Author: annemariedemyen

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 37 of 365

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

I am thirty-seven days in on my Food Diary and my mission to become more mindful and responsible in what I consume.  

This exercise is just part of what has become  my health and fitness journey to adopt a strong and healthy lifestyle. 

I have learned a lot in the past three years but there is one quote that I came across recently that really sums up the method to my (possible) madness.

“If you are persistent,  you will get it.  If you are consistent, you will keep it.“

This quote has been credited to Harvey Mackay who is a successful American businessman, author, and syndicated columnist.

His advice is obviously relative and effective to more than creating a fit and healthy lifestyle.    Words worth noting.   (Take note Genie. 💞)

Granddaughter Genie (with her Mom and our daughter Jen). 
I recently discovered Genie has been stalking me (following me 😂) on my Food Diary blogs. 

Food Diary – Day 37

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) Crumpets with jam & butter (408)

(1/2) c pineapple, (1) peach, (1/2) cup raspberries (123)

(2) cookies (146)

(25) salt & vinegar chips (270)

(2) c beef stew (300)

(2) Tea biscuits (200)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1/2) Bag popcorn (250)

Total Calories: 1699

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 36 of 365

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

I’m thirty six days in with my daily food diary and it hasn’t been going too bad so far.  This month, I am counting calories to add to the challenge.  I am  glad February is a short month because I struggle with this exercise. 

Counting calories isn’t that big a deal if one is eating one pear or a bowl of cereal.  If one is dealing with a plate of homemade stew, chilli, or soup, things get complicated.   Then there is meat!  Two slices of thin sliced bacon is 180 calories – RAW bacon.  So what if you cook it in the oven, drain the fat, pat it with paper towel AND use most of it for later use, when it is microwaved and once more patted down with paper towel to remove extra oil.   Air fried chicken wings are 80 calories each.  What constitutes each chicken wing?  Dan and I get packages that are an equal number of drummets and the other piece with two skinny bones.  Dan eats the drummets and I eat the other pieces.  Is each piece 80 calories? Are all pieces considered equal.  No idea!  It gets so confusing!

Speaking of struggling with exercise, yesterday Dan and I took Molly back to Waterfall Park.  As I was getting her out of the Jeep, I caught a glimpse of a dog coming up behind us.  Trying to keep her from mowing me down and bouncing over to make a new friend, I did not even realize the other dog was her bestie Willie from the dogpark.

It turned out to be a great outing.  Molly and Willie walked together, veered off a few times to tumble in the fresh snow, sat to watch the squirrels playing in the trees AND Dan and Randy had the chance to catch up as they walked their dogs.  I wandered behind and managed to get one shot of our little crew.

Food Diary – Day 36

(1) coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios with 2% milk (200)

(24) oz water

(1) sm taco salad with 5 Hint of Lime chips (264)

(1) c tea

(1/2) pkg ramen noodles with vegetables (342)

(2) No Name egg rolls with plum sauce (235)

(2) Riblets (60)

(5) Air fried chicken wings, refried with Frank’s Extra Red Hot and Frank’s Honey Garlic Sauce. (400)

(12)  oz carbonated water

(1) c tea (1)

Total calories:   1404

** Yes, two riblets (I’m not a fan but I like to make them for Dan) and it was 10 wing pieces (not the drummet).  And what is that piece of the wing called?  If they even have a name! 🙄

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 35 of 365

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

If our local groundhog declared an end to winter earlier this week, Mother Nature did not get the message.

We got a fresh drop of snow last night, we are expecting a lot more in the next forty eight hours, and while our temperatures are out of the deep freeze, they are  far from balmy.

The good news is, our weather has us craving comfort food, much of which is nutritionally sound.   Our stew last night was full of protein and fresh vegetables and I’m thinking chilli could be on the menu tonight.

This fresh snow also provides an opportunity for a good workout and fresh air.   That snow isn’t going to clear itself and even if Dan gets our (NEW) snowblower back up and running, there are places a snowblower just can’t go.

Food Diary – Day 35

(2) c coffee (2)

(3) Crumpets (240) with butter (68) and jam (100) 

(24) oz water

(1) c tea (1)

(1/2) pear (51)

(2/2) kiwi

(3) cookies (219)

(4) c homemade beef stew (600)

(12) oz water

(1) c tea (1)

Total calories:   1313

Beef stew – Beef, potato, carrot, lo bak (daikon), onion, garlic, mushrooms, peas, turnip, celery,  gravy

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 34 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Thirty-four days in and it seems I am past the worst of the flu that I have been fighting off.    Yesterday I wasn’t dealing with the exhaustion and aches and pains that I had been.  I was even somewhat productive.

I got my aerobic workout done yesterday morning.  I vacuumed the living room and porch (no small task when one has a huge hair shedding Pyrenees).  I  baked a large batch of oatmeal/coconut cookies (not sure why but I had a major craving for them and they are Dan’s favorite).  I worked on my current sewing project. 🤦 And, I made Taco salads for supper, which is always worth the slicing and dicing.   

At the end of the day, I felt fairly accomplished.   After the sewing debacle, I decided to go all out and enjoy a Caesar with my Taco Salad.  I have never been a ‘drinker’ and since I have had to avoid yeast, alcoholic beverages are  typically on my ‘don’t go there’  list.   Last night I was feeling it and today I am paying for it. 🙄

Food Diary – Day 34

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Pear (102)

(1) Granola bar (170)

(1) c tea (1)

(2) Oatmeal/coconut cookies (146)

(1) Taco salad (791)

(1) Caesar (188)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

Total Calories:  1401

** Taco Salad included: Lettuce, green onions, radishes, tomato, olives, orange pepper, seasoned ground turkey, shredded habanero cheese, fried dried onions, salsa salad dressing, and 5 Hint of Lime Tostitos chips

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 33 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am thirty three days into my food diary and eleven days away from celebrating the third anniversary of my health and fitness journey.  I am pumped up!

I am also struggling to work my way through some strange form of seasonal flu.  I know it is a flu because my symptoms are a lesser form of all of the symptoms my daughter has been dealing with for the past few days.  It still sucks because I want to be going hard to wrap up YEAR THREE on a high note!  💪

All is not lost.  I will manage a less intense aerobic workout, possibly have a nap, and hopefully complete a sewing project that I am working on – making a couple of rice bag door draft stoppers.    Sewing is NOT one of my talents or passions.  Fortunately, daughter Jen lent me her Maddy’s basic sewing machine because she knew I would get overly frustrated dealing with her own  more complicated electronic madel. 

Two You Tube videos and one speaker phone call with Jen and Maddy AND I got the little beast threaded yesterday. 👍

Food Diary – Day 33 of 365

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) egg omelet with ham & onions    (254)

(2) Potato patties (240)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea (1)

(2) bowls Knorr vegetable soup – extra broth and fresh vegetables carrots, onions, cabbage, spinach, and celery.   (140)

(6) soda crackers (60)

(11) Hint of Lime Tostito chips (250)

(1) c tea (1)

Total calories (946)

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 32 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am posting my Food Diary for February 1st.  In reality, today is February 2nd which of course is Groundhog Day!

I am not counting on spring magically bounding into Saskatchewan if some rodent didn’t see his shadow this morning.  Incredibly, on this day three years ago that is exactly what I was counting on.  Counting, hoping, praying, wishing ( THE WORKS)! 🤦

The fact was I was always hoping, praying, and wishing for something that would happen to turn my life around – something that would have me bounding out of bed to do what needed to be done, to take our little Cavalier Kat for long walks, to find myself whole and fit and healthy,  and to be fully embracing and enjoying life as it is meant to be.  The fact is, I was delusional. 😳

But three years ago, Groundhog Day 2022, I had a major epiphany.  I realized that nothing was going to change unless I did.  It took me twelve more days to act on this realization but finally on February 14th, I did act.  I took my first step on my health and fitness journey and the rest is history!

My life isn’t perfect, my commitment to my  health and fitness is not always perfect,  but it is in my hands – and not at the mercy of some rodent who is out and about looking for his shadow today.  🤗

Our precious Kat, who we lost to congenital heart failure in March 2022.

Food Diary  –  Day 32

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) eggo waffles with butter and syrup (411)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea (1)

(27) onion & garlic chips (260)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) Dbl Arby’s beef with horsey sauce (300)

(1) medium fries with gravy (465)

(1) mozza stick (115)

(1) c tea (1)

Total calories: 1555

A nutritional fail today  but this diary is about reality – and ultimately a commitment to do better.

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 31 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Down one month – eleven to go! I have maintained and posted my Daily Food Diary for a solid month.  So far,  I haven’t really changed my diet, other than trying to drink more water and  avoiding mindless snacking.  I have experienced some benefits from the effort including losing a total of three pounds this month. 👍

In February, I am going to count calories.  I did count calories in the past and I’m not a big fan of doing it to control  calories.  It works, but at what nutritional cost? In my mind, it is rather a drastic measure when used for weight loss.  I’m not  actually looking for weight loss.  I am just working on maintaining a reasonable and healthy calorie count.   In future months I am going to focus on specific nutritional targets.

Yesterday, Dan and I celebrated the end of January by taking a hike through a couple of Regina’s best parks – Wascana Lake and Waterfall Park.   I love walking and when I can walk through nature with my favourite human and our Molly dog, that is my perfect  date. 

Wascana Lake
Waterfall Park

Obviously these photos were from my archives of summer pics.  Climbing icy  inclines and stumbling along snow packed trails, in frigid temps, while holding on to a hundred pound dog is not conducive to great photography.  It is fun, a challenging workout, and it must be good for developing balance.

Food Diary – Day 31

(1) c coffee

(1) c Shreddies with 1/4 c milk

(24) oz water

(2) ginger cookies

(1) c tea

(1/2) sm bowl mixed nuts

(20) oz water

(1/2) lg chicken pot pie made with puff pastry crust

** Dan made the chicken pot pie for supper and it was amazing.  It was filled with leftover roast chicken, onions, celery, carrots, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, and gravy.

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 30 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

Good morning! It’s another day and once again time to start planning another supper menu.

Deciding what to have for supper is one of the biggest challenges of my day.   Dan is generally open to whatever I come up with.  I am fairly  easy to feed as well – or at least I was until I discovered that I cannot tolerate anything with yeast in it.  Yeast, or  yeast extract, is a very common ingredient in prepared foods.  These days our meals are generally homemade and made from scratch.

Most of the time, I can make any meal yeast free.  A lot of meals are meat, vegetables, and starch (potato, rice, pasta).  Extras can be added by adjusting to be yeast free.   Non yeast batter can be made with eggs, breading can be made with crushed cornflakes, baking powder biscuits can be used for breakfast sandwiches, Yorkshire pudding can be used instead of dinner rolls.  The options are pretty limitless with a little extra time and effort.   Anything can be made without yeast extract so I’m not sure why it shows up in everything from store bought salad dressing to canned gravy. 😯

What I can’t do is make a basic hamburger with a basic hamburger bun, something I have been craving for a week.   Since I haven’t been craving the nausea, bloating, and cramps that would come with ingesting yeast, my supper last night revolved around a naked burger surrounded by sides. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 30

(1) c coffee

(1 1/2) c Mini Wheats with 1/4 c  2% milk

(24) oz water

(1) Apple, raspberries, and 1 PC dark chocolate

(1) c tea

(1) Hamburger with red onion, horseradish, mushrooms fried in olive oil with a teaspoon of butter for taste, brown beans, onion rings, and a few potato chips

(12) oz carbonated water

(20) oz water

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 29 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in Uncategorized

It’s Day 29 and I am still here – working to get on track with what I consume in a day. 

There are two main reasons that I get off track in the first place.

The first is just plain mindless eating.  Being retired,  and at home for the most part, I can eat what I want, when I want.   Starting this food diary has been great for dealing with that.  Having to note everything that I consume  and knowing I will have to post it for anyone to see has been a major deterrent to mindless eating.

The second reason for getting off track is stress.  I am a stress eater and being stressed has me craving unhealthy food choices.   For the past few days, my stress level has been through the roof.  There have been some stressful happenings around here but nothing that I cannot typically handle.  This week I am really struggling and I am pretty sure I figured out why this morning.   Ironically, I am stressed because of my Daily Food Diary.  Specifically, the amount of time that I have been spending on my phone – writing my blogs, reading blogs, scrolling for photos, and being distracted by notifications from other social media apps and the like.   It’s not good for my eyes, and not good for me.  So, I have to work on less screen time to get my stress  back under control – while maintaining my commitment to keep up my Food Diary for the next 336 Days.

Food Diary – Day 29

(1) c coffee

(1) c Cheerios with 1/4 c 2% milk

(2) Chicken wings and (1) drumstick

(1) sm bowl chips and cream cheese dip

(2) chocolates

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(24) oz water

(2) small pot pies (store bought)

(1/2) bag of popcorn

That is almost it for today!  Yesterday, I received a letter from a surgeon at the Pasqua Hospital.  February 24th, I have an appointment with him to discuss getting my hernia re-repaired.  That’s pretty impressive since my Nurse Practitioner told  me on January 23rd it would be eight weeks before I heard from his office!    I also checked him out online and he seems to come from a pretty amazing medical background.    It all sounds good. 🤗

Now that is all for today.  Take care and have a great day! ☺️❤️

Daily Food Diary – Day 28 of 365

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

We are wrapping up January and for those of us in Saskatchewan,  we are fortunately enjoying some unseasonably warm weather.  Our temperatures have been straddling the freezing point for a few days now and I have  been showing my appreciation by getting out and about.

I have even been heading to the dogpark with Dan and Molly every morning.  Walking there is a bit challenging because our streets and sidewalks are, for the most part, icy ruts and snow banks.  Navigating them while walking an excited hundred pound dog is a workout.   Yesterday, although the temperatures were mild, the wind was anything but.  My lungs did not appreciate the wind.  By the time I got home I was pretty much exhausted by constant coughing fits, but after a bit of a rest the coughing subsided and I was able to do my morning aerobics and get on with my day.

Food Diary – Day 28 of 365

(1) c coffee

(3) waffles with butter and syrup

(3) slices thin sliced bacon

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(2) sm bowls of Hint of Lime tortilla chips with salsa

(24) oz water

(1) Large chef salad

(1) c tea

I came up a bit short  on my water yesterday,   but my salad included a generous serving of lettuce, spinach, tomato, cucumber, radishes, orange pepper, and green onion.  Plus I had a couple of cups of tea. 🙂

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