Category: 2025

Daily Food Diary – Day 154 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 154 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary.  That is 22 Full WEEKS! 🥳💞

Consistently keeping a Daily Food Diary and posting it has been a bit challenging, but obviously not undoable.  I was fortunate to have an opening in my regular morning routine.  Fitting in my Daily Food Diary and making it a habit has come  quite naturally.

The real test will come next week when we head to son Dan’s to watch the boys for a few days and our routine is suddenly blown apart.  It will take some planning but I am confident that I can get it done.

I started this adventure to find where I needed to work on my diet, and discover  ways to make it happen.  This Daily Diary has been a big help.

This month, I am trying to increase the fruits and vegetables I eat.  My goal is  seven servings per day (combined).   This is the recommendation of the Canada Food Guide  – and one that few people come close to meeting.

I am struggling, but I have come up with a few things that will help…

* I asked Dan to buy me 3 grapefruits.  If I start breakfast with 1/2 grapefruit, that is one serving down. 😁

* I also asked Dan to buy a container of mini cucumbers and miniature tomatoes.  I know slicing a cucumber or tomato isn’t that difficult, but it is just easier to grab a mini cucumber or a handful of miniature tomatoes.  The easier the better, when it comes to changing or building habits. 🙄

* I have started making pickles a regular part of supper planning – dill pickles, pickled  asparagus, olives, or pickled beets – they all count as vegetables, and they are as  easy as it gets.  🙂

* Dan brought home 4 huge apples.  I made them into an Apple Crisp.  1 large serving counts as a serving of fruit!  I used vegetable oil instead of butter in the crumble (to reduce saturated fats) and I used honey with the apple mixture in lieu of sugar.  And, between the goodness of the apples and the oatmeal, it is a  relatively healthy dessert!

Daily Food Diary – Day 154

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39) (1 SVG)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (90)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(1) hard boiled egg (78)

(1/2) c cauliflower (14) (1 SVG)

(1) mini cucumber (10) (1 SVG)

(14) grape tomatoes (70) (1 SVG)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (80)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(3 1/2) oz pork chop (141)

(1) corn on the cob (90) (1 SVG)

(3) tsp butter (103)

(2) green onions (16) (1 SVG)

(5) large stuffed olives (68) (1 SVG)

(1) lg serving Apple Crisp (227) (1 SVG)

Total net calories:  1270

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1270 = 32 over 👎

Total fruits & vegetables: 8 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal:  7 servings 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 153 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 153 since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. 🙌.   It is amazing how fast this year is going – one day at a time. 🥳

Yesterday, was a very welcome smoke free day. 

We were able to take Molly for a short walk over to the dogpark.  Her friend Willy was there.  They didn’t do a lot of running, but Molly did take one jog across the park when she noticed I was walking the perimeter checking for dog 💩.  Willy took a leisurely stroll when he snatched Molly’s water bowl and tried to sneak off with it. 😂

Yesterday afternoon, I was finally able to get outside to do some yard and garden work.

My carnation plant is still waiting to go in the front yard flower bed.
But Dan’s Bleeding Heart is continuing to thrive and I got pepper plants in yesterday.
Meanwhile, Molly took another round out of my poor little watering can.

Today isn’t looking too promising.  I was just outside and it appears the smoke is drifting back in.   This  could be a laundry and baking day.

Daily Food Diary – Day 153

Breakfast:

(1) Coffee (2)

(1) Granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) pear (103) (1 SVG)

(1) peach (51) (1 SVG)

(20)  Doritos (255)

Snacks:

(2) mini cucumbers (60) (2 SVG)

(1) c licorice tea

(1) tsp honey (21)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(1.5)  Svg.  Homemade nachos with unsalted tortilla chips, ground beef with taco seasoning, red pepper, green onions, jalapenos, olives, shredded cheese (852)      (2 SVG)

Total net calories: 1219

Net calorie Goal: 1238 – 1219 = 19 under 👍

Total servings fruit & vegetable: 6

Fruit & vegetable goal: 7 👎

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

2021 Photo of the garden pond.  I’m pretty sure that turtle riding gnome became one of Molly’s casualties.  He disappeared a couple of years ago. 🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 152 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 152 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary! 💃

Our weather is a bit cloudy and chilly today,  but it is relatively SMOKE FREE – at least so far.  I have high hopes that it will stay that way so that we can walk Molly, I can spend time outside working in the garden, and that my lungs and laryngitis will have a fighting chance to clear up today. 🤗

Forest fires are so terrible.  With my somewhat manageable lung issues and allergies, I find the smokey days difficult.  I know that my issues are minimal compared to the people directly affected by these fires – especially those who also have  respiratory issues, the very young, and the elderly.

There have been numerous people evacuated from live  fire zones in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  Many of these people will have health issues.  Many will be evacuated to smaller centres where healthcare is not readily available and many will be evacuated to cities – where our hospitals and especially our emergency rooms are typically running at over capacity.  

We are often led to believe that the state of our health system is the responsibility of our federal or provincial government.   I agree that government is responsible for the  management of our health system.  I also believe that each of us can do our part to alleviate some, if not all, of the issues affecting our health facilities.

I am NOT suggesting that anyone should avoid using emergency rooms – or any part of our health system. 

But, most of us can do our part to avoid (or manage) our health issues.  Regular activity, attention to diet, adequate rest, stress management,  proper use of prescribed medication or therapy,  responsible/limited  use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs,  and proper  attention when engaged in risky activities like driving, operating power tools and equipment… are all things the we can do to protect and maintain our health – and our health system.

If we do find ourselves in need of medical care, tests, treatments, procedures, we can do our part to make such time as efficient as possible. 

Nothing is done in our health system without showing our health card (if we have one).   While in line, whining won’t help – having  your Health Card in your hand (or at least readily accessible) will.   Dressing appropriately will speed up any test, treatment, examination, or procedure.  Reading the preparation instructions we are given beforehand, will also be beneficial.   Anything done to BE PREPARED is a good thing. 

If we take some personal responsibility for our healthcare our health and quality of life will improve.   It will also help take  pressure off of our health system – always important but especially so in times like these.  

*** I do not work for our healthcare system or any level of government.  In my mind, this is just common sense.  Or should be. 🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 152

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) scrambled eggs (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(2) potato patties (250)

(3) sl. Bacon (130)

(1/2) tomato (11) (.5 SVG)

Snacks:

(1/2) c pineapple (42) (1 SVG)

(3) strawberries (12) (.5 SVG)

(8) oz Clamato juice (60) (1 SVG)

(12) pickled asparagus spears (40) (1 SVG)

(1) c licorice tea

(1) tsp honey (21)

(1/2) oz Dilly pickle peanuts (85)

(1/4) c mixed nuts (170)

Supper:

(2) bowls wonton soup – mini wontons, salt free chicken broth, sesame oil, soya sauce, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, leek, Bok choy, celery, garlic, ginger, hot pepper flakes, black pepper (330) (4 SVG)

Total net calories: 1339

Net calories goal: 1238 – 1339 = 101 over 👎

Total servings fruits & vegetables: 8

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 151 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 151 of my Daily Food Diary. This is also June 1st! 😁💞

In May,  I was tracking my  Total Net Calories – calories consumed minus calories burnt exercising each day.  I was also tracking my Saturated Fats consumption.

In June, I will keep tracking my calories, but instead of tracking anything detrimental or beneficial, I am going to set a goal of eating 7 servings of fruit and/or vegetables each day.   The recommended number of servings, per Canada’s food guide ranges from 7 to 10, depending on age and sex.  For women over 51, seven is the magic number.

We will see how that works out!  I love almost all vegetables, but I am no fan of fruit!

Practice run yesterday morning.  😌

According to the Weather Network, we can expect another wildfire smokey day today.  Fortunately, it was fairly clear at 6 am so Molly and I were able to spend an hour outside cleaning up, feeding squirrels, and watering the plants and seeds I planted this week.  Molly wasn’t much help but she had fun stealing my mini plastic watering can, tossing it up in the air, batting it around with her paws AND chewing on the spout whenever she caught it. 😜

Daily Food Diary – Day 151

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) pear (103)

(1) peach (51)

(1/2) c pineapple (42)

(4) strawberries (15)

(1) granola bar (160) (2.5 grams)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(25) onion garlic potato chips (310) (1.5 grams)

(1) Lemon oatmeal cookie (68) (.6 grams)

(1) tsp honey (21)

Supper:

(4) sl. Shaved ham (54) (.5 grams)

(1) oz marble cheese (113)  (5.7 grams)

(2) devilled eggs (4 PC) (252) (5.2 grams)

(5) Triscuits (100) (.4 grams)

(6) Vegetable thins (40) (.4 grams)

(5) multigrain crackers (140) (.5 grams)

(5) grape tomatoes (25)

(1) mini cucumber (10)

(1/2) c cauliflower (20)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (80) (1.2 grams)

Total Net Calories: 1445

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1445 = 207 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 13.75 grams

Saturated fats goal: 20.5 grams 👎

Summary for past 6 Days:

Net calories: 318 under goal total for 6 days

Saturated fats avg per day: 20.5g  (goal 13.75 grams per day)

Sodium avg per: 1846  mg (goal 1500 – 2300 mg/day)

Processed sugar avg per day:  23 grams (goal < 25 grams per day but as little as possible!)

Protein avg per day:   68.1 grams

(goal 46 to 58.5 grams per day)

*** By focussing on fruits and vegetables in June my saturated fats, processed sugar, and protein consumption SHOULD drop. 🥰

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 150 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 150 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary. 🙌

It is decades since I was first diagnosed with asthma and five years since being diagnosed with COPD and bronchiectasis.  A few weeks ago I was diagnosed with my most recent bout of bronchitis.  I was given and completed a round of antibiotics and Prednisone – which I completed as usual.

Follow up x-rays showed that I still had a fair amount of infection in my lungs – particularly in my left lung.  My respiratory specialist assured my husband and I that it would continue to clear up.

Then we had a round of visits from grandchildren – all from my daughter’s family. Her son Rory came to work up garden planters, her daughter Genie (Genevieve) likewise came to spend an afternoon helping me in the garden, and her daughter Prim came by for supper and a couple of hours of Cribbage.   All in all… I did way too much visiting – specifically talking – and I developed laryngitis.

Yesterday, the smoke from northern forest fires rolled in.  It wasn’t noticeable when Dan and I walked Molly first thing in the morning.  By lunchtime, despite staying indoors and best efforts (and two air purifiers) I managed to inhale enough smoke for it  to be bothersome.  Not only is forest fire smoke particularly bad for compromised lungs, I am allergic to trees and any part thereof.  The smaller the part,  the worse it is. 

The bottom line is, I am not dying – I don’t even feel that bad.  But, I am pretty sure this isn’t helping to clear up my lung infection and it certainly isn’t helping my laryngitis. 🤦

Until this smoke clears, outside work and walking Molly is off the table.   I am doing housework, relaxing, and eating ice cream – for the second day in a row.  Ice cream is high in calories and saturated fats – but it feels good and is helping my laryngitis to ease off.  So… It is not poor diet, it is good medicine. 😌

*** Thoughts and prayers for all those who are in the midst of these forest fires, those who are fleeing for their lives, those who are losing their homes, cottages, and livelihoods, those who are caught up in forest fire smoke MUCH worse than what we are experiencing.   I truly cannot imagine.   Also, thoughts and prayers for those who have been fighting these fires and those who are on their way to join them in their fight.  💞

https://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/home

Daily Food Diary – Day 150

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

Lunch:

(2) oz pork tenderloin (83) (.8 gram)

(1) sm. garden salad (100)

(1) tbsp Kraft French Dressing (60) (1 gram)

(2) tbsp dried fried onions (33) (1.1 grams)

(10) No Name BBQ chips (54) (.3 grams)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) Smirnoff Berry Blast (90)

(1/4) c hickory almonds (186)

(1) c licorice tea with honey (21)

Supper:

(2) cabbage rolls  (166) (4 grams)

(2/3)  c French vanilla ice cream (183) (5.8 grams)

(2) tbsp caramel sauce (140) (.8 grams)

(9) pecan halves (59)

Total net calories: 1086

Net calorie goal: 1239 – 1086 = 153 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 20.9

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 149 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 149 of my Daily Food Diary and it is shaping up to be another beautiful sunny day in Saskatchewan.

I just got back from a nice walk around the neighborhood with Dan and Molly. 

I wanted Dan to take this picture so I could show off my new handy-dandy dog walking fanny pack.  I was laughing because Molly was looking at everything except  Dan and the camera.  She is photogenic but she will not pose.  😂

We are on a great round of visits from the grandkids.  Last night it was Prim’s turn.   We had monster chicken salads for supper  and she finished hers off  no problem.  After supper, she polished off a bowl of ice cream with fresh fruit.  She helped me with dishes 😊…. and we played cribbage.  Prim had never played before.  I have played a bit but not for at least two years.  Fortunately,  Grandpa Dan  was here to help us with the first couple of rounds.

And yes, Prim WON.  At least I got past the skunk line. 🙂

Yesterday, I wrote about my efforts to embody my core values.  I have been making a list to use in my daily “I AM” meditation.  I don’t expect everyone would agree with the values on my list.  I know some of these words could be questionable as values, but they are ‘valuable’ to me.   I know some are considered obsolete or a weakness in our society.   I don’t. 🙄 I know some would think there are important values missing.  I do keep adding to the list and some values are just not my values.

I’m always open to suggestions, if anyone has values to share in the comment section, please do!

Daily Food Diary – Day 149

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) tsp olive oil (40) (.7 grams)

(2) slices back bacon (100) (1 gram)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(72) oz water (it was very hot and dry outside yesterday)

(3/4) c French vanilla ice cream (208) (6.6 grams)

(2) tbsp chocolate sauce (105) (.2 grams)

(9) pecan halves (59)

Supper:

Grilled chicken salad:

(2) chicken thighs (228) (1.8 grams)

(1) tsp olive oil (40) (.7 grams)

(2) slices bacon (65) (1.6 grams)

(2 1/2)  c lettuce (15)

(1/2) tomato (11)

(2) radishes (1)

(1/4) c broccoli (10)

(2) green onions (16)

(2) tsp sunflower seeds (33) (.4 grams)

(1/5) c shredded cheese (72) (4.2 grams)

(3) tbsp dried fried onions (50) (1.7 grams)

(2) tbsp Vidalia Onion salad dressing (180) (1) gram

Total net calories: 1148

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1148 = 96 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 19.9 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 148 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 148 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.  148 Days without ONE MISS! 🔥🎉🔥

It has been 5 Years since I retired.  At the time, I was in poor health.  I had no idea what I would, or could,  do with my retirement.  AND… I went through an identity crisis of sorts. 

I was no longer the work that I did.  My parents were gone, so I wasn’t engaged as a daughter (as I had been).  I wasn’t actively parenting, or even grandparenting (due to COVID and family dynamics at the time).  With Dan working 13 hour shifts, I was on my own A LOT.  And I spent much of the time trying to figure out who, or what,  I was. 

Throughout my  life, I have come to know a handful of rare and wonderful people who stood out.  They were people who were always so consistent and solid that I KNEW they NEVER doubted who they were – anytime or anywhere.  But I couldn’t put my finger on why – or what they did differently.  I just knew that I wanted to be one of them. 🤔

Recently, I finally figured it out.  These people who always stood out to me embodied the core values that I had been raised to value.  

I was very fortunate growing up because my parents did stress core values that would help me to appreciate and enjoy the good times in my life.  They also stressed the core values that would help me to get through the challenges and the difficult time.

I always knew these core values were important, and I valued them, but somehow I thought they were rules about how to treat others.  If I treated people a certain way, it would keep me out of trouble, it would make them like me, it would make people validate my self worth.  I always wondered if I was being sincere, or if others believed I was sincere, because I was using these values as  bartering tools.

Five years into my retirement  I finally get it.  Core values are not something we have or something we use…. Our core values are who we are.  🤦

*** I need to make a retraction or a clarification to an earlier post where I was talking about my drinking (or non drinking) history.   At one point I said I started drinking more (at least more regularly) once  my husband Dan came into my life.  I did not mean to imply that  Dan  drove me to drink…  We were just at a place where we had the freedom, means, and motivation to socialize more than was ever typical for me – with each other and with his hockey team.. etc. 

Dan, holding baby Cason.  Very much the man I married. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 148

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(1) tsp olive oil (40) (.7 grams)

(2) eggs (160) (3 grams)

(4) slices shaved ham (54) (.5 grams)

(4) mushrooms (11)

(2) green onions (16)

(3) asparagus spears (15)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

(1) mango (135) (.1 gram)

Supper:

(1) potato (163)

(2) tsp butter (69) (4.7 grams)

(7) jumbo shrimp (140)  (1.2 grams)

(1) tsp olive oil (40) (.7 grams)

(15) asparagus spears (49)

(4) mushrooms (40)

(2) green onions (16)

(5) oz beef strip sirloin (225) (3.8 grams)

(1) Lemon oatmeal cookie (68) (.6 grams)

Total net calories: 1089

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1089 = 154  under 👍

Total saturated fats: 15.4 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 147 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 147 Days since I began my Daily Food Diary.  That is a full 21 Weeks ! 🎉

Yesterday, Dan went golfing at Katepwa,  so having completed Molly’s walk and my aerobic workout I was looking at taking a day off. 

Such was not the case when granddaughter Genie pedaled up on her bike. 💖😊💖

An older photo of a bike trek to Grandma’s with sister Maddy.

We headed outside  to spend some quality time in the garden.  At one point, Molly leapt over the strawberry plant in the corner planter to stay close to her favorite human. 🤦

About three hours later, we came back inside.  While we continued our visit, Genie painted a couple of little yard ornaments.

I bought the angel one last year as a tribute to our beloved Kat.  Genie touched it up to give it a bit more pop.  The frog is the one I picked up at the Dollar Store last week.

Genie stayed until Grandpa got back from golf, then headed home before it got dark.

We had a quick supper and that was a wrap for my day.  I forget if I mentioned it in an earlier post,  but I have been sleeping like a rock!  On multiple days I have been out cold by 8 or 9 pm and sleeping until 5:30 am (which is now Molly’s time to start our day)!

It’s hard to lay around once Molly decides it is time to get up.

Daily Food Diary – Day 147

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(3) 4″ pancakes (259) (2.4 grams)

(1) tbsp corn oil (120) (2 grams)

(3) sausages (405) (21 grams)

(2) tsp butter (69) (4.7 grams)

(3) tbsp Maple Syrup (165)

Supper:

(48) oz water

(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170) (1.5 grams)

(2) Low sodium Top Dogs (180) (5 grams)

(1.5) oz marble cheese (170) (8.5 grams)

(1) tsp olive oil (40) (.7 grams)

(12) Barbecue chips (135) (.8 grams)

(1/5) Red onion (13)

Total net calories: 1473

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1473 = 230 over 👎

Total Saturated Fats: 46.5 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 👎

WELL! We won’t be having pancakes and sausages again any time soon. 😵

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

We have Bleeding Hearts!

Daily Food Diary – Day 146 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is my 146th consecutive day since I began posting my Daily Food Diary! 🎉😳

Molly is waiting at the back door for our morning walk so I have to make this one really quick!

I lost some time this morning making pancakes and sausages for breakfast.  It isn’t the healthiest breakfast, especially for someone who is working to be mindful of what I am eating.  But… I used vegetable oil in and to cook the pancakes in, rather than melted butter.  I used one tablespoon of sugar  rather than two in the pancake batter.  I went very light on the butter on the pancakes I had, and we used Pure Maple Syrup – which is supposedly the least unhealthy option for processed sugar.

Yesterday, we spent much of the day outside working in the yard and garden and enjoying the beautiful weather.

That Tiny Tim Tomato plant looks pretty tiny, but it is double the size it was when I planted it in this grow bag.
And the flowers seem to be happy in their new flower bed.  This little petunia burst into bloom overnight. 

I have to run or Molly might leave without me.  I’m pretty sure she could scale our chain link fence if she wanted to.  So far we have been lucky that she hasn’t been that motivated.

But she could be – motivated that is!

Daily Food Diary – Day 146

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240) (1 gram)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (90) (1 gram)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (160) (3 grams)

(6) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150) (1 gram)

Snack:

(1) peach (51)

(20) raspberries (20)

Supper:

(3) oz BBQ pork tenderloin (125) (1.1 grams)

(1) garden salad with lettuce, tomato, green onion, red pepper, radishes, sunflower seeds, olives, dried fried onions, and Vidalia Onion salad dressing (168) (4.2 grams)

Total net calories: 1000

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1000 = 243 under 👍

Total Saturated Fats: 10.3

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 👍

Weekly Avg Roundup :

Saturated fats: 18.6 grams

Sodium: 2639 mg

Processed sugar: 25 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 145 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 145 of my Daily Food Diary.  🔥

Yesterday, Rory returned to work up our garden planters.  He helped Dan move one of the new planters to the front yard and Dan levelled it and filled it with fresh dirt.  I got flowers planted and helped as required. 

Altogether, we accomplished a ton of work, which was only made possible with Rory’s welcome assistance.

Garden planters worked up and topped up with fresh dirt.
Our new front yard flower bed
The gazebo ready for patio furniture and another (one of many) planters.

This week I hope to get the rest of the garden in, run to Unique Gardens for plants around the pond, pressure wash the patio furniture and get it in place, get the second new front yard  planter in place, and get the lawn trimmed and mowed.  A lot of the work will fall on Dan – or require his assistance, but it is all doable. 👍

After, we finished up yesterday, I sat down to enjoy my 2nd alcoholic beverage in two days.  

First off, I chose  an Absolute Ocean Spray cran-Raspberry vodka premixed drink.   I cannot eat dried cranberries.  I can drink cranberry tea.  Apparently, I cannot drink anything (possibly anything alcoholic?) that contains cranberry juice.  My abdomen swole up like a beach ball, pushed my hernia out, and the result was excruciating pain.  🤦

Second, I am not now nor have I ever been, a drinker.  I grew up in a home that was generally pretty much dry.  Dad had a bottle of Rye around.  As he got older, he would take one straight shot on cold morning, before heading out to shovel the walks.  Other than that he had a dozen beer – which he passed around on Christmas and Easter.  Mom had a bottle of wine to serve  with dinner – again on Christmas and Easter.  There was a bottle of Lemon Gin that someone left behind after a visit.  It lived there as long as I can remember. 

As a teenager, I went out drinking.  In Saskatchewan that meant heading out to the backroads with a case of beer.  If I ever drank half a beer, it didn’t stay down long enough to be memorable.  (No doubt due to the yeast content which I had no idea was an issue for me back then).

Throughout my first marriage – seventeen years of unholy matrimony,  I seldom had a drink.  It might have helped,  but I was too busy having babies and raising them, to sit around drinking.

Since I met Dan, I have drank more alcohol – not regularly and not much more.  If you rounded up every ounce of alcohol that I have drank in my lifetime, you wouldn’t have enough to keep an alcoholic happy through a long weekend.  

Funny story (as in peculiar – it wasn’t really funny)… In 2012 I was in the hospital for a solid month with pneumonia and a fully collapsed lung due to empyema which is an infection outside of the lung.   The doctors tried to treat it, drain it, and finally sent me to a cardiac specialist who used clot buster treatments to clear it up. 

From the emergency room to the specialist, I saw several doctors.  Going over my history,  they all said  that I am a very heavy drinker.  It wasn’t a question and every time I said I wasn’t, I am pretty sure they noted that I was in denial on my permanent health record. 🤦

I finally asked one doctor, point blank, why they all thought I drank and he said because the only people who get empyema are the extremely elderly (I was 57) and those who abuse alcohol.

If I had been aware of my severe intolerance  to yeast, I may have steered them in a different direction,  but that was not the case.  🤔

Daily Food Diary – Day 145

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) scrambled eggs (fried in butter & olive oil) (234) (6 grams)

(3) slices bacon (130) (3.3 grams)

(2) hash browns (240)

Snacks:

(1/2) c bbq corn nuts (230) (1 gram)

(1)  Absolut/Ocean Spray cran raspberry (38)

(48) oz water

(2/3) c French Vanilla ice cream (183) (5.8 grams)

(7) pecan halves (46) (.6 grams)

(1) tbsp chocolate sauce (52) (.1 grams)

(1) tbsp caramel sauce (70) (.9 grams)

Supper:

(1) Turkey salad wrap – cheese tortilla wrap, turkey, Miracle Whip, green onion, celery, dill pickle & lettuce (248) (2.1 grams)

(8) Lay’s lightly salted ripple chips (116) (1.1 grams)

(8) Lay’s BBQ chips (86) (.5 grams)

Total net calories: 1320

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1320 = 77 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 21.4 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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

Dan fixed a new lining for our WELCOME sign basket and I planted a couple of pansies and one portulaca in it. 😊