Category: Health and Fitness

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. 😊

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. 💞🌞