Category: Health and Fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 319 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 319 of my Daily Food Diary. 😁

I missed my  walk with Dan and Molly this morning.  That was partly because I was making bacon for our Sunday Brunch.  Mostly, it was our 100% humidity.  Molly was anxious to get on with it and I knew waiting was not going to make it any better.  The fog is here to stay today.

I did do a more thorough than usual kitchen clean up after we ate.  I have an ivy plant from Jen hanging in our kitchen window.  I finally gave it a trim the other day. 

This was an old picture.  It got WAY more out of control after that.  The window was obliterated.
After the trim. 🤭

Now that we actually have light coming in through the window, it is worth a bit more elbow grease to keep the kitchen shining. 🙄

There isn’t a lot more planned for today.  I want to do some reading and clock some time on the treadmill. 

Later, Dan will probably watch the Grey Cup game since the Saskatchewan  Roughriders are playing.   🏈

Daily Food Diary – Day 319

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(2) Eggo waffles (180)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) tsp maple syrup (104)

Snacks:

(10) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (250)

(3) tsp salsa (12)

(2) Black licorice twizzlers (45)

(60) Oz water

(1) gin & tonic (130)

Supper:

(1) Homemade nachos (865)

Total consumed calories: 1656

Total used calories: 311

(30) minutes (174)

(30) minutes walking (137)

Total net calories: 1345

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1345 = 137 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary –  Day 318 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 318 of my Daily Food Diary.   318 DAYS without a single miss! 🤩

Today, I am celebrating another non-scale victory.  This morning, I checked my blood pressure – 100/65.  I also checked my blood oxygen 95% and pulse 74 btm.  My scale fluctuates a few pounds every day, but today I weighed in at 122.6 pounds (normal for my 5′-1″).  All in all, not bad for my current age 70 yrs and 4 months. 😁

Yesterday, I received my latest Amazon order: 

Collagen drops for Molly (the jury is still out as to how they are helping her, but they obviously aren’t hurting and she seems to scratch less than she did)

A case for my new phone – It’s a teal wallet type that holds my bank cards, health card, driver’s license and the like.  It works for me – better than anything I could find here.  

And… pink earmuffs to keep my ears comfy, cozy on our Molly walks.

No, I did not know they would be that big and fluffy.   Also NO,  I will not care when it is 40 below and I am out plodding through the snow with Molly and Dan.

Daily Food Diary – Day 318

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(23) brown sugar shreddies (210)

(1/4) c 2% milk

Snacks:

(1) apple (95)

(1/4) c Planters dry roast peanuts (324)

(14) low salt chips (130)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1) sourdough bun (190)

(2) top butter (68)

(3) Oz mini steaks (200)

(1/8) c mushrooms (5)

(1/4) c onions (15)

(1) c airfield French fries (115)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (95)

Total consumed calories: 1579

Total used calories: 210

(30) minutes walking (137)

(30) minutes treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1369

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1369 = 161 over 👎

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

For our grandson Logan who turns four years old today.  We have never met him, but we think of him and his brother, Dominic every day. 💝

Daily Food Diary – Day 317 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 317 of my Daily Food Diary! 🌞

This morning we were up and about for an earlier that usual walk with Molly. We left the house at 8:30, just as a LOT of people were passing through the neighbourhood on their way to work and quite a few kids were making their way to school. Molly handled the extra foot and vehicle traffic quite well all things considered.

Our weather was fairly decent, but hard to believe it was as decent as our Weather Channel would have us believe. It was supposedly plus 13C with low humidity. It seemed pretty cool and damp to us but we were dressed accordingly so we were comfortable enough.

Yesterday, we had a quiet day around here. We had our walk and I did my aerobics. The rest of the day was spent getting our new phones in order and tidying up the house. I don’t know that I did anything out of the ordinary, but my lungs felt amazing when I headed off to bed last night. Absolutely clear, and I didn’t even cough when I took a few deep breaths just to check them out. I don’t know what happened, but I’ll take it when I can get it and I just hope there will be more days and nights like that in my future. 🤗

This morning, Dan is off for coffee with some of the guys that he worked with. Molly is down for a nap. I should get on with a workout or two while all is quiet on the home front.

Daily Food Diary – Day 317

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(1) cheese biscuit (129)

(3) oz roast chicken breast (75)

(1/3) c gravy (24)

Snacks:

(1) 315 ml Root Beer (170)

(1/2) c raspberries (32)

Supper:

(2) bowls vegetable beef barley soup (360)

(2) snickerdoodles (140)

Total Consumed Calories: 1327

Total Used Calories: 193

(30) minutes walking (137)

(30) minutes aerobics (174)

Total Net Calories: 1016

Net Calories Goal: 1208 – 1016 = 193 under 👍🏻

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

Regina Floral Conservatory – a few years ago.

Daily Food Diary – Day 316 0f 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 316 of my Daily Food Diary!

I was feeling pretty good when I got up this morning!

Yesterday, we finally did it!  After eight years, we went down to Prairie Mobile to upgrade our phones.  We survived the process and left with two Samsung 25’s.  Dan’s is an FE, but that just means it is too wide to fit in my hand.

Next, we went over to Chappys  for lunch.  I had a mushroom burger (no bun) and Dan had a small pizza (With a real pizza crust!)  Before we left, I went off to the washroom to wash up.  When I got back to the table, Dan handed me the ‘receipt’ and headed out.  I put on my coat, stuck the receipt in my purse with the papers from Prairie Mobile and left.

The rest of the day went fairly smoothly.  We had taken Molly for her walk yesterday morning, so I didn’t feel  bad forgoing any other workouts.   I worked on figuring out my new phone, signing into apps, the usual.  We had gotten all of our data transferred over at the store, so things went fairly smooth. 

I finished the day with a bit of a 911 marathon, a few Hint of Lime tortilla chips, a couple of cookies, and a sense of accomplishment. 

This morning I was still feeling pretty good until I went to check our bank accounts.  I couldn’t find the payment for Chappys.  I asked Dan how he had paid and… he didn’t.  

He had handed me the BILL! He had told me, but I had misunderstood what he said. (I generally do pay while he goes to start the Jeep, but I was still in a kerfluffle from being at Prairie Mobile for an hour).  🫣

So, this morning Dan headed back to Chappys to apologize and pay up! They were more than gracious and appreciated that he had returned to pay,  but Yikes!

For decades, I did the books for local restaurants (contract evening work after working for construction companies during the day).  I know what it costs to provide meals.  Also, I have a daughter and three granddaughters who work in food service now.  It’s not easy!

Never, ever, would I Dine & Dash, and yet I did. 😟

But we have new phones and I have no reason to head out shopping or dining any time soon.  So, there is that!

Time to get back on track with my workouts and diet today. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 316

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) mushroom burger (no bun) (333)

(1) serving crinkle cut fries (240)

(1) beef gravy (25)

Snacks:

(10) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

(2) Black licorice twizzlers (45)

Supper:

(1) chicken thigh (208)

(14) lightly salted potato chips (130)

(3) mini chocolate treats (120)

Total consumed calories: 1520

Total used calories: 137

(30) minutes walking (137)

Total net calories: 1383

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1383 = 175 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 315 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 315 of my Daily Food Diary! 😲

That is 50 Days until the end of my Daily Food Diary Challenge.

In 2026, I am going to switch over to a 365 Day Daily Activity Challenge.

I have been getting back on track  doing my regular workouts – walking with Dan and Molly in the morning, and doing my aerobics, light weights, and treadmill.

Yesterday morning, I walked the full route with Dan and Molly.  After lunch I did a light weight workout – three sets of eight exercises using eight pound weights with dancing before and after each set.   After a short rest, I hopped on the treadmill.

I know that if I am going to make the most of my Activity Challenge in 2026, I am going to have to break out of my comfort zone and kick up my activity level. 

Yesterday on the treadmill, I felt it was an ideal time to start pushing my limits.  I felt great, the 80’s tunes were rocking, it was time.

I had been strolling along at speed Level 3 on the treadmill.  A couple of minutes in, I had kicked it up to a Level 5.   Still feeling good and a bit cocky, I pushed it up to a Level 6.  

Level 6 is the turning point from Slow Levels to Fat Burn.   Specifically – 3.5 km per hour to 40 miles an hour.

I was clinging to the handrails for dear life, running for my life, and wondering how I was going to slow this beast down.    I had my left foot up when I made the dubious decision to set it down on the side rail.  And the right foot hit the 40 mile an hour treadmill.  Well…

That was less than elegant and more than a little painful.  Fortunately (or not), I was still holding onto the handrails.  I got off in one piece – but with a few new stretch marks. 🙄

I know that I have to keep pushing through my comfort zone – but I can’t see myself ever hitting Performance Level.   Maybe by 2027. 🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 315

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (200)

(1/4) c 2% milk (28)

Lunch:

(3) PC’s roast chicken (319)

(1) cheese biscuit (129)

(1/3) c gravy (24)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

(1) Belgium Chocolate cookie (120)

Supper:

(1) homemade chicken quesadilla (464)

(1) 315 mil Pepsi (150)

Total consumed calories: 1565

Total used calories: 282

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min light weights (73)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1283

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1283 = 75 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 314 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 314 of my Daily Food Diary. 🥰

Today is November 11th, 2025  – Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the USA – a day for us to show respect and appreciation for those who have served our countries,  so that we may live in peace.   That is no doubt the greatest gift that anyone could give, and one that should be honored every day in my mind.  🌺

I am finally getting back on track with my Health and Fitness.  Between my  collagen supplements, Quercetin, and local raw honey – and our morning walks, my aerobics, light weights – and especially my treadmill time, my lungs (and my  body in general)  are getting stronger all of the time.

I know that I have always had, and will always have asthma.  I know that it will be triggered by humidity, allergies, and stress.  I will be on inhalers for the rest of my life.  But, I have always had doubts about my diagnosis for COPD and bronchiectasis, so we will see about that as time goes on…

It has all been rather frustrating to get to the point where I am at, but it brings to mind my favourite quote from Rumi:

“It’s your road, and yours alone.
others may walk it with you,
but no one can walk it for you.”

Before (and after) I retired five years ago, I read several retirement planning articles. They all stressed the importance of wealth – being financially secure was the be all and end all of successful retirement.   

Those articles were wrong.  I know people who have money – a lot of money.  They (for the most part) spend their time stressing about losing their money.

People who prioritize their health, prioritize  living their best life – regardless of any challenges or setbacks (financial or otherwise) that arise.  That’s the best  retirement plan in my mind – and the road that I choose to follow.

Daily Food Diary – Day 314

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) ham & cheese omelet (300)

(1) c pan fried potatoes (350)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(14) Lightly salted potato chips (130)

(1) Snickerdoodles (90)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) bowls beef, barley, vegetable soup (360)

(3) cheese biscuits (310)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total consumed calories: 1583

Total used calories: 384

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1199

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1199 = 9 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 313 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 313 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤗

Yesterday was a nice quiet Sunday.  Dan, Molly, and I went for our morning walk around the neighborhood.  The highlight of my afternoon was making a batch of Snickerdoodles – my first ever.

Snickerdoodles

The snickerdoodles didn’t  live up to the hype in my mind, but a little cream cheese icing would probably take them up a notch.

Today we had a plan to go to Prairie Mobile to trade up our cell phones and then head down the strip mall to Chappy’s for lunch.  The day hasn’t gone according to plan – my bad. 🙄

I forgot the plan and made a big breakfast of fried leftover potatoes and ham & cheese omelets.   Half way through our walk this morning, I realized neither of us would be up for a restaurant lunch.

Granddaughter Maddy would be so disappointed.  She was born with a plan – and a plan is a done deal!

It started innocently enough when she showed up with a plan to go to McDonald’s for lunch, which morphed into a plan to make a list and go shopping for: a new coloring book & crayons, new panties, a new purse, and a balloon on a stick.

Nowadays, she is working on a life plan… education, career, lifestyle – it’s there,  written in black and white but set in stone. 

And, meanwhile Grandma can’t stick with the plan to go pick out a new phone and have lunch.  As much as I need a new phone, I seriously need a new phone case!  Both are about eight years old and my case is hanging by a thread (a dirty thread to boot 🤦).

Daily Food Diary – Day 313

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c brown sugar cheerios (210)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Snacks:

(2) black licorice Twizzlers (45)

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(2) Snickerdoodles (180)

(1) Belgium Chocolate cookie (53)

Dinner:

(1) baked chicken leg & thigh (150

(1) c boiled potatoes (160)

(1/2) c gravy (80)

(1) c corn (125)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) glass Red Wine (165)

Total consumed calories: 1272

Total used calories: 137

(30) min walking (137)

Total net calories:  1135

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1135 = 73 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 312 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 312 Days since I began maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary.  🌟

From the very beginning of this challenge, I knew it would not be about perfection.  As it is with my Health and Fitness Lifestyle in general – it is about balance. 

My Daily Food Diary has been very helpful in making regular  improvements to my diet.   But, there have been days that have shown my diet to be less impressive than others.

Yesterday, on the other hand, was a good day! I started the morning with half a grapefruit, for a shot of vitamin C.  My lunch included a couple of chicken wing drumettes, which are high in collagen.  My snack was a tablespoon of raw local honey to help mitigate the environmental allergies that I have been struggling with.  The beef, barley, vegetable soup for supper was the star of the day with homemade broth – low in salt and rich in collagen, barley – part of any cholesterol diet, and mega vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.

Yesterday’s good for body, mind, and soul menu was just part of my good day ….

I went for a morning walk with Dan and Molly, easily covering the full circuit in the crisp, fresh air.   In the afternoon, I completed (3) sets of light (8 pound dumbbell) weight exercises.   And, in the evening, after straightening up the kitchen and doing dishes (with Dan)….

I hit the treadmill for thirty minutes. 😊

Action shot…

Today, being Sunday, I will probably scale things back as usual – possibly focus more on the Mind and Soul with some reading and relaxation.

We did go for our walk this morning, after Grandpa Dan got back from taking Maddy to work.   It was quite the interesting walk with the city closing off an intersection that affects access to two major streets and one avenue in our area.   The traffic on our quiet little side streets was uncharacteristically heavy and with many of the drivers looking fairly lost, confused, and frustrated, the intersections were pretty dicey! Not to mention icy from yesterday’s snowfall.   Fun stuff, but we made it home in one piece and we all felt  better for having gotten the fresh air and exercise!

Daily Food Diary – Day 312

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(2) chicken wing drumettes (122)

(6) onion rings (150)

(8) tater tots (124)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) bowls beef, barley, vegetable soup (360)

(3) mini chocolate treats (120)

Total consumed calories: 1188

Total used calories: 282

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min weights (73)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 906

Net calories goal: 1208 – 906 = 302 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 311 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 311 of my Daily Food Diary. 🙌

Today we woke up to the first notable snowfall of the season.

With plus 9 degree C temperatures expected Monday, this snow won’t last, but the air was crisp and clean when we walked Molly earlier. 

Fortunately, Dan took the leash while Molly bopped around, zigging and zagging to sniff out anything buried under the fresh snow.  I followed behind, grateful to stay vertical on the snowy sidewalks and icy streets.

Tonight we are celebrating the arrival of winter with a pot of ground beef, vegetable, & barley soup.

Other than that, we don’t have any major plans today.  I have a list of small chores to get done around the house, some aerobics and and a weight session to do, and possibly a batch of cheese biscuits and/or snickerdoodles to get in the oven.  ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 311

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) c grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(2) crumpets (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(2) black licorice Twizzlers (45)

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(14) lightly salted chips (130)

(1) oz chip dip (40)

Supper:

(9) air fried chicken wing flats  (364)

(1 1/2) oz riblets (74)

(6) onion rings (150)

(3) cheese sticks (190)

(8) tater tots (124)

(1) tbsp Frank’s Louisiana Hot Sauce

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)

(2/3) c Maple walnut ice cream (198)

(2) Belgium Chocolate cookies (107)

Total consumed calories: 1806

Total used calories: 210

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1596

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1596 = 388 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 310 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 310 of my Daily Food Diary! 💓

310 days, since I have been maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary.   Every day,  for 310 days,  of being mindful of everything that I consume – and virtually 310 days of thinking that I could and should be doing better. 

But today I realized how different things would feel if I had a Daily Food Diary from  last year to use as a comparison. 😳

1. I do not drink enough water – but I drink a lot more than I drank in the past.

2. I still drink an occasional soda.  I have probably averaged one each month this year. Last year… Probably at least 4 each week.

3. I still have a snack most days – depending on what I have for breakfast. I used to mindlessly snack from morning to night.

4. A snack used to often be regular or seasoned  potato chips – now virtually all of our chips are lightly salted – as is our bacon, broth, and anything that we season as we cook.

5. I used to snack in the evening – especially when Dan was out.  Industrial sized snacks – a bag of popcorn, toffee by the handful, big bowls of icecream with unlimited toppings, cookies, the occasional cake…. Now,  I do not snack in the evenings.

Setting myself up for Dart Night (pre Food Diary) 🙄

6. I used to eat at least a couple of FULL servings every night, cooked with butter, seasoned with lots of salt, unlimited cheese.. Now my meals are generally one reasonable serving cooked in olive oil – light on the salt and cheese.

7. Take out or eat out used to be a regular thing – Chinese, KFC, Taco Time, Arby’s, steak & lobster on special occasions.  Now we have take out, Arby’s, Taco Time, or DQ once every couple of weeks – maybe!

There are more changes that I/we have made in the past year.   Being mindful of what I eat, has influenced what we eat and what Dan buys (since he does the shopping in our house).

Improvements can,  and may eventually,  be made to our daily diet.  But today I’m feeling pretty good about how far we have come! 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 310

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) crumpets (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (152)

(2/3) scalloped potatoes (150)

Snacks:

(3) mini chocolate treats (120)

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1 1/2) c Herb & Butter Sidekicks (240)

(3) sticks souvlaki (345)

(1) c broccoli & cauliflower (55)

(1) tsp butter (34)

Total consumed calories: 1382

Total used calories: 183

(30) min treadmill (73)

(1) hr food prep/cooking/cleanup (110)

Total net calories: 1199

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1199 = 9 under 👍

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