Category: Health and Fitness

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! ❤️😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 61 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 61 days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  I am still eating and still tracking! 👍

This weekend was a double win for my health.

Yesterday, I went for a CT Scan that needed to be done before my hernia repair.  I had an appointment but they called me three hours early to ask me if I could pop down to the hospital right away to get it done.  That alone was a double win – I got it done and I didn’t sit around worrying about it for three hours. 😂

Also yesterday, I received the results of blood tests that I had done last week.  My results were a perfect win.  All the usual tests – cholesterol, blood sugar etc came in at mid normal.  AND There was no indication of any infection or inflammation.   That was all accomplished with exercise and diet. 👏 No medications used or required.  That is huge for anyone and especially anyone like me who cannot tolerate any drugs.

Food Diary – Day 61

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)  (.3)

(2) breakfast sausages (270) (20)

(2) pancakes (173) (4.9)

(1) tbsp Pure Maple Syrup (55) (-)

When I spoke to a nutritionist last fall, she told me that Maple Syrup is the best natural sugar to use. (Still in moderation)  I don’t remember if she said why, but I think it is because it is the least processed.

Compare ingredients! No contest. 💓

Snacks:

(24) 0z water

(50g) Frito Lays Hoops (270) (3)

(1) c licorice tea

Supper:

(12) oz water

(1) Ruben Wrap

  1. 1 Tortilla wrap (170) (5)
  2. 4 oz Montreal smoked meat (136) (15.1)
  3. 1 slice Swiss Cheese (106) (7.1)
  4. 1/2 c sauerkraut (23) (.5)
  5. 1 1/2 tsp hot mustard (10) (-)
  6. 1.2 pc chocolate fudge cake (360) (2.4)

Total Calories: 1643

Total Protein:  58.4 grams

  • In the past week I consumed 257 calories over my goal of a net 1276 calories  a day
  • My protein goal is 46 to 58.5 grams per day

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

Photo compliments of our granddaughter Maddy who was in Alberta this weekend, staying in Calgary and visiting Banff.

Daily Food Diary – Day 60 of 365

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

I am SIXTY DAYS into my Daily Food Diary. I only have three hundred and fifteen days to go and I have this challenge in the bag. ☺️

It is Sunday morning.  I am about to start cooking up our Sunday Brunch.  We are having pancakes and sausage this morning, so it will be interesting to see how I do protein wise today.  😯

This afternoon, we are heading across the city to the Regina General Hospital.  I am having a CT Scan that the surgeon wants to see before he does my hernia surgery.  It’s odd that they book CT Scans on Sunday but it’s got to be done, and I know I am fortunate that they were able to get me in so quickly. 😉

Food Diary – Day 60

Late Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2)   (.3)

(2) Potato Patties (240)   (2)

(1) Egg (80)   (7)

(3) Slices back bacon (52)  (12)

(1) teaspoon olive oil (40) (-)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

Supper

(3) pcs English Battered fish (390)  (18)

(21) Cavendish fries (169)  (2.8)

(1) tbsp Tartar sauce (85) (.2)

(1) c coleslaw (50) (-)

(12) oz carbonated water

Snacks:

1)piece of Chocolate Fudge Cake (300) (2)

Chocolate Fudge Cake needs MORE protein and LESS calories 🙄

(1/2) c sunflower seeds with shells (12)  (4)

(12) oz water

Total Calories: 1529

Total Protein: 48.3 grams

Goal for Protein – 46 to 58.5 Grams

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