When the Jacket Doesn't Fit

One of the few regrets I have from the motorcycle tour is that I wore a jacket that had lots of black. It is yellow and black and I like the yellow because it makes me more visible. And even though is it made of mesh (with safety padding), the black color really attracts the heat. Anything over 85 degrees and it is uncomfortable. Here's what my jacket looks like.

You see? Lots of black. This one is perfect for cooler temps (and it has a warm liner that zips in for winter) but not so good in hot temps. Here in Seattle, this jacket is just fine 90% of the time.

I decided to order another another jacket because there is still a lot of summer riding left to do and Hazel is my primary source of transportation these days (I sold my Saab, as I said I would). Here's the jacket I ordered.

I love this jacket because it still has the yellow, but it has NO BLACK and will be much cooler. The jacket is made by the same company that made my other jacket (Firstgear) so I felt confident ordering the same size.

The jacket came today and I LOVE it. LOVE it. It is so much prettier and luminous - the yellow is a nice deep racing yellow that seems to glow - than I expected.

One problem - it does not fit. The jacket is too snug. I can zip it, but it is too snug.

I have two options. 1) Send it back and get the next larger size. 2) Fit the jacket.

I need to lose weight anyway, so why not now? I told Bill that I want the jacket to fit and asked him to go into training mode with me. We are starting right now. Big hike today, big hike tomorrow. Grilled salmon for dinner.

I can't wait for the jacket to fit, and it will. Why not use the jacket as a catalyst? I took Hazel into the shop for a post-trip major spa day including new tires and brakes. I won't get her back until the middle of next week. I wonder which jacket I will wear to pick her up.....I choose the new one!

As a weight challenged individual, I have sometimes felt sad or depressed when I ordered or tried on something and it did not fit. That response has not served me well. The jacket is the perfect size and offers a nice and realistic challenge (I am not trying to fit into a size 2 by next week).

What shall be your inspiration for kicking into high gear?

I will let you know how it goes.