Category: Health and Fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 131 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 131 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. 🎉

My Mother’s Day yesterday was very nice! I spent the day with Dan and Molly, soaking in more heat than we were prepared for!

Dan drove Maddy to work and came home to make me a perfect cheese omelet and bacon breakfast.  He made one stop on the way to buy me a beautiful bouquet of orange roses.

I heard from Jennifer (who was working), Genie & her fiance Alec (who was working, but took time to message all the mothers in his life – 😊), and son Dan called when he got home from work last night.  I didn’t hear from son Mark, (nor expected to) but I did have him, his fiance and his boys in mind.💞

My one big food treat for the day was a little wee chocolate Rolo ice cream cone.  I was up at 4:00 this morning.   I’ll say it was worth it.

Dan made delicious ham salad wraps for supper last night. Neither of us were feeling a hot heavy meal. If it cools off a bit this week, I’m sure we will share a steak one night. 🙂

Today is all about Molly.  I’m going to do what I can with a brush this morning and we will take her to PetSmart for a nice bath.

Daily Food Diary – Day 131

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(2) egg omelet with cheese (260) (10 grams)

(3) slices bacon (130) (3.3 grams)

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

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

(1/2 tomato (11)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

(1) Rolo ice cream cone (310) (11 grams)

Supper:

(3/4) c Ham salad (235) (4 grams)

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

(1) Bick’s Baby Dill Pickle (3)

(6) No Name lightly salted ripple chips (65) (.2 grams)

Total net calories: 1500

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1500 = 257 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 33.1 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

My stats for the past week show my saturated fats averaged 22 grams per day, which isn’t good, but my sodium was only 1765 mg per day, which I am really happy with. And my processed sugar was 19.58 grams which isn’t bad – but something that I still have to work on. (At 32 grams of sugar and 11 grams of saturated fats, that Rolo ice cream cone did some damage even to my weekly stats. 🙂)

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 130 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 130 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary!  🎉

It is also Mother’s Day 2025.  This is me, ready for a beautiful relaxing day.  I just bought myself a new summer dress to lounge around in on days like this – and you will note that I do own a real pair of shoes!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Best parenting advice EVER. 

My favourite thing always is my family.  My favourite thing lately is seeing my family putting more focus on their health and fitness.   (I like to think that my own efforts over the past three years have helped steer them in that direction.) 🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 130

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) slice low sodium ham (50) (.7 grams)

(1) egg (80) (1.5 grams)

(2) potato patties (240)

(54) oz water

Supper:

Caesar salad:

(2) oz shredded Habanero cheese (223) (10.2 grams)

(4) oz shredded mozzarella (168) (7.4 grams)

(3) oz. Chicken breast (140) (.9 grams)

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

(2 1/2) c lettuce (15)

(1/2) red onion (15)

(4) tbsp dried fried onions (67) (2.2 grams)

(3) tbsp Caesar Dressing (240) (2.2 grams)

Total net calories: 1149

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1149 = 94 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 27.2 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

My saturated fats were a big miss yesterday. To be honest, it would have been worse if I wasn’t on the meds for my bronchitis.  I was in a mood for ice cream after supper last night but I can’t eat for two hours before taking my antibiotics AND I cannot go to bed for at least an hour after I take them.  So… Ice cream at 8 pm just wasn’t doable. 😕🍧

Daily Food Diary – Day 129 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 129 days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  It is 9 days since I started tracking the  saturated fats that I consume each day, and yesterday was the 1st day that I met my daily saturated fats goal.  Whoo Hoo! 🌹

Yesterday was the second day of taking the extra medications that my respiratory specialist prescribed for me on Thursday.  They have already been kicking in – for better and worse.

The sinus spray seems to have been a good call.  I don’t know about doing it indefinitely.  I have to begin the process by using my Neti Pot to rinse my sinuses and then follow up with the spray.  I know people do a heck of a lot more to maintain their health, but seriously Everyday indefinitely! 🙄

The antibiotics hit me hard on the first dose, but they seem to have settled down and my lungs seem to be clearing up.

Yesterday, the Prednisone kicked in.  The side effects can range anywhere from lethargy, moodiness, to super hyper Good Year Bunny mode.  Yesterday, I went with Good Year Bunny Mode. 

I got in an intense aerobic workout, went for a walk with Dan & Molly – and hit the kitchen.

I had found that the baked beans I made a few days ago were a bit bland, so I called daughter Jen to see if she was up to splitting a roaster of Smoked Baked Beans for supper.  The brown beans we had left over called for – two large cans of kidney beans, two large onions, two pounds of bacon, two pounds of ground beef,  two cups of ketchup,  one cup of brown sugar, and a couple of tablespoons of liquid smoke.  Dan and I would have been eating beans for a month.

Jen was up for an easy supper, so I started that.  Then she called to say that her fiance  would appreciate Puffed Wheat Cake for dessert.  And… I couldn’t make Tanner Puffed Wheat Cake without sending Prim and Maddy  Rice Krispy Marshmallow Squares.  (The Puffed Wheat and marshmallows meant a quick jog to Freshco a few blocks from us).

Fortunately, Dan was home and chopped up the bacon and onions for the beans, washed  all the dishes, and packaged up the deserts.  I made it through the entire adventure without breaking the burn blisters on my hands from the muffin incident a few days ago.

By the time I went to bed, the Prednisone high was wearing down so after a couple of hours of Prednisone paranoia I did get a pretty decent sleep.

Only eight more days of antibiotics and Prednisone. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 129

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) oatmeal bran apple muffin (164) (.6 grams)

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

Snacks:

(30) oz water

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(1) Mango (135)  (.1 gram)

Supper:

(1) Paratha (240) (1 gram)

(1 1/2) c Smoked baked beans (532) (7.9 grams)

Total net calories: 838

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 838 = 405 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 11.9 grams

Saturated fats goal:  <13.75 grams 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 128 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 128 days since I started my Daily Food Diary.   In 128 days, I have missed zero daily entries,  or posts on Jetpack (WordPress). 💃

People do not succeed in reaching goals, or in life, by hiding behind excuses.  That is one of life’s basic truths. 

That being said, yesterday’s diet goals were a complete miss.  While excuses cannot turn my results into a win, I do have a few to share. 🙂

* Starting my morning with a medical appointment – a less than stellar one that resulted in three prescriptions (one that may be a permanent addition to my daily routine), a requisition for a chest x-ray and an appointment for a check up in two weeks.  ⚕️

* Having taken my first dose of the antibiotic I received, I was hit by some bizarre side effects.  I felt like I had been punched between my eyes and felt dizzy. 🥴

* Since I felt rather off, I passed on my daily aerobics and walk.  That meant I had zero calories to subtract from the calories that I consumed.  😒

* We took Molly to the vet for a tic treatment and to get one of her ears checked out.  While there the vet did her upcoming annual checkup, identified a fungal ear infection and prescribed medication, and provided her with a tic prevention as well as one for worms.  Molly came away with a clean bill of health and kudos for being such a big, beautiful, happy, friendly, calm girl.  I came away with a $442.00 bill. 🙄

* And finally, we got home and I received the sundress I had ordered. Size Small. AND.. It fits perfectly! 💃 🎉🎉🎉

So there you have it, a few hits, a celebration, and a miss on my daily diet goals.  I am not terribly upset.  I, am delusional enough to  think days like this help  to keep my body from going into starvation mode. (That will never happen. 😂)

Daily Food Diary – Day 128

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) cornmeal muffins (130)

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

Lunch:

(3) oz dark skinless turkey (150) (1.9 grams)

(6) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150) (1 gram)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) pear (103)

(7) raspberries (7)

Supper:

Taco Time Takeout:

(1) Small Mexi-Fries (265) (3)

(1) crisp Meat Burrito (428) (6)

(2) Hard shell tacos (432) (9.8)

Total Net Calories: 1701

Net calories goal: 1243 – 1701 = 458 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 24

Saturated fats goal: <13.75. 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 127 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 127 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary! 🎉  It has proven to be an effective goal for improving my eating habits.  Becoming mindful of anything we do is a good thing  keeping a food diary definitely keeps me mindful of what I am eating.

Nutrition is important, but it is just one part of my overall health and fitness lifestyle.  This morning, I got to focus on another part – professional medical advice and treatment!

This morning, I paid a visit to my respiratory specialist.  Expecting a refill of my regular inhalers and a “Keep doing what you are doing!”, I wasn’t overly concerned about this visit.

Needless to say, I left the specialist’s office with prescriptions for my regular inhalers, antibiotics and oral steroids for bronchitis, nasal spray for ongoing sinus issues, a requisition for a chest x-ray, and an appointment to go back to see the  specialist in two weeks. 😢

Asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD and bronchiolitis are chronic health issues.  Regardless of how hard you work to maintain a healthy lifestyle, they are always there.  It is frustrating, but fortunately I had a regular visit booked this morning,  and hopefully we can get a handle on this and move forward – sooner than later!

Daily Food Diary –  Day 127

Breakfast –

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies (200)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (.8)

(1) tsp sugar (8)

Lunch –

(3) oz dark, skinless turkey (150) (1.9 grams)

(1) c broccoli (31)

(1/2) cup cauliflower (13)

(4) radishes (6)

(1 1/2 tbsp) Dilly Dip (120) (1.9 grams)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(11) chicken wing flats air fried (420) (8)

(1) tbsp Frank’s Xtra Red Hot sauce

(2 1/2) air fried riblets (123) (1.7 grams)

(1) tbsp Frank’s Stingin’ Honey Garlic (40)

(1) carrot (25)

(1/2) c broccoli (20)

(5) slices cucumber (4)

(1/4) c orange bell pepper (9)

(1 1/2 tbsp) Dilly Dip (120) (1.9 grams)

Total net calories:  1168

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1168 = 75 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 16.2 grams

Saturated fats goal: <13.75 grams 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 126 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 126 Days (18 weeks) since I started my Daily Food Diary.   My ultimate goal setting out on this adventure was more about improving the nutritional value of what I consume each day, than any effort to lose weight. 

That being said, today I weighed in at 124 pounds! That is nine pounds down from the 133 pounds that I weighed on January 1st of this year AND 36 pounds down from the hefty 160 pounds that I weighed three years ago, when I kicked off my Healthy Active  Lifestyle.  💃

I do have a general goal to eventually reach my ‘best weight’ of 115 pounds.  That is where I feel and look my best.  But, being my best is more about how fit and healthy I am.  That is where daily exercise, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and stress management all matter. 

I have been struggling with my morning exercises for the past couple of days.  The following video popped up on my You Tube feed yesterday.  It is one I hadn’t tried previously.   I found it motivating so am sharing the link for anyone who is looking for a boost to their daily workout.

* I do not, and never have, promoted any product or video for any financial kickback.  If I share anything like this, it is just because it worked for me.  🙂

Daily Food Diary – Day 126

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) oatmeal/bran/apple muffin (164)              (.6 grams)

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

Lunch:

(25) Lightly salted ripple chips (270) (1 gram)

(3) oz dark turkey meat (150) (1.9 grams)

Supper:

(4) oz lean ground burger (307) (7.6 grams)

(1/2) c baked brown beans (196) (2.5 grams)

(2) cornmeal muffins (290) (2 grams)

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

(1) PC bacon (43) (1.1 grams)

(1) tbsp habanero cheese (25) (1.1 grams)

(1/4) c mushrooms (11)

(1/4) cooking onion (3)

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

(1) side salad (90) (1)

Total net calories: 1528

Net calorie goal: 1244 – 1528 = 285 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 26.5 grams

Saturated fats goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 125 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today it is 125 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  It is Day 5 of tracking the saturated fats that I consume in a day.  The struggle is real!

I needed something to kick-start my day yesterday so I opted out of my typical morning aerobics and returned to the freelance dancing that started my health and fitness journey.  💃

Following an hour of dancing and lung clearing, I headed into the kitchen to do some baking.  Despite burning/blistering both of my hands, I persevered and finished  my oatmeal/bran/apple muffins. They cooked to perfection and with a decent consistency. They weren’t the worst muffins I have ever made. (That would be the muffins I scorched last week.) But they weren’t the best, taste wise (in my opinion). I should have used molasses instead of brown sugar. 🙄

Dan chopped the apple for the muffins and the vegetables and meat for the soup.  I managed to make the cornmeal muffins alone despite my muffin related injuries. 🙂

Today I am making a pot of Baked Brown Beans to serve with a couple of leftover burgers.

I didn’t make my saturated fat goal again (or yet), but it is a work in progress. (And I am meeting my processed sugar AND sodium goals that I set last month. 👍)

Daily Food Diary – Day 125

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Jordan’s Honey Nut Morning Crisp (460) (2 grams)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (.8 grams)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) c Licorice tea

(1) Bran/oatmeal/apple muffin (made from scratch using  Canola oil, brown sugar & stevia, whole wheat flour) (164) (.6 grams)

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

(1) tsp sunflower seeds (17) (.2 grams)

Supper:

Homemade Beef Barley Soup:  (Low salt beef broth, lean beef steak, onions, leak, parsnip, carrots, fresh mushroom, cabbage, Bok choy, celery, parsley, barley, hot pepper flakes, black pepper, 1/4 tsp salt)  (500) (1 gram)

(2) cornmeal muffins (290) (2 grams)

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

Total net calories: 1299

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 1299 = 52 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 16 grams

Saturated fats goal: < 13.75 grams 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 123 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am at Day 123 on my Daily Food Diary. 🤗

May is shaping up to be a beautiful month here in Saskatchewan.  It is getting warm enough that Dan and I decided we had better take Molly  for her walk  before breakfast this morning.

Return home!

A few weeks ago, I started using the Lose It! app to track my calories and nutrients that I focus on month to month. (This month it is saturated fats).

At the end of each diary entry, I note Net Calorie Total, net calorie goal, and how many calories I am over and under by.  My net calories are my total calories consumed less calories used.  Lose It! totals my calories consumed and used and calculates the difference.

I have found that for most calories consumed, the Lose It! app is fairly accurate compared to nutritional labels printed on packages.

For calories used, I generally note my morning aerobics (110 cal.)and our walks with Molly (+/- 100 cal. for 35 to 45 minutes).  

Yesterday, I included the hour and a half that I spent pressure washing our patios. (325 calories)

* Walking with Molly for an hour and a half would earn me < 300 calories used.

Yesterday, I swept our patios, pressure washed them, did some general outdoor cleaning and maintenance, came in to have a Caesar and a snack & then helped Dan make supper.  And I was still relatively presentable!

This morning, I walked Molly for half an hour.   Dan shot the photo of us above when  we got back home.   Both of us looked like we were having a medical crisis.  🤦

Something doesn’t add up…

Daily Food Diary – Day 123

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) potato patties (240) (1 gram)

(2) poached eggs (143) (3.1 grams)

Snacks:

(40) oz water

(1/2) c raspberries (32)

(11) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (275) (1.8 grams)

(3) tbsp salsa (8)

(1) Caesar (168)

Supper:

(1) Lean beef burger (no salt) (243) (6.7 grams)

(1) tbsp horseradish (45)

(12) Lay’s lightly salted chips (67) (.5 gram)

(5) No Name light Salt ripple chips (54) (.2 gram)

(2) tbsp French Onion chip dip (45) (1.5 g)

(1/2) tomato

(5) slices cucumber (4)

Total net calories: 851

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 851 = 396 under 👍

Total saturated fat: 14.8 grams

Saturated fat goal: < 13.75 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 122 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 122 Days since I began my Daily Food Diary.  This is Day 2 of my focus on tracking  saturated fats.

In March, my focus was on tracking protein in my diet.  I learned that my diet is high in protein.  This did not really surprise me, as I feel like a dishrag if I do not have my protein.

In April, my focus was on tracking sodium and processed sugar.  I learned that any amount of processed sugar has a detrimental effect on my respiratory health and that I consume a lot of sodium.

This month, I am focussing on saturated fats.   Eliminating saturated fats is important for everyone for heart health, so that obviously includes me!

The challenge here is that animal based products, be it meat, eggs, cheese, milk, etc. are high in saturated fats – except for fish which I prefer to avoid .  Plant based, high protein food,  like brown beans,  are low in saturated fats but high in processed sugar. 

This month it will take time, effort and research to maintain the protein in my diet while reducing the saturated fats,  while eliminating the processed sugar, and while cutting back on sodium.  

Once I have a handle on these four areas of concern in my diet (protein, sodium, processed sugar, and saturated fat), I can start working on all of the vitamins and minerals that we tend to receive from our vegetables and fruits. 

I do not expect to ever reach a perfect palatable place in my diet.  It is always going to be about balance.  But I do expect that as long as I keep up my Daily Food Diary, I will keep learning and making positive adjustments, that will serve me well throughout 2025 – and beyond.  ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 122

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

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

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (401) (5.8 grams)

(1/2) pkg spicy chicken ramen (190) (3 grams)

Supper:

Nachos:

(6) oz extra lean turkey (221) (2.6 grams)

(1) tbsp taco seasoning (40)

(25) salt free tortilla chips (260) (1 gram)

(5) black olives (18) (.2 grams)

(1) jalapeno (4)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

(1/2) c red pepper (23)

(1/2) c shredded Habanero cheese (240) (12 gram).  (we didn’t have a lower saturated fat option – but I did use half as much cheese as I usually do)

Total net calories: 1354

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 1354 = 107 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 27.1 grams

Saturated fat goal: 13.75 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 121 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 121 of my 375 Day Food Diary! 🎊

Yesterday was the first day of May.   This month, I am going to focus on the saturated fat in the foods I consume each day.   I will share this info every day on my blog.  I will still be  monitoring my sodium and processed sugar consumption, but I won’t be sharing that on here each day – just to keep the focus on saturated fats.

A few number related notes for today..

  • I now weigh 125 pounds (at 5′ -1″ tall). That is down 35 pounds  from 160 pounds that I was at three years ago.  It is 8 pounds down from the 133 pounds that I weighed when I started my Daily Food Diary on January 1st.
  • In April, it became obvious that there were two things that I was consuming that were detrimental to my respiratory health –  processed sugar and carbonated water.  I have cut back on both A LOT.  I have also been walking further, faster, and more frequently which is beneficial to my respiratory health.    Pre – April, my blood oxygen would run 86 to 95 %.  This past week it has been 92 to 99%      * Fun fact – % blood oxygen refers to the percent of red blood cells that contain oxygen  
  • Since starting my Daily Food Diary, I have stopped the mindless snacking, between meals and dedicated tea time.    Cutting back on processed sugar in April has had a huge effect on my appetite at mealtime.  Last night, I had 2 chicken drumsticks and 1/2 package of ramen noodles for supper.  A couple of months ago, I would have  eaten 3 or 4 drumsticks and a full package of ramen  noodles.
  • Getting back to saturated fats… My goal for each day is to stay under 13.75 grams of saturated fats.  That is 10% of my total goal of 1247 calories which is  124.7.  (2000 cal x 10% = 200 = 22 grams of saturated fat)  Mathing it out, that makes my goal 13.75 grams per day.     

Maintaining, posting, or reading a Daily Food Diary may not seem terribly exciting  or effective,  on a day to day basis.  But… numbers do not lie. My Daily Food Diary is proving that given enough time,  and consistent effort,  it is a powerful tool that is helping me to reach my health and fitness goals. 😊

Breakfast/Lunch

(1) c coffee

(2) Low sodium hotdogs (240) (7 grams)

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

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

(1/4) c red onions (15)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(1) peach (58)

(3) strawberries (12)

(23) Salt & vinegar chips (270) (1.5 grams)

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

Supper:

(2) chicken drumsticks (152) (4.4 grams)

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

(15) asparagus spears (49)

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

(1/2) pkg Spicy Chicken Ramen (190) (3 grams)

Total net calories: 1264

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 1264 = 17 over 👎

Total saturated fat:  25.9 grams

Saturated fat goal: 13.75 grams 👎

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