Category: 2025

Daily Food Diary – Day 27 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Twenty seven days and I am still here – keeping track and posting my food diary.   I  am making a little progress and building habits to carry me through the year.

I have been getting outside for some fresh air and a bit of exercise.  I kicked that up a bit yesterday.

Dan and I walked Molly to the dogpark in the morning and we spent an hour watching her and her friends cavort, while we got some fresh air and socialized with the other humans.

In the afternoon, I drove our granddaughter Maddy to Walmart to grab a new pair of sneakers.  She was in high spirits as she had just finished her finals from her  first school  semester and was confident that  she would make the honor roll.  She not only found her new sneakers, but had the funds left to pick up a couple of small things for herself  and her younger sister Prim.  We came back to the house and I made her favourite Toasted Bacon and Tomato Sandwich and grabbed a box of costume jewellery that I wanted to send over to Prim.

Maddy & Prim with big sister Genie on the left.

I always enjoy time spent with any of the grands and yesterday was no exception.  They never fail to amuse me, enlighten me, and inspire me to be better.   Whether it is your children, your grandchildren, or any young people that you have regular contact with…

YOUR CHILDREN WILL BECOME WHAT YOU ARE;  SO BE WHAT YOU WANT THEM  TO BE…

For better or worse that is the truth!

Food Diary – Day 27

(1) c coffee

(1) 2 egg omelet with ham and green onions

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) sm bowl chips and dip

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) Roasted chicken drumstick and thigh (with skin)

(2) c air fried French Fries with Gravy

(1 1/2) c green beans

(3) sm scoops of Butter Pecan Ice Cream – with 12 pecan halves, 2 tbsp butterscotch sauce and 1 tbsp chocolate sauce (which is why I avoid eating ice cream 🤦)

(16) oz water

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

Maddy helped me pick out a few packets of seeds to start flower plants in February. 🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 26 of 365

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

I have been noting and posting my daily food and liquid intake for twenty six days.  I have found some room for improvement, made some adjustments, and have begun to realize some benefits. 🤗

Obviously, my health and fitness journey is about more than what I eat and drink.  I do aerobics six days a week, typically do strength training Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and I rest on Sunday. 

Yesterday, my rest day included time spent grooming our dog, Molly and time outside enjoying a rousing game of fetch.  It is a bit challenging when you have a hundred pound  Pyrenees who is less than co-operative. 🤦

* My husband Dan helps position and brush Molly.  He also gives the porch a good vacuuming when we are done. 💞
I don’t fetch.

Food Diary – Day 26

(1) c coffee

(3) Thin slices pcs of bacon

(2) Eggs

(1/2) Tomato

(2) Potato patties

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) Apple

(24) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) c pork souvlaki with mushrooms

(1) c cheese ravioli with minimal butter and fresh garlic

(1) sm side salad

(20) oz water

(2) chocolates

(1) c tea

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 25 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I’m still here and I am not looking to abandon my food diary until my 365 days are done.   🥶🐣🌹🍂. (For my son who appreciates my use of emojis. 😂)

Speaking of appreciation, in a few days  (February 14th) I will be celebrating three years since I began this health and fitness journey that I am on.

During these years I have appreciated having  the support and encouragement of a number of people – my husband Dan (who always supports and believes in me), my family (siblings, nieces, children, and grandchildren), my fitness friends and so much more, Jackie and Dwight (who are a part of my life every day and my motivation to keep going especially when life throws me a curveball), everyone on WordPress who has been SO supportive (those who have been with me from the beginning, those who have joined me since, and those that have passed through and left a kindly word), my friends (who check in on me through Facebook), my medical experts (especially Lara my Nurse Practitioner and Katie my respiratory therapist) and last, but not least, ME.

I am almost in awe of the me that I was three years ago.  That me was exhausted and cold and miserable, that me struggled to breathe and experienced heart palpitations every time she got up from her rocking chair, that me was anxious and unhappy, that  me was fat and flabby and bloated – but THAT ME decided I deserved better and made it her mission to take responsibility for MY health, fitness, and future.   That me could not possibly imagine how her decision would change me or the quality of life.   But she did it – she got up and danced (shuffled) through one little Buddy Holly song and she changed my life.

The last three years have not always been smooth or easy.  I broke my arm, experienced health issues, and had other setbacks,  but the me that was has persevered and now my future self is calling me forward.   That is pretty cool and something that I never fail to appreciate. ☺️

Food Diary – Day 25

(1) c coffee

(1/2) grapefruit with sugar

(1) granola bar

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1/2) sm bowl Frito Hoops

(24) oz water

(2/3) 10″ tortilla crust pizza with ham, back bacon, pepperoni, mushroom, red onion, red pepper, and black olive pizza

(2) chocolates

(1) c tea

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 24 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Good morning! It’s my 24th day of posting my food diary and I am excited at how well it is going so far!

Anyone who has been following along with me knows that my diet went far off base last fall and I was less than happy with the results of blood tests I had taken in late October.   I agreed with my Nurse Practitioner to make the adjustments that needed to be made, and to go for retesting this week.   I went on Thursday, received some of the results Thursday night and the rest yesterday. 

The only issue with the first set was my HbA1c/Total Hemoglobin (which measures your risk of diabetes).  In Canada, a 5.5 to 5.9 means you are at risk of becoming pre-diabetic.  In October, I rated a 5.6.  This time I had dropped to 5.5.  It’s an improvement, but I still have work to do.

The rest of my tests ALL came back with results in the normal range. 😊

I am thrilled with the results but committed to working at dropping my risk of diabetes and keeping the rest of my levels in the normal range.

While diet is my focus here, I also remain committed to working out, getting fresh air, meditating, sleeping well,  using my Spiriva and Advair inhalers as prescribed, and drinking adequate water and using my Neti Pot daily to keep working to improve my sinus health.

It sounds like a lot and a big commitment of time and effort.  It really isn’t that much of either,  especially compared to the consequences of allowing my health to slide.   

I love reading self help books and two that have helped me immensely on my journey are: Atomic Habits by James Clear  and Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.   These books were life changers for me.  David Goggins made me realize my potential.   James Clear helped me to get organized so I can actually achieve the results that I aim for. 😊

Food Diary – Day 24 of 365

(1) c coffee

(1/2) Grapefruit with sugar

(1) leftover cabbage roll

(24) ounces of water

(1) cup tea

(1) small bowl of caramel corn

(24) oz of water

(12) oz of water

(1) dinner plate of ham, scalloped potatoes, corn, plus a small side salad

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 23 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I’m back – and I will be back for another 342 days.  That’s a bit daunting, but it is getting to be a fairly locked in part of my morning routine – even when my day is anything but routine.

Yesterday morning I was on a mission to get blood tests done, which resulted in my going to the dogpark for the better part of an hour, eating soup for breakfast, and doing my morning workout at 2:30 in the afternoon.  My day, was definitely not routine, but I did get my Daily Food Diary blog posted so yay me! I can get it done.

Speaking of blood tests… I did get some of the results yesterday after.  So far, pretty good! Everything was within healthy limits except for my HbA1c/Total Hemoglobin which was 5.5.  Anything 5.5 to 5.9 is considered ‘risk to become pre-diabetic’.  I consider my 5.5 a fail but my last tests (three months ago) earned me a 5.6 so I have improved.  😊

Speaking of all things medical…  My Nurse Practitioner called yesterday.  She had reviewed the results from my hernia ultrasound and called to strongly advised me to see a surgeon.  After my incident a couple of weeks ago when I landed myself at Emerg, I was quick to agree, so she sent off a referral to a local surgical group.   To be honest, I would agree to anything Lara advised. She is that good!

Speaking of health in general… For the third day in a row, our temps were relatively moderate yesterday so I was able to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.  Also, for the third night in a row, I was able to get through the night without coughing fits.  Post nasal drip is brutal at night, and drinking copious amounts of water during the daytime has done wonders for my sinuses.

This one was taken at our neighborhood dogpark.  The snow is much deeper this year and becoming an issue as the dogs can step over the fence.  (Molly may have done that the other day – and taken a friend with her. 🙄)

Food Diary – Day 23 of 365

(10) oz water

(1) sm bowl of leftover wonton soup

(1) pear

(1/2) c raspberries

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1/2) sm bowl of nuts

(24) oz water

(1/2) small tray of nachos

(12) oz carbonated water

(8) oz water

*** 78 ounces of water !!! 😳

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 22 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Twenty two days in and I am still here and on-target to finish what I started – maintaining my food diary for one full year.

Today, I am off to our neighbourhood clinic for blood tests.  For the past couple of years my tests have come back good, other than indicating infections.  That isn’t ideal but an ongoing battle when one has chronic lung conditions.

My last tests were not great.  They were a reflection of my allowing myself to get way  off course on my diet.  That was three months ago.  I have been working to get back on track ever since, so it will be interesting to see how well I have done. 🤞

I have tried!

Food Diary – Day 22 of 365

(1) c coffee

(4) slices back bacon

(2) eggs fried in olive oil

(2) potato patties

(24) oz water

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(2) cabbage rolls

(12) oz carbonated water

Note – Keeping a cruet of olive oil on the counter beside the stove has been a simple  game changer for me. I don’t fry anything in butter anymore and it is one place where the butter is not missed at all. 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 21 of 365

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

It is Day 21 of my Daily Food Diary.  Three weeks since I began recording my intake and sharing it here on JetPack. 😊 (I cannot begin to express my appreciation for those who have checked in and especially those of you who have been regular visitors to my blog.  Your support and encouragement goes a long way to keeping me on track!)

My diet still needs improvements,  but daily tracking has already helped me to up my water intake substantially in the past few days.  This has had two major positives for me. 

Number 1 – My between meal snacking has decreased naturally and easily.

Number 2 – My sinuses have improved significantly, which in turn is beginning to improve my sleep and my lung function.

The best thing about building healthy habits is how easily one good thing leads to another. 🤗

Our cold weather snap broke yesterday, so with the our sun shining and feeling good, I went outside to feed the squirrels.   I also took Molly’s new Frisbee to play fetch with her.  Molly does not play fetch particularly well but I did get fresh air and a bit of exercise (fetching Molly’s Frisbee) in addition to my regular morning workout. I’ll take that as a win!

An older pic of Molly heading outside not to play fetch.

Food Diary – Day 21

(1) c coffee

(1 1/2) Cinnamon swirl pancake with cream cheese icing and maple syrup

(1 1/2) slices of thin sliced bacon

(12) oz water

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(12) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) pork chop

(1 1/2) c Sidekicks Herb and Butter noodles

(1 1/2) c Brussel sprouts with butter, salt, and pepper

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 20 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Good morning! It is a much better morning today thanks to a significant improvement in our weather.  We are looking to reach minus 3 C (3 degrees below freezing) by this afternoon.  Much better than the ‘feels like’ minus 39 to 49 that we have been experiencing.

Obviously, our snow will not be going anywhere today, nor will I be lounging in our gazebo.

Also, last night I checked my Sask Health account and was somewhat surprised that the results from the ultrasound I had done yesterday morning were already posted.  There were no surprises in the results.  A hernia repair will be in my foreseeable future. 

Food Diary – Day 20

(2) c coffee

(1 1/2) cinnamon swirl pancakes with cream cheese icing and maple syrup ***

(3) Thin slices bacon

(12) oz water

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(12) oz water

(12) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) lg chicken Caesar salad with dried fried onions in lieu of croutons

*** My bad was getting Dan to take me to our nearby Smitty’s for breakfast after my ultrasound.  I did eat only HALF of my order – but I saved the other half for this morning. 

I love Smitty’s Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes but I forgot to tell the waitress that I don’t eat whipped cream. Fortunately, I was able to scoop it off with my spoon and set it aside, but I felt bad wasting it.  I know our restaurants are struggling with higher food costs and lower sales.

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 19 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It’s a new week and another day of focusing on my health and fitness – and specifically this year nutrition and hydration.  Unfortunately, eating well and living active isn’t everything when it comes to staying fit and healthy.   Sometimes, it takes a bit of medical intervention. 

Visiting the Pasqua Hospital Two Years Ago for a broken arm. 👍

This week, I am not dealing with anything serious.   This morning, we braved the frigid Saskatchewan temps because I had an appointment for an ultrasound of a hernia repair I had done three years ago.   (Fortunately, Dan drove me as the streets are solid ice ruts and it was dark, traffic was relatively heavy, AND it is frigid out there).  On Thursday, I am going for routine blood and urine tests.  

Ultrasounds and routine tests are no big deal – at least not  to normal people.  Unfortunately, I do not fall into that category.  As much as I believe in vaccinations, routine and not so routine tests and  examinations, surgical procedures and medications (as a last resort), I struggle.  A LOT.   I get stressed around doctors, nurses, orderlies, technicians and the like.  I cringe at the sight of medical equipment.  I get nervous entering medical facilities.  

Fun fact… I used to sell construction specialty items to medical facilities.   I sold entrance matting, wall protection, privacy curtains, security grilles, and more.   My position occasionally involved site meetings.   Even meeting in a medical facility to discuss wall protection made me nervous. Go figure!

Obviously, two medical appointments in one week doesn’t make this a great week going in, but I am one down and only one to go.

The ultrasound will hopefully lead to a repair of the repair I had done and the blood tests will show that I am back on track with the improvements I have been working to make to my diet. 🤞😉

Food Diary – Day 19

(1) c coffee

(3) Slices thick sliced bacon

(2) Eggs

(2) Potato patties

(12) oz water

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) sm bowl mixed nuts

(12) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) bowls wonton soup ***

(2) chocolates

(12) oz water

(1/2) c air fried in shells Frank’s Red Hot sunflower seeds

*** Other than the wontons that Dan made and frozen and the store bought chicken broth  – I made the wonton soup by myself.  (Broth, wontons, chicken, green onions, sliced carrots, broccoli, sliced mushrooms, baby Bok Choy, garlic, ginger, 1/8 tsp dried hot peppers, soya sauce, sesame oil).

Our dried hot peppers are a mix of peppers from our garden – habanero, ghost, chilli, Carolina Reapers, whatever we have.  We dry them and crush them up in our blender.  Dan crushes them up in our blender! I did it the first time and got a puff of fine powder when I opened the blender.  When my eyes finally cleared and I quit coughing, I decided not to do that again. 🤦

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 18 of 365

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

It has been eighteen days since I began my daily food diary – recording everything that I eat and drink and sharing it here on JetPack.

It soon became obvious that hydration was an area that needed some work, so I have spent the past week focussing on drinking more water than I typically do. 

In a few days, I was noticing benefits – clearer sinuses, smoother skin, less cravings  for between meal snacks, and more.  I know from taking up regular exercise, meditating, and working on my diet, that it will only get better.

I have learned more about myself and proper self-care in the past three years than I have in my lifetime.  I have recognized benefits that I never imagined possible – at least not for me. And definitely not in my sixties! 

My one regret has been that I did not get my 💩 together sooner. 

Recently, I read an article where people like me were referred to as ‘LATE BLOOMERS’.  At first I was offended and trotted out my lame old excuses.  I grew up before the Internet and all of the information readily available to younger people now, I was always sickly and wimpy – I didn’t know anything else was possible, I was busy taking care of other people!

Then I started thinking about it.  We have a large yard and garden.   In the spring and summer and into the fall, we have an abundance of flowers.  I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate them all.

But late in the season, when the weather has turned cold and our yard becomes a wasteland of Saskatchewan greige, the flowers long gone,  there is always that one intrepid little petunia blossom that opens up to brighten my day.

That ‘late bloomer’ is special.  I will make a dozen trips out of my way to pay it a visit and appreciate its beauty and resilience, before it fades away.  I realized that being a late bloomer isn’t a bad thing.

People notice late bloomers – and that’s a good thing, especially for later boomers like me who have special people in their lives – people like grandchildren.  They are aware of  my efforts to get fit and healthy, they see the results, and hopefully they are inspired to follow my lead,  sooner than later, because they deserve to bloom for a lifetime.

Food Diary – Day 18

(1) c coffee

(1) 2 egg omelet with back bacon, mushrooms, onion, and cheese pan fried with olive oil

(12) oz water

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(12) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) tortilla wrap with filling of ground beef, onion, mushroom, spinach, red pepper, garlic, salsa, and cheese

(1) handful of Touch of Lime tortilla chips

(12) oz water

Total 60 ounces of water! 🎉

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