Category: 2025

Daily Food Diary – Day 71 of 365 

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 71 days since I began my Daily Food Diary.   It has become an important part of my personal healthcare, but it is only one part.

Keeping active is a part that I have been working on for the past three years.  I do aerobics every morning, I dance when the urge hits me, I do strength training with light weights three times a week (when I am not waiting for hernia surgery), and I love to walk – especially when the weather is nice and the path is free of snow and ice.

We are fortunate to have miles and miles of well kept paths in and around our city.  Some of those ‘around’ the city are more challenging, but most are easily walkable. 

When I am out walking, one thing that I generally notice is the lack of others who are likewise out and about.    Regardless of season, weather,  time of day, or path we choose,  these well kept paths are  a lifeless stretch as far as the eye can see (other than squirrels or geese). AND… In Saskatchewan, we can generally see pretty far. 

Walking in nature is such an easy and awesome way to improve and maintain our health and well being.    I can’t imagine why our paths seem so under utilized.  Is this normal?

Food Diary – Day 71

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) Plain Paratha (240) (7)

(1) Tbsp Peanut Butter (105) (4)

(2) Tsp jam (33) (.1)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1/2) c raspberries (32) (.7)

(1 1/2) pc matrimonial cake (208) (1.5)

(25) Lay’s Salt & Vinegar chips (230) (2)

Supper:

(2) servings Chicken Caesar Salad (700) (16)

(2) slices bacon (87) (5.9)

(2) tbsp dried fried onions (33)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total Calories: 1671

Total Protein:  37.5 grams

Protein goal for the day: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 70 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 70 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  That is 10 WEEKS! Whoo hoo! Only forty two more weeks to go.

This month, I have gone beyond tracking calories and have been tracking how many grams of protein I consume in a day. 

In January, I learned how little water I drank.  I am still working on it, but I am doing better.

In February, I realized how little it takes to eat a LOT of calories.  After one stop for fast food, I realize how easy it would be to consume  thousands and thousands of extra calories a day.  

In March, I am surprised at how much protein there is in our typical meals.   I am not concerned, because I am trying to build muscle, but I am shocked.

For April, I am seriously thinking of tracking my (processed) sugar intake.   I am not sure I want to know, but I do know it is a problem. 🤦

The only thing I love more than cake is the icing! 🙄

Food Diary – Day 70 of 365

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Raisin Bran (190) (3)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(1) c Hibiscus Tea

(1) PC matrimonial cake (139) (1)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(6) oz lean roast beef (328) (44.8)

(2) medium onions cooked w/ roast (88) (3)

(1) c mashed potatoes (113) (1.9)

(1/3) c gravy (20) (.3)

(7) pcs asparagus (23) (2.5)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tbsp horseradish (15)

(1/2) c coleslaw with dressing (114) (1.2)

Total calories: 1113

Total protein: 60 gram

Daily goal for Protein: 46 to 58.5 grams

* Six ounces of lean roast beef is a bizarre amount of roast beef, but I powered through and finished it off!  I am sure I used to order 6 oz steaks back in the day, but those days were a while ago! 😯

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 69 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I have been recording and posting everything that I consume for the past sixty nine days.   Being mindful of every single thing that I eat is a bit challenging, less so as time goes on.   Being mindful that everything I eat (at least at mealtimes), also affects what Dan eats, is slightly more challenging.  It isn’t that much of an issue.  Having been married for almost twenty six years, we have worked out meal plans that work for both of us.

Then there is Molly!

Molly is fed Blue Buffalo dog food, two cups twice a day – plus the occasional dog treat, popcorn, or nut.  For the past several months, we have been putting one Omega gel cap in with her morning food.   Molly would get up every morning, head outside to do her business, walk the perimeter of our yard to make sure everything was in order, and come back in the house to snarf down her breakfast – including the Omega. 

A few days ago, Molly decided that she was offended by the Omega gel cap.  She would balk at eating her food, take the Omega out and place it on a small mat, and finally eat her food.  THEN, she decided she could not eat until she removed the offending gel cap AND we dumped her food and replaced it with fresh, non Omega tainted food.

This week, Molly will eat her breakfast AND her Omega, BUT only if she sees Dan putting her food and the Omega into her bowl.

Trying to improve my eating habits, and Dan’s by default,  has its challenges.   Living with a Pyrenees – and feeding one, these days, takes that challenge to a  whole new level. 🤦

Food Diary – Day 69

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)  (.3)

(1) c Honeynut Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(1) c Tumeric Tea

(2) pc’s  matrimonial cake (278) (2)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(1/2) c brown beans (300) (20)

(3) Pork Spare Ribs  (300) (16)

(1) Side salad with dressing and dried fried onions  (180) (7.7)

(20) oz water (after supper)

Total calories: 1238

Total Protein: 50.7 grams

Daily goal for protein: 46 to 58.5 grams

* The recipe I used for the matrimonial cake called for Maple Syrup instead of sugar, plus it omitted the lemon juice,  in the date filling.  I am not sure why it would need Maple Syrup or sugar with dates.  We didn’t notice the difference in taste using the Maple Syrup, but I certainly missed the lemon juice! 

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 68 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am 68 days into tracking everything I consume in a day and recording it in my Daily Food Diary. 

This daily practice is part of my personal health and fitness journey that I began three years and one month ago. 

My ‘why’ at the time was just being sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Over the past thirty seven months my ‘why’ has changed and evolved.  Overall,  I feel healthy and strong and I want to stay that way – and continue to get healthier and stronger.    I love fitting into clothes that I hadn’t worn for years.  I love knowing that I am doing my best to avoid being a burden to our already overburdened health system. I love being able to easily do things that I struggled with for years. 

For years, I struggled to do my own hair. Reaching my arms up to hold a curling iron or a blow drier was exhausting and beyond painful.   A few months ago, I was told that this is normal for people with lung disease.  People with lung diseases – asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or bronchiolitis (I have been diagnosed with all four) find it difficult to lift their arms due to physiological changes caused by lung disease. 

For the past thirty seven months, I have been doing aerobics six mornings a week.  (I did miss a very few weeks due to illness, a broken arm, etc).

I still have chronic respiratory issues and I always will,  to some degree.  But!   I do not struggle to do my own hair.  I can wave my arms in the air, LIKE I JUST DON’T CARE, anytime anywhere – for any reason!

The freedom to move as I want, when I want, is ‘WHY’ enough to keep moving forward on my health and fitness journey,  but I do it for this and for so much more!

Food Diary – Day 68

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(2) scrambled eggs (196) (12)

(3) thin sliced bacon (130) (8.9)

(26) oz water

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice tea

(6) Hint of Lime Tortilla chips (150) (2)

(1/4) c sunflower seeds (180) (6)

Supper:

(14) oz water

(2) c homemade wonton soup (250) (19)

(2/3) c Butter Pecan Ice Cream with extra pecans and  butterscotch & chocolate topping(415) (5)

Total Calories: 1322

Total Protein: 53.2 grams

Protein Goal for the Day:  46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 67 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 67 days since I began tracking everything I consume each day.   This is just another step to living a healthy lifestyle.

Fresh air and exercise are both important to  me as well.  Yesterday, I nailed both with a nice walk along the bike paths in the A. E. Wilson Park on the west side of Regina.  It is a huge park with playgrounds, a toboggan hill, a creek opening up into at least one small lake, open prairie, and miles of well maintained paths for bikers, hikers, and dogs to enjoy.

It was warm enough to take my gloves off, so I took a few photos. You might have to zoom in to see what I was trying to take a picture of.  🙄

Canada Geese by the open water
Dan & Molly – Molly was excellent yesterday, even when we encountered other dogs. 👍
Bunnies in the snow

Food Diary – Day 67

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(2) potato patties (240) (2)

(2) Eggs with ham and green onions pan fried in olive oil (260) (24)

Snack:

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1/3) c Dill Pickle peanuts (170) (8)

(1/2) c Raspberries (32) (.7)

(1) Vodka Caesar with Pickled Asparagus                   (178) (3)

Supper:

(1) c Homemade Bacon Beans (300) (12)

(2) Hotdogs (no bun) (360) (12)

(1) Side Salad with dressing & dried fried onions  (160) (5)

(14) oz water

Total Calories: 1702

Total Protein: 67 grams

Protein Daily Goal: 46-58 grams

Notes:

  1. It has been a few weeks since Dan bought me a cruet for olive oil to keep on the cupboard next to the stove.   We have been using the oil for any pan frying, instead of butter.   It has been a simple and painless cut to a less healthy option.
  2. The baked beans yesterday were amazing.  I found a recipe that we both like.   I did switch out the one cup of tomato juice and five cups of water for two cups of tomato juice and four cups of home made chicken broth.         https://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-baked-beans-in-tomato-sauce-341593

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 66 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am  66 Days into tracking and reporting everything that I eat and drink in a day.   Generally, this is getting easier as I go.

Using the Lose It! app has made tracking calories and nutrients easier so that has helped.  Being retired has made it easier to take the time to do a blog every morning.  Using habit building skills that I have been utilizing for years, definitely helps me to be consistent without a lot of effort.

On another note… Today is International Women’s Day.    Of course,  I am celebrating the women in our family.

Daughter Jennifer with her daughters….Genie,
Maddy, and Prim  
Daughter-in-law Amanda with daughter Gabby

All of the women in our family – young and not so much,  are strong, independent, intelligent, capable, caring, adventurous, ambitious and so much more. It is easy to celebrate them. 

However, I have to admit that I am disappointed that we are still at a point where we need a special day to celebrate women,  a special day to fight for women whose lives are made harder simply because they are women, a special day to show respect and appreciation for women who deserve respect and  appreciation every day of the year.  

In my mind men and women are different in many ways, but as humans they are equal – and  they should just be treated as equals, in the workplace, in the home, in the news, at the ballot box – everywhere and every day.   😏

Food Diary – Day 66 of 365

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Honeynut Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(2 1/2) oz fresh coconut (175) (6.8)

(2) tbsp Chocolate topping (129) 2)

(1/2) c sunflower seeds in shell (360) (12)

Supper:

(1/3) Tray Nachos (865) (31.7)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total calories:  1707

Total Protein: 57.5 grams

Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 65 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 65 days since I started to monitor what I consume in a day.  AND… It has been just over 3 years since I started working on my overall health and fitness with exercise, fresh air, and meditation.

I have been encouraged by the benefits that I have experienced along the way.   Recently, I have celebrated excellent results on blood tests, a slight drop in weight, and  perfect blood pressure readings.    Yay me!

The only health issue I have experienced has been ongoing problems with my epigastric hernia.  Recently, I saw a surgeon who sent me for a ct scan to check out the exact details before he goes in for the repair.

I went in for the scan last Sunday,  feeling confident that the only thing of note on the report would be the details of my hernia.  That report showed up on my Saskatchewan Health Account a couple of days ago.

The report noted the hernia details.  It included numerous non hernia related details.   Everything was normal and healthy from my liver to my spleen, and other internal bits and pieces. 

Then things started to get a bit disturbing…

VASCULATURE:  Normal caliber mildly
atherosclerotic abdominal aorta. (Not bad but why is my abdominal aorta anything short of perfect?)

BONES/SOFT TISSUES:  L5-S1 advanced disc height loss and bilateral pars
defects with associated grade 1 anterolisthesis. (Google notes this is a slipped disk, suggests pain management.  Which could be a plan, except I have never experienced any pain in my spine or radiating elsewhere – so there is that.)

PELVIS: The bladder is collapsed.  (News to me and I have had  zero symptoms.)

LUNGS:   Diffuse bronchiectasis of the visualized lungs with tree-in-bud nodularity within the lower lobes is suggestive of small airway disease such as infectious bronchiolitis. (No indication of infection in blood tests taken last week 🙄.)

The only really disturbing note is the one regarding the new lung issue.  I have already been diagnosed with asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis 🙄. I should probably call my respiratory specialist to see if this is anything worth checking into.   😢

Food Diary – Day 65

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(2) potato patties (240) (.2)

(3)strips bacon (130) (8.9)

(2) eggs (160) (14)

(24) oz water

Snack:

(1) c licorice tea

(1/3) c almonds and cashews (192) (6.6)

Supper:

(1) c linguine with sauce (270) (9)

(9) large shrimps (180) (34.5)

(1/2) c asparagus with butter (47) (1.5)

(1) Side salad with French Dressing (210) (5)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total Calories: 1431

Total Protein: 81.8 grams 😯

Protein daily goal: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 64 of 365

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

I have been tracking, recording, and blogging everything that I have consumed for the past 64 days.  I haven’t been obsessing over everything I eat, but I have noticed one change in my eating habits.

Through January and into February, I had a lot of cravings or urges to eat or drink empty calories – a root beer here, a cookie there.  I had to make a deliberate effort NOT to nibble and snack from the time I got up to the time I went to bed.  Lately, that is no longer an issue.   Unless, I am sitting down to have a meal, or our afternoon tea and snack, I just go about my day – sipping on my water bottle and oblivious to the tempting  snack type foods on the table or in the pantry.

Due to this one change in habit more than anything, I am excited to report that as of this morning, my weight is down to 128 Pounds. On January 1st, I recorded my weight at 133.5 pounds, so I am happy with the progress I have made so far. 🤗

Food Diary – Day 64

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Shreddies (200) (6))

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

Lunch

(1/2) c dark chicken (267) (4.9)

(1/2) c coleslaw (74) (1.2)

(25) Lay’s salt & vinegar chips (230) (2)

Snacks

(1/3) c mixed salted nuts with peanuts (85) (8)

(1) c green  tea  (2) (-)

Supper

(3) c chicken Caesar salad (350) (8)

(2) slices thin sliced bacon (87) (5.9)

(1) PC Chocolate Fudge Cake (300) (40.3)

Total Calories: 1759

Total Protein: 40.3 grams

Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grand

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

Dan’s Bleeding Heart  – Daughter Jen and Granddaughter Genie keep replacing them  when our winters prove too much for them. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 63 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 63 days since I began my Daily Food Diary.  That is a full NINE WEEKS.  I still have 43 weeks to go, but it is still a milestone worth celebrating. 😁

One thing that is notable about my diet, is that I avoid foods/drinks that include yeast, yeast extract, and anything that is  fermented.

While it is supposedly rare, I cannot tolerate yeast in my diet.  It causes a multitude of digestive issues from uncomfortable bloating to severe abdominal cramps, and more.   It just isn’t worth it!

Most of the time, I simply skip bread products (including anything that is breaded),anything that is fermented, and most alcoholic drinks – especially red wine.

Other times, I use yeast free alternatives – tea biscuits, waffles, puff pastry, crumpets, tortilla wraps, etc.  Recently, I have been experimenting with PARATHA, which is a yeast free flatbread that we buy frozen and pan fry (without oil )to a nice crispy, flakey texture.

Paratha is high in calories (even the Less Oil option) and has a LOT of sodium.   It isn’t something we indulge in every day, but occasionally,  it makes for a very enjoyable yeast free alternative.

Food Diary – Day 63

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) Plain paratha  (240) (7)

(1) Tbsp peanut butter (105) (4)

(2) Tsp jam (33) (.1)

Snacks

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) peach (51) (1.2)

(24) Dutch Crunch kettle chips (240) (3)

Supper

(2) servings Arby’s roast beef (299) (32)

(1) Large crinkle cut fries (530) (7)

(1) Mozza stick (110) (4.8)

(1) pkg horsey sauce (60) (-)

(1) gravy (35) (1)

Total Calories: 1705

Total Protein: 60.4 g

Protein daily goal: 46-58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 62 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am sixty two days into my Daily Food Diary and I am still tracking what I consume, and learning from this exercise every day.

This month, I am specifically tracking the  protein in my diet.  I am only three days in, but so far I am surprised by how high my  protein intake is. I don’t know if it is a fluke.  I haven’t been planning my diet around it.  Having Dan buy a small Chocolate Fudge Cake on the weekend, certainly hasn’t helped the cause. 🙄

Meanwhile, our weather continues to stay relatively mild.  Our February temperatures were not conducive to getting much fresh air so I have really appreciated finally getting outside.

Our neighbourhood is still not great for walking, but fortunately we have a large yard.   We don’t get to a park for a walk every day.   But…  I am getting outside,  throwing a ball for Molly, and getting some exercise  fetching it for her.

Molly sitting in her favourite corner. 🤦

Food Diary – Day 62

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)

Lunch:

(24) oz water

(2) oz Piller shaved ham (57) (8.5)

(1/2) c Mini Ritz (140) (.2)

(1) oz medium cheddar (45) (2.5)

(1) c tea

Supper:

(1) Roasted chicken thigh & drumstick

      (387) (45)

(1) c mashed potatoes (113) (1.9)

(1/4) c Swiss Chalet gravy (20) (1)

(1) side salad (90) (5)

(1) pc chocolate fudge cake (300) (2)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total calories: 1379

Total Protein: 56.4 grams

Protein goal:  46 to 58.5 grams

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