Category: Health and Fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 7 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Day seven and it is shaping up to be a stellar one.  We expect to see our temperature rise above the freezing point.  That’s not great for our already icy streets, but it will be a welcome break none the less.

So, yesterday I had an appointment with Lara, my Nurse Practitioner.   After my go around with my umbilical hernia on Sunday, I thought I should check in with her.  She is just incredible!   She checked me out, came up with a plan of action, and submitted a requisition for an ultrasound. We got home at two o’clock and by five, the ultrasound clinic had called to book an appointment on January 20th!  That is amazing.  With our overwhelmed health services, it typically takes a few weeks (or months) just to get an appointment set up.    Once we get the results, we will know what is required going forward.   It is so  comforting to know that we are in the process of getting this resolved.

FOOD DIARY – Day 7

(1) c coffee

(1) Breakfast sandwich – large baking powder biscuit (toasted and buttered),  1 slice Havarti cheese, 1 egg (fried in olive oil) and  3 slices back bacon ***

(1) c tea

(1) Small bowl of barbecue chips

(2) Bowls of leftover beef, vegetable, and barley soup

(8) Soda crackers

(1/2) c sunflower seeds (air fried in shells with Frank’s Red Hot sauce and a shot of lemon juice

Back bacon is NOT bacon

*** I am not a fan of back bacon.  It does not taste like bacon and while it looks like ham, it doesn’t taste like that either.  That being said, I spoke to a dietician a few weeks ago and she suggested I try using it occasionally as a substitute for real bacon.   Dan brought home a package of Lou’s Kitchen back bacon and surprisingly we don’t mind it at all.  It’s not bacon, but it is pretty doable – and the nutritional values are amazing.  110 calories for FIVE slices and only 8% daily value of saturated fat.   570 g of salt is pretty bad but I only use 3 slices per breakfast sandwich and we only indulge once or twice a month. 

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

Only five months and a couple of weeks until summer! 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 6 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Pet peeve of the day…

Trying to write a blog when Molly is climbing  on top of me because she wants to sit on my (HER) chair to look out the window. 😯

Day six and Molly is already trying to make this more difficult than it has to be!

Fortunately, I have a bit of extra time this morning for her dog-foolery.  Since I was able to make an appointment with my nurse practitioner this afternoon, I decided to forgo my workouts until after I have a chance to talk to her about my hernia experience on Sunday. 

It’s funny how we can reach this point in our lives when we are feeling relatively fit and healthy, suffer a minor setback, and suddenly question how potentially frail we may be.   Not that I feel that overall frail.  I’m just leary about how far I can push things right now without causing a small issue to become a huge problem.   I just don’t know, so I’m backing off until I get her professional advice.

Food Diary – Day 6 of 365

(1) c coffee

(2) buttered Eggo’s (waffles)

(3) slices thin sliced bacon

(1) Apple

(2/3) Small  bowl mixed nuts (Dan & Molly shared the other 1/3)

(1) c tea

(1) Homemade fajita – ground chicken, red pepper, green onions, sliced mushrooms, shredded cheese in a tortilla wrap – with Fajita seasoning and homemade salsa

(20) Tater tots with Taco Time  taco sauce

(12) oz carbonated water

My afternoon tea has been from this delightful collection from ‘Cuppa Tea’ that granddaughter Maddy gifted me for Christmas. 💞. There are several assorted packs but that Cherry Trifle is my favourite so far. 😋🎆

That is it for today, folks.  Take care & have a great day! 💞🌞

One of those days when I could use a scenic  summer drive…. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 5 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Good morning!  Five days down and only three hundred and sixty to go!

When I decided to do this 365 day Food Diary, my first concern was to make it as ‘doable’ as possible.   

Choosing the best time of day was my biggest challenge.  Retirement is an ongoing battle between getting things done and  keeping my schedule flexible enough that I FEEL retired.   I have found a pretty solid spot, between my morning coffee and newspaper and doing my morning workout.   So far so good! 👍

My second challenge was tracking what I consumed throughout the day, so my diary would be as accurate as possible. 

It’s not pretty,  but it is convenient.  And we have an endless supply of such notepads around here. (And pens!)

Day Five of Daily Food Diary…

(1) c coffee

(2) potato patties

(1/2) tomato

(4 1/2) slices thin sliced bacon

(2) eggs

(1) c tea

(2) chocolates

(1) Burger King Single Whopper without bun or cheese

(1) Order medium onion rings w/ gravy

(12) oz water

Sunday brunch 💞

Burger King was not part of the plan yesterday.  After spending over three hours at Emergency, due to a hernia issue that refused to resolve itself, I just wasn’t excited about making supper at 9:30 pm.  This morning,  Dan said he had no idea what I was capable of, if I was willing to sit in an emergency room for three hours just to score Burger King.  Have to keep him guessing!  😂

Take care and have a great day! 🌞💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 4 of 365

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

I’m just burning through this challenge.  I’m already at Day Four and I haven’t had a miss yet! 🤗

We are still huddled down in our extreme  cold spell, so Dan and I spent a good part of the day in the kitchen yesterday whipping up some comfort food to take the chill off.

Dan chopped and I cooked for a pot of Beef, Vegetable, and Barley soup.
I mixed and Dan formed a tray of Baking Powder Biscuits.  The big ones are for yeastless breakfast sandwiches in the days to come.

Food Diary – Day Four

(1) c coffee

(23) mini wheats

(1/4) c 2% milk

(8) oz water

(1) Apple

(2) Bowls of Beef/Vegetable/Barley soup **

(2) Baking Powder/Cheese Biscuits – made with butter and served likewise

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) cookie

** Soup was made with beef broth, beef, barley, onion, leek, carrots, celery, mushrooms, cabbage,  baby Bok Choy and a dash of salt, pepper, and ground hot peppers.

Fun fact… Barley is one of the best foods to eat when dealing with high cholesterol.   Butter is not.  But butter tastes better. 🙂

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

Is anyone else ready for birthday and barbecue season?  ( Genie & Prim)

Daily Food Diary – Day 3 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

A new day, a new chance to start living my best life.  Since food plays such a huge part in allowing us (or keeping us) from living our best quality life, I am really enjoying starting my day by giving it some attention.

Yesterday was a pretty basic Friday for me, I did my morning aerobics, my afternoon strength building workout and just a lot of basic cooking, cleaning, and putting around in between.  I did spend a bizarre amount of time prepping vegetables when Dan got home from grocery shopping.  Cauliflower, radishes, green onions (a lot of green onions! 🙄). 

Daily Food Diary for January 3rd…

(1) c coffee  – black as always.  (I used to use cream and sugar but when I became a mother, I realized that I did not have the dexterity to hold a squirming infant while preparing the perfect cup of coffee.  Imperfection became the norm.)

(1) sausage patty

(2) eggs pan fried in olive oil ***

(2) potato patties – toasted to perfection in our toaster oven

(8) oz water

(1) cookie

(1) PC Nanaimo bars

(1) very small PC of lemon square

(1) c tea

(8) oz water

(2) hotdogs – no bun

(1 1/2) c macaroni and cheese with thinly sliced red onion

(2) cups potato chips w/ cream cheese dip

(1/2) sliced tomato

(1/4) sliced cucumber

(12) oz carbonated water

*** The easiest way to change a bad habit to a good one, is to make the good one easier.  One bad food habit that I have is using too much butter. (Which is beginning to become obvious in my cholesterol numbers 🤦).  For years, I have kept a dish of butter on our kitchen cabinet, while storing our olive oil in a bottom cabinet beside the stove. (Out of sight, out of mind).  Any time I went to pan fry, I would reach for the butter dish.  Yesterday when Dan went shopping, I asked him to pick up an oil cruet that I could keep on the counter – in sight and within easy reach.

Dan came home with three options for an olive oil cruet.  I’m going with the middle one! The one on the right will go into the fridge for homemade oil/vinegar dressing and the one on the left will find a use somewhere in our kitchen.

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

No dogpark for Molly today! It’s minus 28C / feels like minus 38C 🥶

Daily Food Diary – Day 2 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Day two and I am still committed to doing this – becoming more mindful of what I eat (and making any adjustments that need to be made).

I know that making it through this year is going to take more than commitment and determination.  Fortunately, I came across a good book some time ago that has helped me find my way to breaking bad habits and building better ones. 

A book worth reading and keeping in one’s personal library of goto books.

Food Diary for January 2nd. (Still a bit in holiday mode. 🙂)

(1) c coffee

(3) crumpets with butter and raspberry jam

(1) Caesar – (3:30 pm)

(2/3) small bowl of mixed nuts – was a full bowl but Molly got a few

(1) small bowl of seasoned crackers

(1) cup of tea

Raw vegetables (red pepper, celery, radishes, & broccoli) and dip

(2) slow roasted honey garlic ribs (leftover from New Year’s Eve)

A few air fried hot wings

A few crackers

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) shortbread/jam cookie

(1) c lemon ginger tea

Late Lunch/Early Happy Hour

So, obviously room for improvement but that is what is behind this 365 day challenge.

Take care and have a great day! 😊💖

One day closer to spring! 🎊

Daily Food Diary – Day 1 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today marks the first day of  sharing my 2025 food diary.  If you checked in looking for hummus or tofu, you will undoubtedly be disappointed.    This diary is more about tracking my eating habits and making small adjustments as required, than eating food that tastes like navel lint. (Not that I have ever tasted navel lint, hummus, or tofu.. just saying.)

January 1st didn’t follow our typical meal plan,  as it was January 1st we had breakfast a bit later than usual.  Being a Wednesday, I was working around a morning AND an afternoon workout.   AND ….Being a ‘Dart Night’ for Dan, we had a quick and early supper.

Anyway, here goes.  Food Diary Day 1…

(1) cup coffee (to was down my lutein & vitamin D) and to keep from choking on my Advair and Spiriva inhalers

2 egg omelet with ham, cheese, mushrooms, and green onions – light on the salt & pepper

(12) oz. water

Hungry man fried chicken tv dinner (the only Hungry Man that does not contain yeast) with 2 tsp. butter

Dan’s brownie from his Hungry Man dinner

(12) oz. Carbonated water

(1/2) bag extra buttery microwave popcorn*

(8) oz. Water

(2) chocolates

* Full disclosure – I would have eaten more of the popcorn but it is (almost)  the only snack I share with  Molly and she got excited and stuck her head in the bowl. 🤦

Molly

January 1st, 2025 Personal Stats…

Name.. AnneMarie Demyen

Age.. 69

Height… 5′ 1″

Weight…. 133. 5 lbs

Clothing size… 6-8 cdn (S/M)

Take care and have a great day! 🤗💞

Happy New Year  2025!

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

A new year has arrived and with it a chance to recommit to a life where health of body, mind, and soul is a priority. 👍

This year, February 14th will mark THREE years since I began my journey to health and fitness.  It has been all good, and amazingly,  I am still discovering benefits that I would never have imagined.   This past year, I have remained relatively healthy – no significant flare ups of my asthma, COPD, or bronchiectasis.  I have discovered an impressive amount of strength and stamina in my day to day life and in working with my husband to complete a number of projects around our home.  AND.. Most of all, I have noticed a marked improvement to my emotional health and wellbeing.  A lifetime of struggling with anxiety and grief is melting away to be replaced by feelings of peace, contentment, and well-being.   🤗

This year, I will mark my 70th birthday at the end of July.   I look forward to celebrating this auspicious milestone with hope, enthusiasm, and anticipation for what lies ahead.  I am excited knowing that I can and will keep doing what I am doing to maintain my quality of life throughout my seventies and beyond.  It is so worth the effort!

This year, I intend to  maintain the positive health and fitness habits that I have built over the past three years.   I also intend to create and maintain a NEW HABIT to better manage my daily food intake.  It’s not that I eat poorly.   It’s just that I discovered this year how easily poor eating habits can creep into my life.   I need to pay more attention to  what I am, or am not, feeding my body.   SO …this year  I am going to keep a food diary and  share my daily entries here on Jetpack.    Over the past three years, the best thing I have discovered is that I can build good habits as easily as bad ones so I know that I can do this!

I don’t have a diary entry to post this morning so am sharing a photo of the ham, cheese, mushroom, and onion omelet Dan whipped up to start my year off on a nutritious note. 👍🌹

And with a photo showing where I am now.

And a few photos showing why I seldom share photos of myself….

This one!
And this one…
And obviously this one… 🤦

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 🎉💞🤗

Farewell to 2024

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2024, Health and Fitness

This is it – the final day of 2024.   For the first time in what seems forever, I am excited to bid farewell to one year and to welcome in the next! 

2024 was a good year for us, not perfect (there were a few hiccups) but overall a really good year. 🌟

This has been the first full year of retirement for my husband Dan.  We have settled into a pretty good daily rhythm.    Dan’s been kept busy dealing with our  shopping, spending time at the dogpark with Molly, and keeping up to granddaughter Maddy – who’s highschool and work schedule often clashes with her mother’s busy work schedule.    I keep busy working out, cooking, baking, and generally keeping things neat and tidy. 

We have also both been catching up on some home and yard  maintenance projects that had been avoided during my years of 8 to 5 and Dan’s 24/7 shift work.

Our December project – painting and refurnishing our livingroom.  I finally have the Steel Blue sofa that I fell in love with thirty years ago. 👏
The new microwave and stand – the stand was all Dan’s project.  While the end result is perfect, the execution was a bit painful.
The freshly painted spare room that became Molly’s room. 😂

All was not work and no play, as daughter Jen and I took a long anticipated trip through the Dakotas to help my sister Jeanne celebrate her birthday.

Always a warm welcome and a good time at Jeanne and Don’s.

A couple of more great moments from 2024 came via granddaughter Maddy…

Celebrating Maddy’s Grade 8 graduation, addition to the principal’s honor roll, and academic award for literary excellence.
Dan and I also had the honor of attending  Maddy’s indoctrination visit to high school – Arch Bishop O’Neil.

To round off the year, we had an early Christmas visit from son Dan, Amanda, Gabby & Cason. 

And Bacardi and Cornelius who stay with us,  while Dan and family stay at a nearby hotel with a waterpark for some R & R between visits.

Christmas itself was a fairly quiet day, topped off with a traditional turkey supper with daughter Jen and family.

Overall, Christmas this year was just a nice stressless time where hiccups happened, but everything ultimately worked out well for everyone.

That is a wrap for 2024.  Tomorrow, we usher in a new year with all of the hopes, wishes, and intentions to make it our best one yet.

Seasons Greeting 🎄

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2024, Health and Fitness

It’s been a while, but with holidays here (or around the corner) I thought this would be as good a time as any to check back in.

I’ve had a pretty good year and I hope the same goes for everyone out here in Jet Pack land.

To catch up…  I am mostly on track with my health and wellness journey.  Fitness wise, I have managed to stay consistent with my workouts – aerobics six mornings a week and light weights Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.   Health wise, I have been pretty decent.  Despite my chronic issues with asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis, I have avoided any major flare-ups and ZERO rounds of antibiotics or oral steroids this year!  I do use my three inhalers – two regularly and one as required, but they are just  for maintenance and prevention purposes.   Recently, I went for my COVID, extra strength flu, and pneumonia vaccines.  Unless I get hit by a bus, I should be good for another year. 👍

The one area that I have struggled with has been my diet/nutrition.  Last May (2023), I realized that yeast was causing my severe digestive issues that had been giving me grief for years.  Avoiding yeast wasn’t too painful – except for breakfast, which APPARENTLY sets the tone for the rest of one’s day. 

At first I did fairly well, eating bacon and eggs, potato cakes and the like for breakfast.  That got tiresome to deal with, so I switched to fresh fruit – which was fine for a while until I realized (remembered) that I don’t much care for fresh fruit. 😧 So.. I started mixing it up with waffles (and syrup), pre-sweetened cereal, crumpets (and jam), grapefruit (with sugar) or store bought muffins (basically sugar held together with a bit of bran or a couple of blueberries). 

As the weeks went by, the insidious “sugar creep” kicked in.  Ultimately, I would have my sugary breakfast, followed by a sweet  midmorning snack, lunch (with dessert), a sweet afternoon snack, happy hour consisting of a  mixed cocktail or a can of Pepsi or root beer, supper (with desert), followed by ice cream (with butterscotch AND chocolate sauce), and finally a bedtime snack of caramel corn.   It wasn’t that I would snarf down an entire cake in one sitting –  I was just indulging in bits and bowls of sugar  ALL DAY.

Obviously, that could and did not last.  A few weeks in and feeling miserable, I reviewed my diet and realized things had to change. 

I circled back to the traditional breakfast of eggs and bacon/sausages/ham and potato cakes.  Pretty much salt and saturated fats! 

About this time, I met with a nurse practitioner who sent me for a complete blood work up.  Surprisingly, my tests came back with a few borderline issues – glucose, salt, cholesterol…  My nurse practitioner set me up with a dietician.    She gave me some helpful advice for getting my diet (and bloodwork) back in order. 

The best advice I got for tracking cholesterol intake was to check nutritional value labels on food and choose food products with less than 15% DV saturated fat per serving.    ONE sausage patty contains 26% and I  occasionally (frequently)  indulge in two at one sitting. 🙄

If I haven’t lost you yet, this has led me to make a commitment to getting a better handle on my diet.  I decided the best way for me to do that,  is to keep a food diary for the next year.  AND to keep me accountable,  I  have decided to share said diary with anyone out there who chooses to  (or inadvertently)  reads my blog in 2025. 

Bottom line, you should be seeing more of me in the upcoming months.  

In the meantime, MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!  All the best to you and yours this holiday season and throughout 2025!