It is 82 days since I started my Daily Food Diary. With the arrival of spring, we have been getting out and about a lot more.
I love the fresh air and the opportunity to get out walking the trails around Regina. My only issue is that the more time I spend outside, the more calories I and protein I am consuming.
Reaching my ultimate weight goal, isn’t my biggest concern. However, I have to start working on scaling back or I will be heading in the wrong direction. That will be my focus for this week…. scaling back. ☺️
On yesterday’s walk, I stopped to take a couple of pics of the flowing creek. I told Dan & Molly to go ahead and I would catch up. * Nobody tells Dan or Molly what to do. ☺️
Daily Food Diary – Day 82
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(3) PC back bacon (52) (12)
(2) Scramble Eggs (212) (14.8)
(2) Potato Patties (240) (2)
Snacks:
(1) c tea
(25) BBQ potato chips (230) (.2)
(36) oz water
Supper:
(12) oz carbonated water
(6) Pierogies (330) (9)
(1) tbsp onion chip dip (45)
(2) oz Drake Sausage (190) (16)
(1) sm side salad (230) (7.8)
(2/3) c Butter Pecan Ice cream with caramel & chocolate syrup and pecans (381) (3.6)
Total Calories: 1913
Total Protein: 67.5 grams
Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
It is 81 days since I began my Daily Food Diary. This month I have been tracking my protein consumption. I obviously don’t have any trouble getting enough protein in my diet. With only a week to go of this particular exercise, we went all out yesterday.
Steak & Shrimp Supper – we do own real dishes and actual placemats 🙄
It is Sunday today – a good day for relaxing and contemplating life. Dwight, one of my amigos, shared a quotation yesterday that made me think, so I decided to pass it on today…
It is humbling to consider how amazing we are – Body, Mind, and Spirit. 💞
Daily Food Diary – Day 81
Breakfast:
(1) c Coffee (2) (.3)
(2) eggs scrambled with back bacon, green onion, red pepper, and asparagus fried in butter (289) (25.8)
Snacks:
(1) c Lemon Ginger tea
(1/3) c Dill Pickle Peanuts (300) (11)
(2) sq dark chocolate (113) (.9)
(1/2) c sunflower seeds with shells (120) (4)
(36) oz water
Supper:
(12) oz water
(1) c white rice (242) (4.4)
(2) tbsp soya sauce (15) (1)
(10) Asparagus spears (33) (3.6)
(4) oz minute steak (267) (33.3)
(1/2) c mushrooms (22) (1.7)
(7) Jumbo shrimp (140) (26.8)
(3) tsp butter (1030 (.1)
(2) tbsp Honey Garlic Sauce (45)
Total Calories: 1689
Total Protein: 112.6 grams 😲
Protein daily goal: 46 to 58.5
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ☺️💕
I am 80 days into my 365 day Daily Food Diary. There’s only 285 more days to go before I will have to find something else to do first thing every morning. With my hernia repair hopefully behind me, I am considering upping my daily activity by starting a 365 day Daily Workout Diary. 💪
Right now, I am maintaining my morning aerobics. I have been doing You Tube aerobic workouts for over two years now. While the results have been subtle, they have been there. I have lost +30 pounds, toned up my body, improved my lung function and increased my stamina. I have also noticed a major improvement in my flexibility and balance – two things that are of major importance as I will soon be in my seventies. Being able to move forward easily and confidently, is a huge win!
Dan, Molly, and I have also been out doing more walking, with the official arrival of spring this week. I love walking and spending dedicated time with Dan and Molly.
I am looking forward to getting back to more strength training, once my repair is done. Working with weights – even light weights is important to maintaining muscle and bones.
I am still looking at moving outside of my comfort zone and trying some of the professional workout facilities around the city. We have a variety of gyms, indoor tracks, climbing walls, trampoline parks… and more. A Daily Workout Diary – especially one that I posted on here – would definitely give me the incentive to get out and do it. Hmmm…
Daily Food Diary – Day 80
Breakfast:
1 c coffee (2) (.3)
1 c Cheerios (147) (2.7)
(1/4) c milk (31) (2)
Snacks:
(2) pc Matrimonial Cake (278) (2)
(1) c Licorice Tea
(1/2) c Sunflower Seeds -inc shell (120) (4)
(26) oz water
Supper:
(4) oz Drake Sausage (380) (32)
(1/2) c Sauerkraut (20)
(7) Cheemo Pierogies (385) (10.5)
(1) tbsp Butter (103) (.1)
(1) med. Onion (46) (1.4)
(2) tbsp onion chip dip (45) (2)
(12) oz carbonated water
Total Calories:1557
Total Protein: 57 Grams
Daily Protein Goal: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞
I am 78 DAYS in and still showing up every morning to post my Daily Food Diary. It is a small, simple act, but it is becoming an important part of starting my day on the right track. Every morning, I commit to being accountable for my health and wellness.
It is not just about my physical well-being. My mental and emotional health, affect my physical health. My lung issues are triggered by stress, so I have been focussing on dialing it down.
This cracked me up when it popped up on my Facebook feed the other day. It’s funny because it’s true. 😂
Stress and anxiety have been an ongoing issue for my entire life. I have dialed it down A LOT in the past few years, especially since I retired. But it is still an issue.
I work on it before I go to sleep – listening to soothing music, guided meditations, or inspiring videos. And I work on it in the morning – by setting my health and wellness as a priority – body, mind, and soul. Because it doesn’t just happen. We have to make it happen. 😉
Food Diary – Day 78
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(2) Potato Patties (240) (2)
(2) Eggs (160) (14)
(3) Slices back bacon (52) (12)
Snacks:
(1) c Cherry Trifle Tea
(1/2) pkg Popcorn (160) (2)
(1) pc Matrimonial Cake (139) (1)
(24) oz water
Supper:
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) porkchops (177) (26)
(1/2) pkg Ramen Noodles (190) (5)
(1) c broccoli (60) (9)
(1) tsp butter (34)
Total Calories: 1215
Total Protein: 71.3 grams
Protein goal per day: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💓🌞
It is 77 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary. That is 11 Weeks! By the time I knock off another 41 weeks, I might be addicted to this morning exercise and being mindful of what I consume on a regular basis.
Another thing I could easily become addicted to is getting out walking with Dan and Molly.
Yesterday we ventured down to Waterfall Park. Our temps were still well in the chilly range, there was yet another fresh layer of snow, and I was walking on an iffy ankle and a slightly wobbly knee. But… The only hard part is taking the first step (after I put on my sweater, ski pants, boots, jacket, and gloves 🙄).
Once we got to the park, it was all good. I took Molly’s lead and we made out fairly well. My knee and ankle felt fine and we even ventured down an unfamiliar path. It was not as groomed as our regular ones and there was a steep drop off of both sides – one side leading down to the creek. Molly and I managed to both stay upright. Dan caught sight of three dogs and a group of kids approaching, so he took Molly’s lead. It was all good – until Molly’s collar came apart for some reason. Dan was able to hold onto her while I got the collar back together. It is a heavy duty pinch collar, with steel links that are almost impossible to take apart and to replace. Apparently, it just takes the perfect move to slip it apart! I lucked out getting it back together.
This shot was from a couple of days ago but shows Molly in her element.
The rest of the walk was uneventful. When we got home, Dan brought Molly in and made our tea. I spent a few minutes shoveling our front walks before I joined them. At the end of the day, my left knee was fine, my right ankle was fine – and my left foot had a weird kink in it. It is still bothering me a bit this morning, but I am sure I can walk that off when we head out today. 🙂
Food Diary – Day 77
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(1/2) Grapefruit (41) (.8)
(1) tsp sugar (16)
(1) Granola Bar (160) (3)
Lunch:
(24) oz water
(1/2) Beef burrito (308) (15)
Snacks:
(1) c Lemon Ginger tea
(25) Lay’s Classic chips (160) (2)
Supper:
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) lg. Taco Salad (520) (16)
(6) Hint of Lime chips (150) (2)
Total Calories: 1357
Total Protein: 39.1 grams
Daily Protein Goal: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💝😊
It is 76 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary. One thing that may, or may not, be noticeable is that almost everything we eat for meals is homemade and made from scratch. That is a matter of personal preference, and done in an effort to avoid yeast, which I cannot tolerate.
That being said, last night we tossed a couple of TV Dinners in the oven after getting home from a walk with Molly. We were walking a wide clear, level path. When we came to a section of path that ran parallel to a high ridge of snow and ice, Molly went mountain goat on us.
Dan managed to maintain a hold on Molly’s leash throughout her adventure. I stayed on the nice clear path. Regardless, I managed to slip on a miniscule bit of ice and pulled something in my left knee AND I tripped over nothing and twisted my right ankle. Both are still bothering me a bit today, but I plan to do my aerobics and hopefully head out for another walk.
Food Diary – Day 76
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(1) c Shreddies (200) (6)
(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)
(1) tsp sugar (16)
Snacks:
(36) oz water
(1) c Licorice Tea
(1) pc matrimonial cake (139) (1)
(1/2) c Sunflower seeds (with shells) (70) (5)
Supper:
(1) Hungry Man Chicken Cutlet Meal (550) (23)
Total Calories: 1008
Total Protein: 37.3 grams
Daily Protein Goal: 46 to 58.5 grams
Note: Hungry Man Chicken Cutlet Meal is the only one sold here that does not contain yeast.
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💖😊
Today, I am celebrating 75 Days since I began recording and posting my Daily Food Diary. 75 DAYS and I am 75 hits and 0 misses. 👍
Today, I am also celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. (Photo from my Jigsawscapes App. My daily jigsaw obsession).
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you and yours, especially to all of my Irish friends who are celebrating today!
Today, I am ALSO celebrating what would have been my Father’s 116th birthday!
My Dad & Son Dan
My Father passed away 32 years ago. That is inconceivable to me. For some reason, my Father and my Mother have been popping up in my dreams on a regular basis lately. To me, there is nothing odd or upsetting about their appearances. The dreams are not about them, they are just there, very normal, very natural, very familiar.
I was fortunate to have parents who worked hard to provide a stable, secure home for my siblings and I. I appreciate all that they both did for me, but to be honest, I was closer to my Father. Yes, I was a Daddy’s girl.
My Dad was everything I strive to be – kind, gentle, strong, happy, caring, determined, dignified (and determined to respect the dignity of others).
Last year, my sister Jeanne reminded me of something that I had forgotten about my Father. Something that seems so timely with all of belittling, dehumanizing, and hateful treatment towards people nowadays – based on their color, religion, nationality, sexuality or whatever!
My Father had a Grade Two education – French education. Despite this, he was a very intelligent man and accomplished in many ways. I knew that his Mother struggled with serious health issues and that when my Father left school, he went to work to help his father provide for his siblings. He sat in the basement of the general store, removing the eyes from potatoes, to keep them marketable.
Over the years, I came to believe that Dad quit school because his family needed his help at home taking care of little ones and bringing in what little money he could from his humble position at the general store.
What I forgot was that he was expelled from school. IN GRADE TWO! Why? Because his teachers, good Catholic Nuns that they were, decided that he was stupid and unteachable because he was left-handed and refused to change his wayward ways. He was deemed unworthy of an education.
Amazingly, they did not break him. He was who he was – caring, kind, strong, loving, respectful, patient, and more. Most important to me … He was my Dad.
It is 74 days since I headed down this rabbit hole of tracking and posting everything I consume each day.
Some days, I impress myself. Some days, not so much! Yesterday would be ‘not so much’.
First off, there was the lack of any fruit and very little vegetables. There was nothing in the fresh fruit or vegetable category. I have noticed for the past three months that I haven’t been eating much fruit or vegetables – fresh or otherwise. I do eat a lot of both in the summer but I am going to have to start working on the other nine months of the year.
Second, this month I have been tracking my protein intake. It is almost always higher than I would have thought. Yesterday, I set a dubious record. I did a particularly intense aerobics workout yesterday morning AND I went outside to get some fresh air yesterday afternoon. While I was outside, I shovelled the snow off of all of our walks, broke up and cleared away some ice, and I did my deep breathing exercises to clear my lungs. Maybe I needed all that protein? 🤔
I have made progress on the quality of my snacks. I have cut back on potato chips and that Root Beer that has been sitting on the little table in the porch taunting me is still there.
I have decided that in April I am going to track my processed sugar consumption. A woman is supposed to limit her daily sugar consumption to 25 GRAMS. With that Root Beer weighing in at a hefty 46 GRAMS, it might be sitting there until we go to stay with Lucas and Cason in a few weeks. They are active enough to burn off a little extra sugar. 👍
Cason & Lucas with their big sister Gabby
Food Diary – Day 74
Breakfast
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(1) c Shreddies (200) (6)
(1/4) c milk (31) (2)
(1) tsp sugar (16)
Snack:
(1) c Lemon Ginger Tea
(24) oz water
Supper:
(10) chicken wing flats (425) (46)
(1) tbsp Extra Hot Frank’s Sauce
(3) Egg rolls (225) (3)
(4) Riblets (74) (12)
(12) oz carbonated water
Total Calories: 1356
Total Protein: 94 grams
Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞😊
It is 73 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary. As much as I could lose a few more pounds, this exercise is more about eating well than it is about restricting calories.
I went into this with three chronic lung conditions – asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis. Proper nutrition is only part of my routine to keep these issues in check. I exercise, I see a respiratory specialist and a respiratory therapist regularly, I use inhalers, and antibiotics with oral steroids for flare-ups, and I get regular vaccines. 👍
I also went into this exercise with a failed epigastric hernia repair from three years ago. On February 24th, I went to see a surgeon about having this repaired.
My hernia is bothersome on occasion and a bit dangerous to ignore, so it has to be done. Heading out for my appointment, I was fine. Dan was driving, we were going to the Pasqua Hospital (a few blocks from home), the repair I had done last time was laparoscopic surgery done under local anaesthetic. No big deal!
Except, due to delays in traffic, parking issues, and a mix-up at the hospital, we were cutting it close timewise for my appointment. My stress ramped up, my stress triggered my asthma, and I walked into the surgeon’s office having an uncontrollable coughing fit.
The appointment went as well as possible, but the surgeon decided that he was putting me under anesthesia for the procedure. (It is difficult to do this kind of thing when someone is coughing their lungs out).
I came home upset, demoralized, and annoyed that Itry so hard to manage my lung issues and I had failed, again, big time!
After a short pity part, I pulled it together. I got on with my respiratory management routine and soldiered on.
Then, I went for a CT scan that the surgeon had ordered. On top of a couple of other issues, the scan showed that I now have a NEW lung issue – bronchiolitis. Seriously!
Cue another pity party, cue another comeback – this time more intense and determined than ever. Not just to make my lungs stronger but to destroy the stress and anxiety issues that I have battled with forever.
So.. more exercise – more focused and intense, I switched up my bedtime meditation for Goggins inspirational podcasts/videos, I got an herbal brew from our local health food store. I am getting outside for more fresh air and exercise! 👍
And our weather tanked. More cold, more wind, more wet snow. Not good for my lungs. Another pity party… 🤦
Yesterday, I had it together! I decided to stay indoors and do a serious house cleaning & laundry including bedding.
And our power went out – for hours. I decided to forgo the pity party. I messaged my sister Elaine and we chatted back and forth for the duration, exchanging meal plans and shopping wins (and losses 😂).
It was a good chat and it was good for the soul – much better than another pity party. 🙂
Food Diary:
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(2) eggs (180) (14)
(3) slices back bacon (52) (2)
(2) potato patties (240) (2)
Snack:
(24) oz water
(2) oz Dill Pickle peanuts (324) (14.2)
Supper:
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) Burrito –
(1) Tortilla wrap (170) (5)
(4) Oz ground beef (280) (19)
(1) c mixed veggies – onion, red pepper, black olives, mushrooms, oriental cabbage (68) (2.4)
(1) Tbsp taco sauce
(2) Oz shredded cheddar (114) (7)
(1) PC matrimonial cake (139) (1)
Totalcalories: 1600
Total Protein: 76.9 grams
Protein goal per day: 46- 58 grams
Notes:
I am fairly certain that Molly, our picky Pyrenees, would not be caught dead eating a dill pickle – but if I have Dill Pickle Peanuts, Molly has Dill Pickle Peanuts.
Dan and I made supper together last night, and yes he shredded oriental cabbage for the burritos. (The celery I took out didn’t make the cut… 🙄) Once the cabbage was cooked with the rest of the burrito filling, there was no trace of it. (I trust the nutrients remained? 🤔)
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💗🌞
It has been 72 Days since I began my Daily Food Diary. I do not plan our meals for the week or the day in advance, consider the calories involved, or the nutritional value. For me, this exercise is about keeping a record of what we eat, watching for unhealthy trends, and ultimately making adjustments as I progress through the year.
One thing that I have been doing, adjustment wise, has been tweaking a few recipes, and trying a few new ones.
Yesterday, for the very first time, I baked a loaf of NO YEAST Soda Bread. This was the recipe I used.
Honestly, I don’t know what the hell my oven did to my soda bread. Fresh out of the oven it tasted pretty good. Neither Dan, nor I, had ever tasted soda bread, but it tasted much like regular bread (sweeter). It also had a similar texture. We tried toasting it. That was a fail. Rather than toast, it dehydrated.
I have not really missed bread since I quit eating yeast. I have missed buttered toast with raspberry jam. This was not the answer. AND… I have really missed Baked French Onion Soup topped with croutons and hot melted cheese. I have tried a couple of other options but they were NOT the answer. I am going to try making croutons out of this Soda Bread and test them out on a couple of bowls of onion soup for Dan and I this weekend. Wish me luck! 🤞
I am going to check out other Soda Bread recipes to see if I can find one with less sugar. I don’t know how crucial the sugar is to the texture of the final product. If anyone has experience making soda bread, I would be grateful for any advice!
Food Diary – Day 72
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(1) c Shreddies (200) (6)
(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)
(2) tsp sugar (33)
Snacks:
(24) oz water
(1) c Lemon Ginger Tea
(1) Slice homemade soda bread (68) (10)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) tsp raspberry jam (17)
(12) Tortilla Hint of Lime chips (300) (4)
(2) Tbsp salsa (8)
Supper:
(4) oz lean roast beef (219) (29.9)
(1) tbsp horseradish (15)
(1) c mashed potatoes (113) (1.9)
(1/4) c gravy (20) (.3)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(7) asparagus spears (23) (2.5)
(1) pc Matrimonial square (139) (1)
(12) oz carbonated water
Total Calories: 1254
Total Protein: 57.9 grams
Protein goal per day: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞😊
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 