Category: 2025

Daily Food Diary – Day 353 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 353 of my Daily Food Diary! 🧨

Christmas is finally starting to come together at our house.  I have some Christmas baking done. We have  most of the cleaning done.  And we have all of the presents bought –  including Genie’s Chritmas Eve/birthday present.   Tonight, I will break open a bit of Christmas cheer and get them wrapped.

A bit of Christmas decor – I like to keep it subtle.

My wins for today include:

1) Feeling fine and healing nicely!

2) Sleeping well every night since the surgery. 

3) Staying indoors to wash the living room floor this morning while Dan took Molly  for a very frigid walk through the snow and over the ice this morning!

Molly seemed to take offense at that last win? I was sure they would both be grateful not to have to wait for me to keep up with them. 😕

My Daily Food Diary win for the day…

Getting better at planning meals to work for the day that I (and/or  Dan) are facing. 

  • Serving up a nutritious  breakfast on Dan’s golf days
  • Including more protein on days when I am doing weight workouts or when one of us is in healing mode
  • Planning healthy, nutritious, but light suppers on hot summer days (avoiding those “I’m not hungry NOW but I’ll snarf down a family size bag of chips LATER”  scenerios)
  • Being extra mindful to avoid  ANY yeast, sugar, palm oil or the like if I have outings or appointments booked for the next day

Daily Food Diary – Day 353

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(1) c caramel corn (170)

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1/4) tortierre (400)

(1) c mashed potatoes (113)

(1/2) c creamed corn (70)

(5) olives (38)

Total consumed calories: 1608

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1608

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1608 = 400 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 352 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is the 352nd day of my Daily Food diary! 💪

Today I have four really cool Daily wins to report!

First off, granddaughter Genie messaged her Mom (Jen) and I about how her Christmas Eve supper meal plan is coming together!

It is so heartwarming that our newlyweds are so enthusiastic about hosting their first Christmas.  The first of many no doubt! 💞

Second & Third wins of the day!  Getting a call from son Dan last night asking how my recovery was going.  We had a long fun chat about everything from soup to nuts – the nuts being in our annual Christmas bake-off which has been meeting with limited success for both of us this year. 😂 And,  this morning Dan’s wife Amanda has been texting about their pre- Christmas visit (and my limited standing in our family).  Apparently, being the MATRIARCH doesn’t guarantee the over reaching authority it once did. 🤣🤣🤣

Life is an adventure with Amanda & Dan 💞

Forth, last, and not at all least – Daughter Jen stopped by last night to deliver a tortierre (ground pork pie) for our supper tonight.  We had a nice short chat as her fiancé was waiting in the truck for her.

Jennifer & Tanner 💞

My win for my Daily Food Diary is a mega win today.  As part of my overall fitness lifestyle, being mindful of whatI consume and making small adjustments as I see fit has proven to have so many benefits – not the least of which has been:

1) Improving my confidence,  which made my recent hospital visit so much easier than it would have been otherwise.

2) Improving my physical strength and fitness level,  so that my recovery is coming along better than I anticipated.

3) Improving my overall wellbeing,  so that my discomfort is minimal!  All of the painkillers and most of the anti-inflammatory drugs that the surgeon prescribed will go back to the pharmacy for disposal.

Daily Food Diary – Day 352

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) poached eggs (114)

(2) potato patties (240)

(3) pc bacon (130)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

(1/2) c caramel corn (85)

(1) butter tart (100)

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man Chicken Cutlet Dinner (520)

Total consumed calories: 1431

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1431

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1431 = 223 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 351 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 351 of my Daily Food Diary and I am still on track for a perfect run of 365 days! 😁

I have plenty of wins to celebrate today!

First and foremost, my hernia surgery is behind me.  I do NOT do hospitals well,  but I was fortunate that Dan plugged through the latest experience with me.  

Second, despite yesterday’s ‘Alberta Clipper’ which apparently is a heavy freezing rain followed by plunging temperatures and a major blizzard – our family (and our vehicles) survived it with no major issue. (Our power didn’t even go out, while that was the norm in much of the city.)

And third..Yay for warm winter outerwear and the new snowblower we got last year.  Dan got our walks, patio, and area behind our garage cleared up in an hour.  (Plus did in front of and behind a couple of our neighbours’ homes.)

For my Daily Food Diary  December Wrap-up Win of the Day  I would have to go with focusing on nutritional values.  This morning,  Dan made me an awesome breakfast of poached eggs, bacon, and potato patties.  An abundance of protein to help me heal from my surgery – easy peasey!

Daily Food Diary – Day 351

Breakfast:

(2) bags iv  fluid

Lunch:

(1/2) lemon lime popsicle (20)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

(15) lightly salted Lays chips (218)

(1) pc puffed wheat cake (130)

Supper:

(1) Big Mac no bun (463)

(1/2) small fries (115)

(4) chicken nuggets (133)

Total consumed calories: 1319

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1319

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1319 = 111 over 👎

Daily Food Diary – Day 350 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 350 of my Daily Food Diary.  💝

My  first win for the day is ‘Yay, I am home from the hospital, the operation was relatively uneventful, and I am not too much the worse for wear. ”  The anesthesiologist ultimately decided to go with a spinal freezing instead of the general that was planned as it would be easier on my lungs.

My second win for the day, was having Dan with me for most of my hospital stay, picking up a couple of prescriptions on the way home, and detouring to McDonalds to pick  up a late breakfast/early supper for both of us. 

My Daily Food Diary win was being able to easily handle any fasting and diet restrictions that needed to be made over the past couple of days.   Easy peasy!

Today it is 32 years to the day since my father passed away.  We were fortunate to have had him for the time that we did and none of us would have wished for him to suffer the effects of cancer for another day.  That being said,  losing him  so close to Christmas, in the midst of carols and festive decorations,  was beyond difficult. Today my thoughts are with my father and with all those who are mourning the loss of a  loved one during this holiday season. My heart truly goes out to you.

My Dad and my son Dan

Daily Food Diary – Day 350

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Denver wrap with 2 eggs, ham, shredded marble cheese, green onions, salsa (537)

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(3) chicken drumsticks (420)

(1/2) pks Ramen noodles (190)

(10) asparagus spears (33)

(2) teaspoons butter (68)

Total consumed calories: 1250

Total used calories: 1208

(30) minutes aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1008

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1008 = 200 under 👍

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

My huge bonus win for the day was receiving this beautiful bouquet from my friends Dwight and Jackie. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 349 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, 2025

Today is Day 349 of my Daily Food Diary. 🥳

Yesterday, I had a few wins to celebrate:

1) I walked with Dan and Molly in the morning, did my aerobics in the afternoon and went for a spin on the treadmill in the evening.

2) I got most of the house vacuumed, scrubbed,  and tidied up – while dan washed all of the bedding.  Even if I am totally knocked down by my little surgery tomorrow, the house will be in order when son Dan and family arrive on the weekend.

3) I messaged with one of my nieces yesterday and it was all good news with her and hers! 🤗

This morning I awoke to a weird win…

I swear, since my Mother passed away in 2013, she communicates in music – music and hymns that I am vaguely familiar with.   I woke up to this tune playing in my mind this morning. (?) Not my favourite but not the worst way to wake up. 😂

My Daily Food Diary win for the day…

Cutting back on restaurant meals and on using processed foods at home.  We still get take out, eat out, and use some processed foods – but we have cut back a lot and Dan and I are both better off without the additives and extra salt and sugars.  👍

Good, nourishing, and natural (mostly)!

Daily Food Diary – Day 349

Breakfast:

(1l c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) serving shepherds pie (340)

(5) hot chicken wings flats (156)

(60) Oz water

Supper:

(2) Harvest hotdogs (320)

(6) onion rings (150)

(8) tater tots (124)

(2) mozzarella cheese sticks (127)

(2) tbsp Dilly Dip (100)

Total consumed calories:  1479

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1100

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1100 = 108 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 348 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 348 of my Daily Food Diary! 💥

Today there are seventeen days until 2026 and ten days until Christmas. 

I am infinitely grateful that we offered our newlyweds, Genie & Alec, the opportunity to host Christmas this year.  And moreso that they accepted the offer with the full support of Alec’s mother Denise.

That being said, it is ten days until Christmas and in two days I am booked for surgery…

And son Dan and family are coming on the 21st..

I am not ready.  Not by a long shot.

But my win for the day yesterday was Christmas baking with granddaughter Prim!

We had a good time, filled a few baking containers and our bonus win was having Grandpa (Dan) making an awesome supper of Shepherd’s Pie.

My Daily Food Diary win for the day was learning in real time the benefit of long term gain over instant gratification. 

I am not good at meeting specific result driven goals.  I get too frustrated if I cannot see my goals getting closer with every passing day.  My power is in commitment and longterm persistence.   I just plug along doing what I know has to be done – one day at a time.  The win is looking back over the year (or years)  and seeing what I have accomplished. ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 348

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) 2 egg scrambled eggs with bacon (415)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(1.5) servings shepherds pie (735)

Total consumed calories: 1392

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1392

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1392 = 184 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 347 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 347 of my Daily Food Diary! 🤩

Yesterday, I had a great win! While I was making my mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies, my sister Lorraine called to discuss how to make … our mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies. 😂

There is nothing like having a random meeting of the minds with a sister to make a good day great.

A bonus win came from perusing my James Clear motivational email of the week,  and coming across this gem..

“Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now.  Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different enviornment; act in a great way where you are now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to act in a great way with small things.”

– Wallace Wattles from ‘The Science of Being Great’

It is so easy to feel insignificant and victimized in this day and age.  I just love empowering quotes.  We only get one life, anything that helps us live it in a proactive, productive way is a huge win! 

My ‘December Wrap Up’  Daily Food Diary win for the day has become a proactive part of my life this year..

Learning to notice and appreciate the wins in my ‘day to day’ life.

Yesterday, sister Lorraine and I were discussing our chronic health issues and how the smallest glitch can kick off a downward spiral and how the smallest win can turn it around.   

That is typical of life in general.  Notice the wins in life and there are more wins to notice every day.   😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 347

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Supper:

(1) caesar salad (250)

(9) hot chicken wings flats (383)

(1) lemon tart (175)

Total consumed calories: 1269

Total used calories: 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1098

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1098 = 111 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 346 of  365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 346 of my Daily Food Diary.  Only nineteen more days to go! 🥳

It is hard to believe there are only nineteen more days to go in 2025.  Looking at everything that is scheduled to happen between now and 2026, I’m not at all sure how it will happen… 😯

Today my win is an easy one… once again my husband Dan is front and centre!  Yesterday, he spent the morning with me at the  pre-surgery clinic,  followed by taking me out for lunch, followed by going to pick up the groceries we needed.  This morning he is off for a walk with Molly.  It is Minus 32° Celsius without the windchill.  That is bloody cold!

My Daily Food Diary win for the day is an easy one as well..

Balance and sustainability… when it comes to creating a new lifestyle, I leaned that it had to be doable and flexible to meet the needs of the day,  while keeping mindful of the overall goal.  Yesterday’s Diary entry was all about keeping it real.   It was not a fail (calorie or nutritional wise) – it was just about focussing on protein and simple and fun.  I’ll take that as a win. 😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 346

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1) A & W lettuce wrap teen burger (330)

(1) A & W onion rings (350)

(1) A & W gravy (50)

(8) Oz A & W rootbeer (110)

Snacks:

(24) Oz water

(1/2) c mixed nuts (360)

(2) coconut macaroons (220)

(1) peanut butter snowball cookie (132)

Total consumed calories: 1913

Total used calories 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1842

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1842 = 633 over 👎

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

Mini Maddy decorating the Christmas tree with the BIG kids. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 345 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 345 of my Daily Food Diary. 😉

My biggest win for today is that my pre-surgery clinic is behind me –  including bloodwork, chest xray, EKG, and meeting with the anaesthesthesiologist.

It was two hours of fun-ness, but basically, I am hale and healthy (other than lung issues) and I got the all clear for surgery.

There were a few non wins –

1) This will not be the laproscopic surgery I was led to believe it would be – one hour full on slice and dice c/w opioids to follow and NO aerobics or light weights/cardio  for six weeks.  This will not be good for my lungs. 😢

2) When we went to the xray lab, we traveled down one lengthy hallway past a PCL construction work site.  The site was an enclosed space,  but it was vented into the hallway we were in.  I am still coughing up a lung. 🤦‍♀️

3) In going over my overall general health issues with the anesthesiologist, I happened to hit on my and my family history of Ehlers Danlos/collagen issues.  He believes I should go for a complete evaluation.  I agree,  but every doctor/nurse practitioner I have spoken to rolls their eyes and claims that collagen is nothing and I don’t get anywhere without a referral.   So… that got a bit tense.  But all in all, the anaesthesiologist was very nice and very calm (and calming).   And while he asked that I discontinue all of my other vitamins & supplements (B12/D3/Lutein/Quercetin) until after the surgery on the 17th, he does want me to continue the collagen supplement I have been taking for the last six months – so that is a win of sorts.

For my December recap of my Daily Food Diary win of the day..

I am going to have to go with Martha’s advice to try collagen supplements.  With zero undesirable side effects, these supplements have worked wonders for me – from joint stability, muscle strength, sinus and airway stability, healthier skin, nails, and hair, clear vision, better hearing and more!  Thank you Martha for today’s HUGE WIN. 💗💗💗

Daily Food Diary – Day 345

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honetnut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) Pork fried rice (290)

Snacks:

(2) coconut macaroons (220)

(1) 7 up (140)

Supper:

(1) c Campbell chicken noodle soup (120)

(5) soda crackers (63)

(1) tortilla wrap (170)

(2) Oz pillers shaved ham (57)

(1) slices havartii cheese (130)

(5) slices red onion (5)

Total consumed calories: 1372

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1372

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1372 = 164 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 344 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 344 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤩

The win for my December Recap of my Daily Food Diary today is as simple and basic as they come – I started!

My main reason for starting this challenge was to get a handle on foods that were giving me grief and to eliminate them from my diet. 

I decided the best way to do that would be to note everything that I consumed – for a full year.   I figured the best way to keep myself accountable was to post these daily entries on my blog.  Since it was mid December, it seemed to make sense to begin on January 1st. 

It made sense until January 1st…  our house was still filled with caramel corn, chocolates, nuts, and home baking.  And.. I was facing a 365 DAY commitment.

But, you don’t get anywhere without taking that first step – so I started.  As basic and simple as they come, but a BIG win for me!🎀

Happy New Year!

My real time/real life wins for the day today are also pretty basic:

1) I managed a relatively productive day yesterday,  getting in three workouts, starting my Christmas baking, and making an early supper to get ready for Maddy’s band concert.

2) Attending Maddy’s band concert with daughter Jen.  These events are so packed that we get  there an hour early to get parking and seating, which made for some quality visiting time.  The concert was excellent, as usual.  I love that the teachers at O’Neil make these events ALL about the kids, showcasing their talent and their commitment to music.  💝

Maddy – our musical reindeer.

3) I was up at 6:30 this morning to drive Maddy to early morning band practice.  Jen was at work at 6 so could not drive her, walking through their neighborhood, over ice and snow to O’Neil from their house before sunrise is a bit much.🙄   Plus, I got to see Maddy and get some extra driving in… Ok, I missed her school so we did a bit of touring around.   She was still on time – with time you spare. Multiple wins!

4) Bonus win.. I made plans with granddaughter Prim to do more Christmas baking this weekend!

Daily Food Diary -Day 344

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) eggo waffles (270)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(3) tbsp maple syrup (157)

(2) slices bacon (87)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(15) Lays chips (218)

(1) almond roca (67)

Supper:

(2) c pork fried rice (580)

(1) butter tart (230)

Total consumed calories: 1679

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1300

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1300 = 91 over 👎

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