Just a short post to let all my followers know that I’ve reached the first of my goals before the end of April. I’ve reached 10 000 views. My second goal was to get 300 followers. I’m at 288 and need 12 more followers to reach my second goal. That’s 1.3 new followers each day over the next nine days. Can I do it? It’s up to you.
…. I can’t believe that I’ve been blogging for a whole year
When I started on this new journey I didn’t know exactly where I was going with this blog. It’s taken me in many directions. It’s been a weight loss journey,
My official ‘before’ picture taken in March 2012 just before I started my weight loss journey.
In February, 2013, 33 pounds lighter.
a site for reflecting on my past, an experiment with writing stories and prose, a place to share my new hobby of photography, a gallery for my art work and the work of my students, a cookbook of recipes and a journal to experience and share what makes me happy.
Blogging has kept me on track with my new fitness and eating journey. I’ve never felt better (not counting this cold I’m battling) and I think I look better. I’ve never been happier with myself than I am now. I feel that life has so much more to offer and for me to experience. I look forward to each new day and can’t wait to see where it takes me.
I’ve met the nicest people from all over the world. Thank you to all of you who have liked and commented on my posts. You have no idea how much joy I get from hearing from you. You lift me up when I’m not feeling well or when I’m down in the dumps and you honour me with your compliments and awards. I hope some day to be able to meet some of you when I start to travel more after I retire and I hope if you come to Toronto you’ll look me up and we can meet for coffee or share a meal.
Before the end of the month I hope to reach 10 000 views. The month has started off slowly but that is my own fault. I haven’t had much energy or interesting things to blog about because of my cold but starting today I’m going to try to publish every day. There are 23 days left so that means I need about 30 views a day to reach my goal. Last month I averaged 42 views a day so 30 I think is very doable.
I’m delighted with how many people are following me on mamacormier. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that so many people would want to read what I have to say. Just before the New Year I put out a plea to reach 200 followers and a few kind people made that dream come true. Since then I’ve been steadily getting new followers and am currently sitting at 281. Before the end of the month I’d love to reach 300. Any takers?
So where do I go from here? Well, I’m definitely going to continue with my weight loss and fitness journey. One thing that I’ve learned is that this journey is and will be a life long commitment. I want to live a long and healthy life. I don’t want to live my last 10 years as a statistic and be a burden on society. I have too much I want to do and accomplish in life.
I love the challenges that wordpress and other bloggers put out there so I know that I will continue to participate in some of them, especially the photography ones. I’ll also continue to share the art that my students create and hopefully I’ll find more time to create more of my own art. Who knows, maybe something new will cross my path and I’ll share that with you as well. I can’t seem to focus on any one thing so I tend to do it all. That’s just the way I am. I wouldn’t be happy any other way.
Cheers!
Thank you to all my followers and to everyone who took the time to post a comment. My goal was to reach 200 posts by the end of the year. I have today and tomorrow to reach that goal. Not bad for 9 months of blogging. I was hoping for 200 followers. I’m so close.Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and productive year in 2013.
Carol (mamacormier)
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 6,300 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 11 years to get that many views.
…..being ‘reblogged’ by someone with a huge following
I’ve only started blogging in mid April of this year. It was never a goal to reach thousands of readers (or so I thought). I just wanted to share memories, ideas, photos and recipes with family and friends and I wanted a public forum that would help keep me honest and motivated on my weight loss journey.
Most successful bloggers would probably tell me that I need to be more focused on one topic, (i.e. photography or weight loss or food articles or DIY projects or etc., etc..) and not dabble in so many different areas. My blog is like my life. I’m interested in a diverse range of subjects and I like trying new things. As a teacher I also like to share lessons that work well and I love supporting the arts. This includes work that my students have done, workshops that my daughter runs, art exhibitions of my 91 year old friend and photographs that my cousin and I share.
When I started to get ‘likes’ from complete strangers from all over the world and when some of these same people started to follow me I was initially nervous about putting myself out there but I met some great people in the blogosphere and I started looking forward to checking my stats and seeing who was reading my blog. I started experimenting with different styles of writing and posting more photographs. I read ten to twenty new blogs every night and tried to make comments on some that were of particular interest to me.
Over the past six months I would be delighted with three or four ‘likes’ for each post. As my readership started to increase and the number of followers reached 180, the number of ‘likes’ also increased. My best number of ‘likes’ for one post went as high as 19 but sometimes it would take several days to get there.
I’m somewhat competitive and I like a challenge. A few days ago I set a goal to write a post that would get 20 ‘likes’. When Sue Llewellyn put out her lastest challenge I had no idea how posting four photographs that were taken this summer would bring me so much attention. Not only did I reach my goal, I surpassed it. When this post was published I had received 92 ‘likes’. Wow!
I have to give a big thanks to Sue Llewellyn from A Word in Your Ear. She graciously reblogged my post, The Word a Week Photograph Challenge – Blue and the majority of my ‘likes’ came from her followers. I’ve secretly wanted to be ‘Freshly Pressed’ but this was the next best thing.
So what’s my next goal? Trying to figure out how to get some of these bloggers back to my blog would be one goal but another one is getting my number of followers up to 200. It’s time to check out 90 or so new blogs and leave a few comments. “Phew… I’d better get busy.”
Cheers and Thanks!
….. the full length mirror at the gym is a painful reminder that I have a way to go on my weight loss journey
I’ve lost over 30 pounds and even with a high number of social events that I’ve attended in the last three weeks, surgery, and the stress of an impending strike I’ve managed to keep the weight off. The problem is I’ve become complacent and content with my new body and friends are beginning to tell me not to lose too much more weight. They fear my face will become drawn out and I’ll start to look my age.
I have to admit that I like how I look in my clothes; I like the compliments; I’m happier and I feel good. The reality, however, is that I’m far from my ideal weight and BMI and my waist measurement needs to decrease by at least six inches to be in the heart healthy zone.
Last week I started going to the gym on a regular basis and I’ve had 4 of my 6 sessions with a personal trainer. Over the years I’ve learned how to wear clothes; accentuate the positive and hide the bad. Workout clothes, however, show all the bumps and lumps and rolls of fat and with full lengths mirrors everywhere in the gym it’s plain to see that I’m not finished with my weight loss journey.
I know that my friends are well meaning but I think that I can lose more weight without looking haggard and drawn out. The last time I lost this much weight I stopped and gradually started to gain it all back despite a promise to myself that I would never regain those 40 pounds. I gained back 37 pounds before I started on this journey again.
Why is it different this time? My approach has been more balanced. I’m not only working on making healthy food choices but I’m also moving more. I’m more concerned about my overall health and fitness level. I don’t want to go into old age with aches and pains and weight related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. I’m already noticing differences. My tendinitis in my left ankle hardly ever bothers me anymore. I used to suffer daily and had to wear orthopaedic insoles. I haven’t worn them in months. Yoga is so much easier now, although I still don’t like child’s pose. The last pair of shoes I bought were a half size smaller than I normally wear and some of my size 16 pants are starting to look a little baggy. The last time I was this weight I was still a size 18 and the jeans that I bought back then are definitely too big.
Even though the weight is the same as it was 20 years ago, my body is smaller. I have to credit my walking and running for the difference. I definitely have more muscle and as we all know muscle weighs more than fat. My weight hasn’t moved much in the last two months but people constantly comment on how much smaller I appear to be.
The mirrors in the gym have given me the incentive I need to continue on my journey.
….. no real surprises
Yesterday I had my fitness assessment done. I recently rejoined the gym that I had been a member of in years past. Like many people I was pretty hung ho and went pretty regularly in the beginning and then my visits were less frequent until I stopped going all together. I paid for an entire year and never stepped through the doors. What a waste of money.
So why did I return? Well I went back for a number of reasons. With the cold weather starting to invade our region I knew it would be more difficult to get in my daily walks and runs. The gym recently moved to a new location much closer to home and literally was on the way home from work.
I really have hit a plateau…at least on the scale at home. For some reason all the scales at the gym have me down another 2 pounds (fully dressed) but when I weigh myself at home (in my birthday suit) I’m five pounds heavier. Hmmmm…..?
At the fitness test I had my measurements taken for the first time since I started my weight loss journey. As of today my measurements are:
Height: 65 inches
Chest: 44 inches
Waist: 42 inches
Hips: 49 inches
Arms: 14 inches
BMI: 35
The goal at the gym is to lose my belly fat and get that waist measurement down to 36 inches and the BMI to 25. Tomorrow I’m going back for another meeting with my personal trainer. I’m hoping she will have a program designed for me. My personal goal is to go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week and continue getting out for walks 2 or 3 times a week.
The assessment showed that my blood pressure and heart rate were good. My endurance levels, balance, flexibility and strength were mostly above average. She believes that I could be down another 20 pounds in the next three to four months. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of routine she’ll design for me.
On the diet side of my journey I’m trying to incorporate more foods that boost your metabolism. I start the day with juice from a lemon in warm water, take my vitamins ( B complex, C, D, calcium, magnesium and a multi-vitamin) and either have oatmeal or a two egg omelet with lots of veggies. Lunch is usually homemade soup or a large salad with some kind of protein and dinner is either homemade vegetable soup (Dr. Furman) and a large salad or chicken or fish and salad or stir fried or roasted vegetables. For a snack I try to eat raw vegetables and humus, or raw almonds and a couple of dates or a small amount of cheese and 6 to 10 gluten free crackers. I allow myself a glass of wine once or twice a week and try to drink more tea.
One thing I still need to work on is getting to bed earlier. It’s almost 1:00 am. So on that note I bid you Good Night.
I’m about 6 pounds lighter since this picture was taken on my birthday
….I’m feeling good about my current status
It’s been awhile since I’ve written about my weight loss journey. It’s been 7 months since I started on this journey. In the beginning the weight came off quickly and the visible results were amazing. I reached my first goal of 30 pounds after 4 months.
The Benefits of Losing Weight
I felt great. I liked how I looked. It was wonderful buying new clothes and wearing size 16 pants for the first time in over 20 years. My blood pressure is back to normal levels and I’m able to run without feeling pain or gasping for air. I used to hate running and now I look forward to doing more and improving my time and overall distance.
My Love Affair With Food
I still enjoy food and eating but now I eat to nourish my body and I don’t constantly think about my next meal. I no longer feel deprived or crave sweets and junk food. On special occasions I’ll allow myself a very small serving of dessert or I might have a bite of something just to taste. It seems to satisfy me. I might enjoy a glass of wine once a week. Before the journey I’d regularly drink 2 glasses 3 or 4 times a week.
How Stress Affects Me
When I started back to work in September I was really worried about gaining some of my weight back. Years ago a naturopathic doctor assessed that I was very much affected by stress in my life. I could gain 2 to 5 pounds over a weekend when I was confronted with a stressful situation or if I anticipated a stressful occurrence. For years I would take weight off in the summer (no stress) and when I went back to work in September the weight would come back in the first two weeks.
This year I worked hard not to gain weight when I went back to work. Not gaining weight was as big a success as actually losing weight. It’s been an extremely stressful start this year. With the negative political climate for teachers in Ontario, weeding the library, running a book fair for the first time, organizing art on a cart and living through a district review and having surgery, it really is quite an accomplishment that I didn’t gain some of the weight back.
Despite everything I still managed to lose some more weight. It’s been a slow process compared to the beginning of the journey but I’m not discouraged. That’s another change that I’ve experienced. I don’t turn to food when things go wrong or don’t go exactly as planned. If I fall off the wagon I don’t wait till Monday to start eating properly again. I fix the problem with the very next meal.
Becoming Vegetarian 80% of the Time
I enjoy eating healthy foods. In the last two weeks I’ve eaten mostly vegan meals. If someone had told me in April that I would almost be a vegetarian I would have scoffed at the idea. I’ve always needed my animal protein but my husband has been experimenting with more and more vegan meals. I think eating this way has actually kick started my weight loss again.
Joining a Gym
I joined a gym this month and started working out this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday I started the day with our traditional walk through the college grounds with Frances and then in the afternoon I went to the gym and ran/walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes and then the elliptical machine for another 10 minutes. Next weekend I’m going for a fitness assessment and the trainer will design a program for me. I’m looking forward to this new part of my fitness journey.
How Much Weight Have I Lost?
While at the gym I weighed myself and according to their scales I’m down another 2 pounds for a total of 36 pounds. I’m 4 pounds away from losing 40 pounds in total. I’m very excited about how close I am. There are going to be challenges this week. I’m definitely going back to the gym tomorrow and I have yoga on Wednesday. For the rest of the week I have a number of social commitments but I’m pretty confident that I can handle it.
Reaching My Next Goal
I’m hoping that I can reach my 40 pound goal by the end of the month and then set the next of goal of 50 pounds in total. I say next because I know that the journey will continue. I don’t know for how long. I’m taking it one step at a time. I’m hoping that at some point in this journey I’ll be able to share my actual weight. I’m still not ready to do that but I have a number in mind and I’m getting close. Life is good!
Cheers
.…. the truth be told I don’t know
Two days ago, after the Thanksgiving weekend, I decided to face the music and get on the scale. Even though I didn’t overdue it, I certainly wasn’t perfect. I half expected to be up 2 or 3 pounds. If I had stayed the same I would have been delighted.
Normally I weigh myself every morning but for some reason I hadn’t stepped on the scale for over a week. I’m not exactly sure why I changed my routine. When I did finally step on the scale Tuesday morning the display window flashed the message “Lo”. After years of almost daily use the batteries finally decided to die. I opened up the back and removed the 4 double A batteries that had served me so well for such a long time.
The solution of course is simple. Replace the old batteries with new ones. If I had 4 on hand I would have done it right away but all my batteries are at the cottage. Once I’m at work the last thing I think about is stopping at the store on my way home to pick up batteries. My husband can’t even remember to pick up milk and we’ve been without it for two days.
It might be an avoidance strategy on my part. I’ve been back on track since the weekend and people continue to compliment me on my weight loss. I don’t want to gain my weight back and I can’t afford it if I did. I’ve literally gotten rid of all my ‘fat’ clothes. Logically my brain tells me that I should be able to eat more than I have since I started on my weight loss journey and still maintain the weight that I have lost as long as I don’t go overboard.
I’ve been here before. I lose weight, people notice and compliment me, my clothes fit better and I like how I feel. I become complacent and maintain my weight for awhile and then slowly start to gain it back.
There is a big difference this time. I’m not done losing weight. I haven’t met my next goal. I’ve made this journey very public and I don’t want to fail. It’s time to start moving again, drink more water and refocus. Oh… and I guess I need to get out there and buy some new batteries.
Where I’ve been and never want to go back. Where I am today.
Picture taken on the weekend.
My official ‘before’ picture taken in March 2012 just before I started my weight loss journey.
….life is good!
The day started with a run and ended with a 75 minute yoga class. Any stress I experienced this week just vanished during Savasana.
A number of colleagues at work lost weight over the summer. The difficult part for most of us is keeping it off and continuing to lose more. The problem is stress. I personally knew that the first few weeks back at work would be difficult. It’s not eating that’s the problem and I’ve continued to exercise.
So what’s the difference? For starters I know I’m not drinking enough water. I’m also not moving as much (despite running). A good part of my day is reading to children and sitting in front of a computer. Another factor is that I’m not getting enough sleep. Also the political climate for teachers in Ontario is very contentious.
It’s difficult going to work everyday when the media paints all teachers with the same black brush. Even though we continue to offer extracurricular activities at our school many teachers are angry with the government and some schools have collectively decided to cancel all or some of their extracurricular programs.
At our school council meeting yesterday the parents put me on the spot and asked me during the meeting what my take was on the status of extracurricular programs at our school and elsewhere. I assured them that for the time being at our school programs were running but if other schools opted out there wouldn’t be any teams to play against.
The bottom line is that extracurricular activities have always been voluntary. Ontario teachers do not get paid to run these programs and there’s nothing in the Education Act that says teachers have to offer extracurricular programs. Since our right to negotiate our contract has been taken away from us, teachers feel betrayed by their government. We normally settle contracts with our school board.
I didn’t plan on making this into a political rant. I felt you needed some background as to why school is so stressful for me right now. I literally gained 3 1/2 pounds over the weekend. I know that I didn’t eat 12 000 more calories than I should have in 2 days. When I’m under a lot of stress my body hangs on to water and my metabolism slows down.
So why did I say “life is good”? Because I feel like I’m back on the right path with my weight loss journey. At yoga tonight I could feel the stress leave my body. During Savasana I was seconds away from falling asleep. That’s how relaxed I was.
So I’m making a conscious effort to drink more water. I’m planning and packing my lunches before I go to bed. I continue to avoid all sweets (except the odd piece of dark chocolate). I’ve asked my husband not to prepare any pasta dishes for at least a couple of weeks. I’m continuing to run with my students 3 times a week and plan to ride my bike at least once on the weekends.
One of the most important changes I need to make is getting to bed no later than 11:00. So on that note I need to sign off so that I can get a big glass of water and get into my PJs. Positive thoughts!
Cheers!
…. plus a yoga class and a more balanced diet
Well I’m back to where I was on my Birthday. One pound from my 30 pound goal.
It feels good to be running. Every time I go out it seems to get easier. Yesterday I ran 3 loops of the cross country course (814 m per loop) without stopping. I started well ahead of the kids but in the end I was pretty much the last one to finish. But that’s okay because I’m more concerned about my endurance than my speed for now. 
The one downside of running before school is that there are no showers and on these hot days it takes me awhile to cool down and stop sweating. Thank goodness for baby wipes and a change of clothes.
I decided to have a rest day today. I’m hoping that I can run 4 to 6 times a week, three to four days at school and the rest on the weekend.
The one bad habit that I’ve returned to is staying up late and not getting enough sleep during the week. In the summer I was getting anywhere from 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night. Studies have shown that too little sleep can also slow down your weight loss. So my new goal is to get to bed by 11:00 or earlier every night. I usually get up at 6:30 so that would give me a minimum of 7 1/2 hours of sleep a night. A lot better than the 5 hours I got last night.
What ever I’m doing seems to be working for my overall health. I certainly feel better and people tell me I have more energy and a healthy glow radiating from my core.
I don’t want to jinx myself but I think that I might, in fact I’m certain that I will reach my 30 pound goal sometime this weekend. Positive thoughts, please.
Cheers!
Mama Cormier 