Category: 2025

Daily Food Diary – Day 144 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 144 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.   144 Days without one miss! That says a lot for my tenacity – or the amount of free time I have in retirement. 

Yesterday was relatively eventful, as our days go. 

We had a hearty breakfast and set out for a walk with Molly.  Dan’s hips were done after a few blocks, but Molly and I persevered on our own.  Other than a couple of dog encounters that set Molly off a bit, it went well.  She was on a mission to cruise and to stop and sniff every blade of grass, tree, and sign that we passed.   One of these days, I will go head over tea kettle when she makes a sudden stop right in front of me.   Fortunately, yesterday was not the day.

When we got home, I did my workout, did my sinus rinse and meds,  put away the groceries Dan brought home, and had a short rest before heading outdoors.

Basil to keep flies and mosquitos away
Dan planted the rhubarb plant he bought me a few days ago

After minimal effort to help Dan put the covers on our gazebo, I spent a couple of hours transplanting seedlings into planters around the yard.   I could have done a few more but we had unexpected (but ALWAYS WELCOME) company arrive.

Molly’s favourite human, granddaughter Genie,  stopped by with an elephant and a few lady bugs (for Grandpa & I) and a buffalo ear (for Molly).

I didn’t get a chance to get a pic of the buffalo ear. 😂

Genie was able to stay for a couple of hours so we had a really nice lengthy chat.  She played an audio file of her and a  friend working on a song that they are co-creating.  Genie has always had a nice voice and has always loved to sing.  Her and her friend harmonize so perfectly that it is incredible.  I cannot wait for them to finish their song so I can share their work here – and they can start attending open mike events around the city  so they can share it with live audiences. 

We also talked about ongoing  health issues – hers and mine.   A few weeks ago Genie quit eating yeast to see if it was at the root of a lot of her health issues – as it is with her mother and with me.   She has been doing well but realized she wasn’t doing quite well enough, so she decided to avoid processed sugar as well.  That did the trick.  She is looking and feeling great!

It annoys me no end that it took me well over sixty years to figure out that I was poisoning myself with yeast and processed sugar.  (Who knew that I shared my daughter’s allergy to yeast?) But it is heartwarming to see that this discovery led my grandchildren to find their own issues, while young enough to change the course of their entire lives.

Genie with her fiance Alec (who was still at work when Genie came by)

Daily Food Diary – Day 144

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) tsp olive oil  (40) (.7 grams)

(2) eggs (160) (3 grams)

(2) sl. Ham (27) (.2 grams)

(2) green onions (16)

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

(1/8) c shredded cheddar (57) (3 grams)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) pear (103)

(20) raspberries (20)

(15) tortilla chips (191)(1.4 grams)

(1) Clamato Caesar (168)

Supper:

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

(1/2) c chilli (113) (.9 grams)

(2) slices bacon (87) (2.2 grams)

(1/8) c shredded cheese (114) (6 grams)

(1/4) c red onion (15)

(8) ripple chips light salt (116) (1.1 grams)

(8) barbecue chips (86) (.5 grams)

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

(1) peanut butter, cream cheese cookie (167) (3.5 grams)

Total net calories: 1557

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1557 = 314 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 26.5 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 👎

Daily Food Diary – Day 143 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

143 Days ago I began my mindful eating practice by tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary.   3 years and 3 months ago I began my current Health & Fitness Journey.

By far, the most gratifying result of this journey  is realizing the incredible difference it has made to my overall strength and stamina.   My best days, are those in which I complete a household or yard task that I know would have been difficult, to impossible,  for me three years ago.

Yesterday was NOT one of my best days. 

Yesterday, it was still too wet outside to have grandson Rory come over to work up our garden planters.   But, it was nice out so I went out to start setting up a few planters that I have around the yard.

I started by planting the portulaca that I grow in the planter on the garage wall. (Portulaca is the only thing that survives here.)

I also started cucumbers in two large planters that Dan bought me this week. (They are larger than they look, and mobile enough to be moved around should they need more, or less, sun.

Dan worked up this one planter – around his Bleeding Heart, so I planted strawberries and a couple of little flowers.  (Molly, stood by ready to help).

Finally, I decided that I wanted to try some ‘planting bags’ alongside the house.   I didn’t want them right on the ground, so I figured the sections of tree trunk that were stacked at the back fence, would make ideal bases for them. 

Since Dan has been having painful issues with his shoulders, this was to be a ME project.  I do not want him to make the pain in his shoulders worse!   The antibiotics and prednisone from my recent bronchitis should be out of my system by now, so I felt GOOD to GO!

I went into the garage to get the furniture dolly.  It was at the back of the garage – behind the new planters that Dan has been assembling.   I managed to lift it, roll it, and stumble my way through the first planter.  When I got to the second planter, Dan took it  from me, stopped at the compressor to top up the tires, and handed it back over.

I rolled off into the back yard.  There was one section of tree trunk that was sitting on the ground.  After a few unsuccessful attempts, I managed to get it on the dolly.   I pulled it between the two tables, around the wheel barrow, and off the back yard into the side yard. (There is drop there the height of a railway tie.  In fact there is a railway tie there to hold the backyard in place.) With one mighty tug, I got the dolly over the tie.  A small bounce knocked the tree trunk off the dolly, but I got it back on, and headed around the corner to the side of the house where Dan helped me to set it in place.

Dan went to the back fence to set the next section of tree trunk on the ground and I repeated the process of getting it to its destination. 

The third section was notably heavier.  Dan got it to the ground, I picked it up with the dolly and moved it to the railroad tie.  I gave one mighty tug and it sat there  –  up on the  backyard level.  I was at the  side yard level.  I got a death grip on that dolly and gave a mightier tug.  It bounced down – and bounced right back up to the back yard.  I went with it.  In an elegant move that only another Martel could relate to, I stumbled around until I was back on my feet.  My third attempt was successful.

I got the fourth section across the backyard and over the tie without incident.  I didn’t even pretend to help Dan set it in place.  By that point, I was just ready to accept defeat.

To add insult to injury, I noticed that between all the recent rain and the returning sunshine, the lawn I worked so hard to mow last weekend needs to be redone. 😢🤦

Daily Food Diary – Day 143

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(2) classic Eggos (180)

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

(1) tbsp Maple Syrup (55)

(2) sl. Low Sodium ham (104) (1)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) pear (103)

(1) peach (51)

Supper:  

(12) air fried chicken wing flats (397) (5.8 grams)

(2) egg rolls (380) (2 grams)

(6) Gyoza (200) (2.5 grams)

(2) tbsp Frank’s extra hot sauce (0)

(1) tbsp  Gyoza dipping sauce (15)

Total net calories: 1319

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1319 = 75 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 13.75 grams

Saturated fats goal: <13.75 grams 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 142 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today marks 142 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.

Today also marks what would have been my Mother’s 107th birthday!  There are two things that make time fly by as we age – having grandchildren and losing parents.

Mom with Rory and Genie. 

It has been 12 years since Mom passed away  and about 20 years since this photo was taken.  It never seems possible how many years have passed.

I always knew, but it is only since Mom is gone, that I fully appreciate how hard she worked to provide a home for us.  I see posts from young mothers talking about how hard parenting is.  My Mother didn’t really talk about it that much.  She probably didn’t have time. 🙄

I am the youngest of six siblings, spanning fourteen years.  My Mother first had indoor plumbing when I was SIX years old.  I remember boiling water to do dishes.  I can’t imagine the work involved in filling her wringer washer, processing each load of clothes, and hauling it out to the line to dry.  I will never forget the smell of frozen laundry being hauled in during the winter and the sight of Dad’s long johns – stiff as a board and leaning against the sofa to defrost.  Our clothes were always clean and fresh.  Our socks always matched and much of our clothes and household linens were ironed – every week.

The laundry was only one of multiple herculean tasks that my mother performed on a regular basis.  She sewed, knitted, or  crocheted much of our clothes and household linens.

Our home was always full of fresh baking and bountiful meals.  Always!  And come fall, she spent her days canning, pickling, and preserving.

My Mother never stopped at the basic necessities. In the spring  I am reminded of her so much.  As I am out working in our yard and garden, I remember her huge garden – rows and rows of corn and peas, lettuce, beets, cucumbers, tomatoes and the like.   But it didn’t stop there.  From the ‘rock garden’ to every nook and cranny and corner of the yard my Mother grew flowers.  Gorgeous flowers!  And nary a weed to be found.

Our home was ALWAYS clean but on holidays it shone!  (And Mother never met a holiday she didn’t love).  Obviously Christmas and Easter were the BIG ones, but every birthday, Thanksgiving, and Canada Day was celebrated.  I think she may have made up a few holidays just for the opportunity to decorate and celebrate.

I don’t remember my Mother ever being in any particular rush but she had hard work and efficiency down to a science.  Even on a shoestring (and that shoestring got pretty thin at times) our house ran like clockwork.   And she ran it with classical music playing in the background on our cabinet phonograph.   I have no idea how she managed to stow away enough money to buy that phonograph or the racks of records she played, but she got her money’s worth out of it!

Anyway, I know it’s a few years late, but thank you Mom.  For everything. I may not have always noticed all you did for us, but I sure appreciate it now. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 142

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

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

Lunch:

(1/2) c potato salad (160) (3 grams)

(1/5) c red onion

(3) radishes (4)

(2) oz Pullers shaved ham (57) (.5 grams)

(10) Lay’s lightly salted ripple chips (145) (1.4 grams)

Snacks:

(30) oz water

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

Supper:

(1 1/2) svg. Spaghetti with ground turkey meat sauce (465) (1.6 grams)

(2) Bicks baby dill pickles (6)

(1/4) c shredded cheddar cheese (114) (6 grams)

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

Total net calories: 1154

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1154 =   89 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 16.5 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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

Happy Birthday, Mom!  If you need me I will be out back trying to transplant a pansy without killing it!

*** Funny story – one year I had Genie and her stepsister helping me transplant lettuce seedling (don’t judge – I cannot grow lettuce from seeds).  Apparently, I cannot ‘teach’ gardening either.  Genie had a perfect little row of lettuce plants.  Brook had a perfect little row of lettuce plants deep in the ground – with roots topside up, swaying in the sunshine. 😂

Daily Food Diary – Day 141 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 141 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary and this is the 1st Day that I almost forgot to do it!

In my defense (no excuses):

1) Yesterday, was a ROUGH day.  We had one more day of cold rainy weather and my lungs decided they were done.  I did get my workout done and laundry.  Dan made supper and did the dishes.  I went to bed at 7 pm and woke up at 5am to a much better day.

2) Today is grandson Lucas’s birthday.  We won’t be seeing them for a few more days, but when I got up I was focussed on sending him birthday wishes and a few dollars to spend on a gift from us.

Lucas (L) with his brother Cason – Happy 10th Birthday Lucas!

3) This morning I had an 8:30 appointment with my respiratory specialist.  I still have a lot of infection to clear up – especially in my left lung, but with better weather and the new sinus meds  I am on – it should happen!  Also chances are slim to nil that I will drown in my own mucus when I am under anesthesia for my hernia operation.  I am still on the waiting list (since February) but that is ok.  It gives me longer to clear up my lungs and a better chance of recovery from the anesthetic and the hernia.

4) On the way home, we stopped at the Dollar Store.  I hadn’t been to a Dollar Store for ages, so I may have gotten a bit carried away.  I put together a new bouquet for Dan’s parents’ grave, got a new solar frog for our garden (and some green paint because it  is just pale grey), a new hair clip, and a new book  to make notes of the Buddist wisdom that I have been studying this year – core values, breathing techniques, and the like, plus a few odds and ends.

My new notebook & frog. 

5) Finally, tonight is granddaughter Maddy’s last band concert of the year.  So, she called me about some last minute changes to the plan, I have to do my workout and my sinuses, AND take Molly for a good walk so she won’t destroy the place while we are gone tonight.

Maddy’s School is just a few blocks from us, so very convenient for attending concerts and such.

All in all, just more going on than I am used to!  I was about to start my workout and remembered to do my blog.  141 Days and still counting!

Daily Food Diary – Day 141

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(4) slices shaved ham (57)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(20) raspberries (20)

(20) lightly salted Lays ripple chips  (291) (2.7 grams)

(6) mini chocolate Easter eggs (85) (2.5 grams)

(1/4) c hickory smoked almonds (160) (1 gram)

Supper:

(5) oz Lean ground beef burger (257) (4.8 grams)

(1/2) tomato (11)

(1/5) c red onion (13)

(2) mozzarella sticks (127) (3 grams)

(8) on rings (270) (2.2 grams)

Total net calories: 1355

Net calorie goal: 1243 👎

Total saturated fats: 16.3 grams

Saturated fat goal: 13.75 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 140 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 140 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.  That is TWENTY solid weeks of mindful eating and accountability! 🥇

It is one year since my daughter and I headed south to Nebraska to celebrate my sister’s birthday. 

Happy Birthday, Jeanne –  with friends & family

On the way back to Canada, Jen and I spent a day exploring the Black Hills of South Dakota.   It was our long anticipated ‘Thelma & Louise’ trip. (Minus the driving off the cliff scene. 😂)

Driving THROUGH the Black Hills of South Dakota

It was an excellent trip all around.  We were gone for five days, but we made memories that will last a lifetime. 

Yesterday, I did get my x-ray done and the results were posted last night.  The only NEW note of interest was some possible issue with the lower left lung. 

“mild increase in density in the left lower lung, suggesting a possible atelectasis (collapsed lung) that is slightly more prominent than in a previous image.”   I have a follow up appointment with my respiratory specialist, so I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.   To be honest, I expect it is residual damage caused by my lung extravaganza of 2023. 

On our way home, Dan and I stopped at one greenhouse to pick up a few seedlings – herbs, flowers, and peppers.  They did not have the rhubarb plant that I wanted, but in typical Dan fashion, he went on a mission after dropping me off at home to do my aerobic workout.   AND – he scored at Canadian Tire. (Also in Dan fashion he got it on sale for half the price that I would have paid at the Home Depot garden center).

Rhubarb Torte in our future. 🤗🙌

Daily Food Diary – Day 140

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Eggo classic waffles (180) (1.5 grams)

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

(1) tbsp Maple Syrup (55)

(3) sl. Bacon (130) (3.3 grams)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(1/2) oz dry roast peanuts (81) (1 gram)

(2) c air popped popcorn – no butter (62) (1 grams)

(1/4) c bbq corn nuts (115) (.5 grams)

(1) pear (103)

(1) peach (51)

Supper:

(1) lg serving of spaghetti with ground turkey meat sauce  (no cheese 😢) (628) (2 grams)

(1/2) c broccoli (30)

(1/2) c cauliflower (14)

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

Total net calories: 1243

Net calorie goal: 1411 – 1243 = 168 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 17.8 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75

* I totally skimped on the hydration yesterday.  I am so waterlogged from this weather, it was just off my radar. 🙄

That is it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😊💕

Daily Food Diary – Day 139 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 139 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary! 😎

I completed my round of antibiotics and Prednisone for my recent bout of bronchitis, but the struggle is real.  This Saskatchewan rainy season that we are caught up in is just killing me. (Or at least annoying the heck out of my compromised lungs).

One positive of being on the aged side, is that we always have past experience to draw from.

Many years ago, I was driving home from the town where my parents lived.  I had been there to see my Mother and my Father (who was in the hospital dying after a four and a half year ordeal with sinus cancer).  The weather was brutal – white out blizzard conditions with temperatures in the minus 40 range.  I was driving a sketchy little sedan with NO working heater.  And… I was driving home to a marriage that was way past its best before date. 

I reached a point where I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make it.  I thought of my parents, thought of the three kids I would be leaving to fend for themselves.   I cried.  (It was ugly). 

Then I saw a roadsign a few yards ahead and I decided that I could make it to that sign.   I made it home (obviously) one sign at a time.   And I learned one of the most invaluable lessons of my life.

Broken down to its smallest denominator I could get through anything.

So yes,  I will gasp and sputter and cough my way through one more cool, rainy, humid day.   I will do my morning aerobics, clear my lungs, and go get my x-ray done.  I will  stop at a greenhouse or two and buy some alyssum and hopefully a rhubarb plant…and I will keep on keeping on –  One step or yard or sign at a time. ⚠️

Tomorrow, hopefully the sun will shine.   Regardless, I will be back to celebrate 140 Days of posting my Daily Food Diary. 💜

Daily Food Diary – Day 139

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(1) Granola bar (160)  (3 grams)

Lunch:

(1) c lean pork tenderloin stir fry (107)

Snacks:

(6) Mini Easter Eggs (85) (2.5 grams)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(4) oz pork chop (130) (1.5 grams)

(1) tsp olive oil  (90) (.7 grams)

(1) c brussel sprouts (100)

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

(1) c white rice (242) (.1 gram)

(1 1/2) tbsp soya sauce (2)

(1) side salad w/ Sunflower seeds, dried fried onions, French dressing  (250) (2.7 grams)

Total net calories: 1056

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1056  = 187 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 15.1 grams

Saturated fat goal: 13.75 👎 (but close 🙄)

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

A Bouquet of Childhood Memories💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 138 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 138 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary! 💃🕺

Yesterday, I blew my nutrition goals again BUT once again, the extra calories were justified. 

Yesterday, grandson Rory came over to help clean up our front yard.  He did the heavy work of raking up the lawn, but I cleaned up two big flower beds and and I helped him  bag all of his hard work. (Several bags!)

Rory, Molly, and I – wrapping up for the day. I love this photo that Dan took.   It took time to get Molly onboard but I think it turned out so perfect!

It will be a few days before Rory can come back to work up the garden planters for me.  It rained all night and it doesn’t look like we will be seeing any sunshine until next weekend.  It is frustrating, but it will be nice to see the city turn fresh and green.

Molly and I took another solo trip around the neighborhood yesterday, after Rory left.  The humidity makes it harder for me to walk, but hopefully we can keep getting out there this week.

Dan is here and he is fine, but the cold wet weather is affecting his joints so he has been focussed on working in the garage.   I can’t wait for him to finish the new planters he is building.  I think I have enough plants to fill them, but that remains to be seen.

Daily Food Diary – Day 138

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

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

(2) eggs (160) (3 grams)

(1) sl. Cheese for omelet (80) (4.5 grams)

(3) sl. Bacon (130) (3.3 grams)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) Asian pear (116)

(12) Raspberries (12)

(10) Doritos (127) (.9 grams)

Supper:

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

(1) tsp Miracle Whip Light  (12) (.2 grams)

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

(6) sl. Piller’s shaved ham (90) (1.5 grams)

(1) c Romaine  lettuce (8)

(1/5) c red onions (13)

(1/4) c orange pepper (4)

(1) tomato (22)

(1) peanut butter/cream cheese cookie (167) (3.5 grams)

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

Total net calories: 1481

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1481 = 237 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 22 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

Avg. Sodium for past week:  2338 mg

Avg. Processed sugar for past week: 20 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 137 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 137 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. 😁 And it is 1 Day since I finished my latest round of antibiotics and Prednisone! 😃

Yesterday, I failed to meet my goal for net total calories and for saturated fats.  There is no excuse for over cheesing the nachos – but I can justify eating the extra nachos.  They were VERY good! And.. I burned a lot of calories yesterday, some of which I did not deduct from my calorie intake. 

The bulk of those non- deducted calories burnt came from yardwork.  I trimmed our front yard and mowed the big half – much bigger, but easier.  The grass was marginally shorter than the other side, but I still emptied the grass bag four times into our big green bin.  That is the hardest part of mowing because our mower bag is huge and heavy, our green bin is almost as tall as me, and my face is right in the fresh grass (not ideal with grass allergies. 🙄) But I got the one side done before Dan decided I was done.  He did the more difficult side.  Today, our grandson Rory is coming over to give the yard a good raking.  I am excited to see him and excited to have another major project off the books!

Work mode!

After mowing, I took on one more project for the day – which I did deduct calories for.  I let Molly take me for a full walk around our neighbourhood ALONE.   That was the first time I have ventured out that far with her in TWO YEARS.  The first time since the dogpark collision/broken arm incident of 2023.  🙄  I just didn’t totally trust either her or myself to go alone since. 

Yesterday, Molly crushed it!  She did have to make one quick poop stop, but otherwise she was focused on getting me around the neighborhood and back home.  She just cruised right by other dogs, vehicles, lots of people, trees, sign posts, and the like.  

And we had one bonus moment… Granddaughter Genie drove past us with her sisters Maddie and Prim.  They waved and yelled at us.  I waved and yelled back to them.  You can’t buy moments like those and nothing can prepare you for them. ☺️

I am so blessed to have my health and my family and my Molly dog.  💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 137

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Paratha (240) (1 gram)

(1) tbsp all-natural peanut butter (90) (1 gram)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(3) oz BBQ chicken breast (53)

(12) Lightly salted ripple chips (130) (.5 grams)

Snacks

(48) oz water

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

Supper:

(2) Lg servings of nachos – tortilla chips, lean ground turkey, orange, pepper, jalapeno , green onions, green olives, shredded cheese, salsa  (996) (22.9 grams)

Total net calories: 1369

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1369 = 126 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 26 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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

Molly – 2022

Daily Daily Food Diary – Day 136 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 136 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary! 🎉

When I began this challenge, I did not have any specific goals in mind.  I wanted to be more mindful of what I was eating and make adjustments along the way.  That is what I am experiencing, but that and so much more.

My husband Dan, who has supported my health and fitness journey from Day 1 (three years ago) reads my blog every day.  It has opened up a new line of communication between us from shopping, to choosing daily meal  options, to how we prepare our meals.  It has brought us even closer, which is really quite amazing!

Dan and I are both retired now, so we have time to communicate.  It wasn’t always this way.  For the decades that I worked Monday to Friday and he worked 24/7 shifts, we could go days on end barely seeing each other.   Four day weekends were nice but they were filled with grandbabies, golf, to do lists, and the like – not a lot of time for small (or big) talks. 

I was actually concerned about how we would manage once we had this opportunity to spend more time together. So far, so good!  And between My Daily Diary, gardening season, Molly dog,  and a bit of travelling this summer – it’s only getting better. 😊💞☺️

2023 – Dan retired and our new (and improved)  life began!

Daily Food Diary – Day 136

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee(2)

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

(2) eggs (160) (3 grams)

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

Lunch:

(48) oz water

(1) pear (103)

(12) raspberries (12)

Snacks:

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

Supper:

(5 3/5) oz beef striploin (408) (9.8 grams)

(1) c Ramen cabbage salad (169) (1.4 grams)

(1) corn on the cob (78) (.2 grams)

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

(2) tbsp Steakhouse BBQ sauce (50)

(1/8) tsp seasoning salt

(2) Lemon oatmeal cookies (137) (1.2 grams)

Total net calories: 1396

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1396 = 153 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 23 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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

Grandpa’s Bleeding Heart is thriving this year and it got a bit of sprucing up, too.  It is loaded with hearts to come, and the next time I go to a greenhouse I am going to get some purple and white alyssum to fill in the planter around it. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 135 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 135 Days since I started my 365 Day Food Diary! 🎉 I am DONE my entire round of antibiotics and I only have 2 more days of Prednisone! ☺️

With chronic respiratory issues, this has NOT been my first rodeo with antibiotics and Prednisone, but for whatever reason, this has been a rough one.

Yesterday, I was finally feeling pretty good once I got past the high humidity in the morning.   I had a great aerobic workout and I got some kitchen deep cleaning done. 

My only issue was a serious appetite ALL day.  I don’t know if my body needed the calories to recover, if  I haven’t been drinking enough water, or if it was the Prednisone talking – but I was HUNGRY all day.

I had a good enough breakfast, and lunch, but supper was over the top.  I chopped everything up for the stir fry and Dan came in and offered to cook it.  It was amazing. It was dessert worthy amazing!

I blew through both my net calories and saturated fat goals for the day,  but there you go.   In the past two weeks, I only totally missed one workout, we took a few walks, and I was somewhat productive even on my worst days. 

Fall down, get back up, repeat.  But the falls get fewer  and the get back up comes sooner.  It is progress. 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 135

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) sausage patties (190) (5 grams)

(2) Classic Eggos (180) (1.5)

(1) tsp butter (34) (2.3 grams)

(1) tbsp Maple Syrup (55)

Lunch:

(48) oz water

(1) BBQ chicken thigh (160) (1 gram)

(1/2) c potato salad (220) (2 grams)

Supper:

(1 1/2) c white rice (363) (.2 grams)

(8) oz stir-fry (pork tenderloin, leek, red onion, mushroom, carrots, celery, cabbage, baby Bok choy, water chestnuts, terriaki-oyster-soya sauce, black pepper, crushed hot peppers).  (349) (3.8 grams)

(3/4) c French Vanilla Ice Cream (240) (7.5 grams)

(1) tbsp Chocolate sauce (52) (.1 gram)

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

Total net calories: 1736

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1736 = 493 over 👎

Total saturated fats:  24 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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