weight: 317.6

Like the lead character in her favorite musical Wicked, Jodi is ready to start defying gravity.

A 32-year-old band/choir geek, newlywed (well, just over a year…), actress and blogger, she’s tired of hiding behind her fat and ready to take her turn in the spotlight.

Jodi’s not particularly proud of the way her opening act has played out. She’s dieted since as far back as 8 years old, but never been able to manage a truly successful weight loss. She’s got some ugly issues she’s had to deal with, including an abusive stepfather and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition that puts an added hurdle in her path. However she’s ready to put all her doubts and disappointments behind her and move forward.

“I want to have babies someday” she told me recently. “And I'm not even going to try at my size. Obesity can cause a lot of problems for the baby and the mother. I want to have healthy habits in place, so my children don't have to deal with the issues I did growing up.”

But a future with children and without health issues isn’t her only reason for wanting to get healthier. Her bottom is directly affecting her bottomline.

“I work in the pharmaceutical division of a major insurance company,” she explains. “This year, they’re charging those employees who have a BMI higher than 30 a higher premium.”

Jodi hit her lowest point (and highest weight) back in April when a “338” on the scale hit her squarely between the eyes. That was 60 pounds more than when she got married, and she wasn’t thrilled about her size back then.

So she geared up to make a real run at losing weight.

“Nothing is going to stop me this time.”

Whenever you say “Nothing is going to stop me this time,” you’re just tempting fate, so it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that Jodi’s husband immediately lost his job at this point. Suddenly, she was pulling loads of overtime and struggling to make ends meet. But as hard as she worked, it wasn’t enough for them to hold on to their apartment. She did manage to drop a little weight however, with something she likes to call “The Broke-Ass Diet” (definitely not recommended).

In September, things finally started looking up for Jodi. She found an honest-to-God house to live in, one complete with an actual backyard. With a new home and renewed spirit, she feels like it’s finally time for the show to start in earnest.

“I’ve started blogging again and doing weekly weigh-ins. Also, my husband (who recently landed a new job) is finally ready to change with me, and that support is crucial! I joined the October ‘Going the Distance’ challenge and I walked/jogged 100 miles that month, and am getting ready to participate in my first ‘real’ 5K.”

Now that she’s got some stability in her life as well as a partner who’s willing to make changes with her instead of resisting healthy meals and avoiding exercise, Jodi’s  finally ready to end the excuses, put her wicked ways behind her and start lifting her life to new heights.

Something has changed within me,

Something is not the same.


I'm through with playing by the rules


Of someone else's game
.

Too late for second-guessing
.

Too late to go back to sleep
.

It's time to trust my instincts
,

Close my eyes: and leap! 

- "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

Measurements (in inches)

Neck 16.25
Chest 46 inches
Bust 51 inches
Waist 47.5 inches
Clothing Size: 24/26 3X
Midway: 55 inches
Hips: 57 inches
Thigh: 29 inches
Knees: 18.5 inches
Calf: 18.5 inches
Upper Arm: 17 inches
Forearm 11.25 inches