Author: annemariedemyen

Wife, mother, grandmother dogmother - lover of nature, peace and tranquility. RETIRED. Life is good!

Daily Food Diary – Day 59 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 59 of my Daily Food Diary and  February is finally behind us. 

Heading into March, I have made a couple of changes to my Food Diary.

I have started breaking down my day into meals.  How each day breaks down and what I eat depends on what I am doing.  Yesterday, I had a quick breakfast, went to our local lab for blood tests, came home,  and Dan and I headed to a park,  to take Molly for a walk.   The blood tests took forever, so by the time we got back from our ‘morning’ walk, it was about 1:30 PM.

Breaking down my water isn’t an exact science.  I fill my 24 ounce water bottle in the morning and drink it throughout the day.

I have started tracking the protein I eat in a day.  Without particularly trying, I hit the higher end of my goal for eating 46 to 58.5 grams of protein per day. 💪

Food Diary – Day 59

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

Late Lunch

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(2) sm peach (51) (1.2)

(1) lg pear (116) (1.4)

Supper

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) c spaghetti with meat sauce (574) (27.6)

(1/3) c shredded cheese (120) (7)

(3) Dill pickles (23) (1.2)

(25) Lay’s Classic chips (160) (2)

(2) tbsp Kraft Philadelphia onion dip (45) (2)

Evening Snack

(2 1/2) oz fresh coconut (175) (2)

(2) tbsp dark chocolate sauce (110) (6.8)

Total calories: 1552

Total protein: 55.9 grams

  • For my age, sex, and size my goal for protein is 46 to 58.5 grams per day (46 grams should maintain the muscle I have, up to  58.5 grams should build muscle).

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 58 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It is Day 58 of my Daily Food Diary.  It is also the last day of February.  Going into March, I am ready to decide how to ramp up my Diary for the next month.

In January, my only goal was to record what I consumed each day and post it in my daily blog.   I upped my water intake and realized how many mindless empty calories I consumed in a day.  In February, I counted calories each day and adopted the Lose It! app to get technology on my side. 👍

In March, I am going to keep track of everything I consume, note the calories AND break down everything into Breakfast, Lunch, Supper and Snacks PLUS I am going to track how much protein I take in each day.  

I do want to be aware of the calories I consume, because I have  another fifteen pounds to lose. BUT, I also want to ensure that I am getting the nutrients that I need each day.  Protein is a big one for me because from day one of my Health and Fitness Journey, that I began three years ago,  my priority was gaining Strength and Stamina. I need the protein to build the muscle to gain strength. 

We are stocked up on meat but I’m going to have to work to include side dishes high in protein.

Food Diary – Day 58

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (140)

(1/3) c shredded cheese (120)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(3) slices back bacon (52)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) Large chicken salad (974)

(12) oz carbonated water

*** Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, broccoli, radishes, green onion, sunflower seeds (3) chicken thighs, French salad dressing, fried dry onions

Total Calories: 1328

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! ☺️❤️

Not a flower today, but I get a kick out of this cocky little guy every time I scroll past him.  * The photo was one our granddaughter Genie sent me,  when she was in Toronto a few years ago.

Daily Food Diary – Day 57 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am fifty-seven days into my Daily Food Diary.   I have been using the fitness app Lose It! For 10 days now and it gets easier and more useful every day.  I don’t know if I will ever ramp up to the paid version, but will see as time goes on.

These days, I am trying to get more active,  do more deep breathing exercises,  and focused meditation to get my lungs as functional as possible for my hernia repair.  My biggest issue going into this,   is that in recent weeks my asthma is triggered easily and often by any stress.  AND hospitals stress me out.  My surgeon is using general anesthesia to have me as relaxed as possible so I won’t have a coughing fit while he is trying to work on me – but general anesthesia is not the best for someone with my respiratory issues.  So… There is that!  (as my friend Jackie would say 😁)

Yesterday, I did make a little progress in the activity end of things – and I got some fresh air as well.  Dan and I headed down to the walking trails at the south end of the city with Molly.  I took the first shift with Molly’s leash.  That meant crossing the road, climbing over a snowbank, getting across an icy bridge and travelling down a trail  – while holding on to a hundred pound Pyrenees who was excited about being out in the snow, bopping from one side of the trail to the other, and occasionally losing her mind altogether and leaping into the deep snow beside the trail.   Half a kilometre in, I was ready to relinquish the leash to Dan so the rest of our walk was a lot less eventful – at least for me. 

Molly in her element💓

Food Diary – Day 57

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies with milk & sugar (287)

(1) c Vegetable stir fry (72)

(1) oz pork loin (77)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) small peach (51)

(2) c fried rice with lean pork loin and LOTS of vegetables – onions, celery, red pepper, & mushrooms (580)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1/2) bag popcorn (190)

Total calories: 1259

Using the Lose It! app I registered -206 calories for aerobics and walking.  I’m sure, I earned a few more for sharing popcorn with Molly (which is more physically challenging than one would think – but not  in their list of  exercises. 🫤)

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 56 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 56 of my Daily Food Diary  and a beautiful day it is shaping up to be.  The sun is shining and our temperatures are hovering above freezing so it’s all good.

Thanks to the great weather, I am finding it easier to step up my activity level this week.  My morning aerobics are, as always,  the cornerstone of my fitness program.   The rest of my day varies.  Yesterday afternoon, I spent an hour outside – just doing odds and ends and getting a good dose of fresh air.  I came in, had tea with Dan,  and danced for an hour before starting supper.  💃

I haven’t been doing afternoon weight and strength training for a few weeks, since I had my hernia incident.  I am looking forward to having my repair done so I can feel confident getting back to it.

Food Diary – Day 56

(2) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c 2 % milk (31)

(24) oz water

(4) Chicken drumettes (172)

(1) c Rice a Roni (310)

(1) c tea

(1/6) c almonds & cashews (150)

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) c spaghetti with meat sauce (574)

(1) side salad (223)

(2/3) c Butter Pecan Ice cream (213)

(15) pecan halves (98)

(1) tbsp caramel sauce (70)

Total Calories: 1980

Yikes – but I am determined  not to  scrimp on nutrition just to have a bowl of ice cream.   It’s all about balance. 🙂

That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 55 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Another day in the life of my 365 Day Daily Food Diary.   I have 310 days to go and I am starting to see how challenging this could get before I am done.  We have one trip planned and another one that we are hoping to take.  I have my hernia repair coming up.  Spring is coming soon and that will lead to all of the outdoor activities that I love.  Life in general is about to get a lot busier than it was when I set out on this venture.  

As I was reminded this morning, by my friend Dwight Hyde from http://fadedjeansliving.com , regardless of what I am struggling with, ‘I choose‘.   Whether, it is continuing a challenge of my own making, dealing with  chronic health issues, or dealing with situations that are  totally out of my control,  I can always stop and deliberately choose how I go forward.    Knowing that I choose, makes the right choice obvious and it is the first step to being committed to following through with it.

Another 310 days of  tracking  everything I consume and posting it in a blog  is about to get daunting but not undoable!   Every day is another opportunity to choose to move forward – and at this point, there is no going back! 😊

Food Diary – Day 55

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Crumpets (160)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tsp jam (17)

(2) slices thick sliced bacon (200)

(24) oz water

(1 1/2) c French pea soup (271)

(5) soda crackers (63)

(1) c tea

(2) c vegetable stir fry (144)

(2 1/2) oz lean pork loin(141)

(1) c white rice (242)

(4) air fried chicken flats (170)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) oz fresh coconut (70)

Total calories:  1548

That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 54 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 54 days into my Daily Food Diary.  I am not starting to slide, I am running later than usual this morning because I had to get to an appointment with the hernia surgeon. 

Everything is fine, he is going ahead with surgery – under general anesthesia this time.   Surgery will probably happen three or four months from now. 

I am fine with the wait.  As long as I take care, the hernia does not bother me.  The wait also gives me time to Goggins up and build up my respiratory system as much as possible before I go under the anesthetic. 

Our weather is co-operating with my intention to get more active and get more fresh air.  The sun is shining and it is beautiful out!

A few weeks away, but I am ready to lose the  winter boots, grab the sneakers, and get out to enjoy some nature walks.

Food Diary – Day 54

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) slices bacon No Name thin low salt (140)

(2) large eggs (140)

(1/4) med tomato (6)

(6) oz coconut water (34)

(25) No Name BBQ chips (270)

(9) Almonds (90)

(1) c tea

(1 1/2) c Habitant pea soup (271)

(5) Sofa Crackers (63)

Total Calories: 1247

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💓😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 53 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Fifty three days in, three hundred and twelve to go! 

As always, I am posting my diary entry for yesterday.   Today, being a Sunday, we just finished our Sunday morning brunch of bacon and eggs.   Sunday brunch has been a thing for us since our first round of grandkids were tots – every second Sunday back in the days when Dan was working 24/7 shifts.

Sunday mornings were a highlight for us, with an opportunity to have time with the grandkids.  For the kids, it was a Sunday morning adventure – generally following a Saturday night sleepover.

Sunday Brunch with Genie, Maddy, & Prim – first annual hat day.  🥰

Sleepovers and brunch with the grandkids are now a part of the past, but Dan and I continue the tradition.  I cook the bacon (in the oven on cookie sheets) and slice the tomato.  Then I set everything up for Dan to cook the eggs, the toast for himself and the potato patties for me.  The routine hasn’t changed much over the years, but it never gets old. 😊

Food Diary – Day 53

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) c pineapple (42)

(1) peach (51)

(1) kiwi (40)

(1/4) c blueberries (21)

(24) oz water

(1) blueberry oatmeal muffins (156)

(1/2) tsp brown sugar (9)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) c tea

(12) oz carbonated water

(8) air fried chicken wing flats (340)

(1) tbsp Frank’s Honey Garlic Sauce (23)

(3) riblets (67)

(2) tbsp Dilly Sauce (40)

(1) Paratha (263)

(2) tsp butter

(1) clove garlic (4)

(4) radishes (9)

(1/2) c broccoli (10)

(8) slices cucumber  (8)

(1) carrot (25)

(1/2) raw mushrooms (11)

Total Calories: 1380

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💝😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 52 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

For 52 days now, I have been recording and posting my Daily Food Diary.   Focussing on my diet does not mean that I am neglecting other aspects of my health. 

I am doing my morning aerobics six mornings a week and with our much milder temperatures, I am excited about getting outside and enjoying our fresh air.  With this in mind, I set out with Dan and Molly yesterday  for a walk around our neighborhood.

I don’t know if you can see or relate to  our ice rutted street or the sidewalk across the street, which is buried under two or three feet of ice and snow.  I know you can’t see our sidewalk but Dan does keep it cleared and passable – unlike most residential sidewalks in this area and ALL sidewalks adjacent to  city owned property.

Walking in conditions like this is extremely difficult and dangerous.  Walking in conditions like this while holding onto a Great Pyrenees like Molly is pretty much impossible.

Walking a Great Pyrenees on dry solid ground can be difficult enough.

Fortunately, there are parks in the city with trails that are maintained and we have a large yard that I can access to get some fresh air.    But, walking around our neighborhood again will have to wait until Mother Nature makes our streets and sidewalks passable. 🌞

Food Diary – Day 52

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) crumpets with butter & jam (211)

(2) thin sliced bacon (200)

(24) ounces water

(1/2) grapefruit with sugar (56)

(1) blueberry/oatmeal muffins with butter (190)

(12) ounces carbonated water

(1) tortilla wrap (170)

(12) pcs pepperoni (65)

(4) slices shaved ham (90)

(2) slices back bacon (35)

(1/3) c shredded cheese (120)

(1 1/2) c mushrooms, red onion, red pepper, green olives (35)

Total Calories: 1224

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💕🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 51 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

It is the 51st day of  recording my Food Diary and posting it here on WordPress.

Better yet, this is the day that our brutal cold snap finally breaks and our temperatures soar up to the freezing point.  It has been the longest coldest February that I can ever remember, but the worst of it is finally behind us.

We do not have any huge plans for today, but I am looking forward to a walk – outside in the fresh air 😊 – with Dan and Molly.  I’m also excited to be going to Home Depot to pick up some garden seeds.  It is finally time to start some seedlings for our garden so we have them to plant once this snow and ice is behind us.   That is weeks away, but I am still excited to take that first step.

Food Diary – Day 51

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Peach (51)

(1/2) c pineapple

(1) Granola bar (160)

(1) Egg (80)

(3) Slices back bacon (52)

(1) Potato patty (85)

(24) oz water

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(1) Homemade oatmeal blueberry muffin            (199)

(5) Licorice allsorts (110)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) Lean hamburger patty (307)

(1/2) Sliced tomato (6)

(1/4) Red Onion (3)

(1/2) c lettuce (3)

(25) Lay’s Classic Potato Chips(160)

Total Calories: (1262)

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 50 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

I am FIFTY days into my 365 day Daily Food Diary!   When I started this diary, I was not looking  at where I was,  or back to  where I had been.  I was looking forward to  improving my future – becoming stronger and healthier and happier.  I was looking forward to avoiding some of the pitfalls that aging can bring – loss of mobility, loss of muscle tone, loss of vitality. 

This morning, I was on the Lose It! app that I have recently started using.  According to the information I provided, and the calorie plan that was recommended, I will reach my goal weight of 115 pounds by September 8th, 2025.  That’s pretty cool! Of course that will not be the end of my Daily Diary.  Going forward, I will keep working to improve the nutritional value of the calories I consume and expand my knowledge of nutrition.  I will continue to learn how best to feed my body so that I can continue to live my best life and my best future possible.

I am not a ‘has been‘.  I am a ‘YET TO BE’

Food Diary – Day 50

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit with sugar (56)

(2) crumpets with butter and jam (244)

(24) oz water

(7) oz canned pink salmon (240)

(2) tbsp light Miracle Whip (74)

(1 1/2) c. Lettuce (9)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

(1) c tea (1)

(3) oz pork chop (105)

(1/2) c Rice a Roni fried rice (155)

(1) Side salad (113)

(1/2) bag popcorn (190)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total Calories: 1229

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 💕☺️