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Today is Day 325 of my Daily Food Diary.  🥳

It is hard to believe that 2026 is only 40 days away, compared to the 325 that have passed by this year. 

Last night’s supper probably wouldn’t set any records for nutritional standards but it was amazing.  When Dan and I both worked we would often get takeout, eat out, or pick up something pre-made from our Safeway down the street.  One of my favorites was the  Safeway seafood dip – a concoction of cream cheese, crab, seafood sauce, shredded cheddar, with a sprinkling of green onions, green pepper, and tomato. Shortly before I retired, Safeway became Freshco and they no longer carried our seafood dip.   I gradually forgot about it, but yesterday afternoon my memory was jogged. Dan set out on a mission to one of the very few Safeway stores left in the city.  He returned with the seafood dip and a package of Tostitos Dippers.  Usually stepping back into time to enjoy a particular meal ends in  disappointment.  That was not the case last night!  It is not something that will make it’s way onto our regular meal rotation, but definitely worth it for the rare or occasional treat.

Today, I joined Dan and Molly on their morning walk.  There were still frosty (slippery)  patches along the way, so I soon decided that I was not comfortable holding onto a 100+ pound dog who zigs and zags, stops and pulls, along the way.   Dan took her leash.  But, I did have wins along the way.   My coughing fits were few and far between – far enough that Dan stopped a few times to look back to see if I was still with them. 😁

I am not there yet, but I can actually imagine a time when this miserable cough will be a thing of the past. 🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 325

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1) c no salt beef broth (16)

(6) Hint of Lime chips (150)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

Supper:

(125) g Tostitos Dippers (650)

(2 1/2) servings seafood crab dip (375)

Total consumed calories: 1699

Total used calories: 308

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

Total net calories: 1391

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1391 = 183 over 👎

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

This is Day 309 of my Daily Food Diary! 🙌

This entire week seems to be more challenging than most. 

On Monday, Dan went indoor golfing.    Molly and I stayed home to host a full grown sparrow who swept into our house.  It took THREE hours but Molly finally herded it out the back door.

Tuesday, Dan and I went shopping.  That wasn’t particularly challenging, but a change of scenery and my typical daily routine.

Yesterday, I picked-up granddaughter Prim  at lunch time and took her to a dental appointment later in the afternoon.  All went well enough, but she was given a serious amount of freezing for one small cavity.  Poor kid looked rough coming out of the dentist’s office.

Today, things were supposed to get back to normal!  But, after daughter Jen left for work,  her daughter  Prim decided to go back to bed for a quick nap.  🤦 When the school called Jen to report her MIA, Jen called us to go check on her and get her to school.  So Dan and I headed over.  On the way there, Dan saw what looked like a person (big person) laying half on a sidewalk/half on the street.  It was on a side street that we don’t take and there was fairly steady traffic going past him.  We went straight to Jen’s house, got Prim to school, and Dan detoured to the side street to check on the other situation on our way back.

The guy was still there, looking like he hadn’t moved.  Dan dove past him a couple of times and stopped beside him.   There was no sign of life, and no response when Dan called to ask if he needed help.    I called 911 to ask if they could have someone to check on him.  They sent an ambulance and a fire department paramedic vehicle right away.   We waited there until they arrived  – mostly because he was half a block from Prim’s school and we were concerned that some kid could happen along.   When the paramedics did arrive, one of them called the guy and tried to shake him.  He sat up (fairly quickly, but a bit befuddled).  We got out of there and headed home.  Hopefully, the guy is ok and the paramedics were able to get him safely on his way to somewhere. 🤷

The rest of my day should get back on track.  I’m about to have lunch, then do time on the treadmill, followed by a round of weights – followed by finally spending some time getting our kitchen cupboards in order.

Daily Food Diary – Day 309

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee(2)

(1/4) c milk (28)

(1) c Cheerios (200)

Lunch:

(2) crumpets (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(3) chocolate treats (120)

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(12) Doritos (155)

Supper:

(3) oz ham (109)

(2/3) c scalloped potatoes (150)

(1) c brussel sprouts (56)

(1) tsp butter (34)

Total calories consumed: 1306

Total Calories Used: 384

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(30) min light weights (73)

Total net calories: 922

Net calories goal: 1306 – 922 = 286 under 👍

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a good day! 😊❣️

Today is Day 270 of my Daily Food Diary. 💓

Today is also Sunday and I am looking forward to a good one!

The only plans I have for this morning are to do the breakfast dishes, do my nails, and do some reading. 

This afternoon, Genie is supposed to drop in to pick up her share of the Smoked Beans I made yesterday and a piece of the Amaretto cheesecake that was just coming out of the oven when she was here on Friday.

When Dan goes to pick up Maddy from work, he is dropping her off and picking up Prim and their dog Sasha.  They will be with us until tomorrow morning when I bring them home. 

Prim is looking to do some cooking/baking with Grandma to kick off her home economics classes. 👍

I have nothing on the agenda for workouts today, but may take a walk to a couple of nearby stores with Prim after she gets here.

Daily Food Diary – Day 270

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1/2) c chicken broth (5)

(1/2) Serv. Chocolate/coconut Brownies (74)

(1/2) Serv. Butterscotch Walnut Brownies (150)

Supper:

(1 1/2) Serv Smoked Beans w/lean ground beef, bacon, onion, brown beans, kidney beans, ketchup, brown sugar, liquid smoke (928)

(1) sm. pc. Amaretto/chocolate/skorr cheesecake (200)

Total consumed calories: 1553

Total used calories:  471

(30) min. walking (53)

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

(1) hr. food prep/cooking/clean up (111)

(30) min. treadmill (59)

Total Net Calories: 1062

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1062 = 168 under 👍

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

Today is Day 252 of my Daily Food Diary! 🤗

I am still on my road to recovery from my latest lung infection.  I saw my Respirologist for a follow up this morning.  He is super happy with my x-rays and blood tests. 👍

I feel my biggest issue now is my ongoing environmental allergies this summer.  After seeing Dr. M, I went to Old Fashioned Foods and picked up a couple of natural allergy remedies that they recommended.  Here is hoping they make a significant improvement in that department.

Molly and I went back to Jen’s yesterday.  Molly had a great time with her dog Sasha,  checking out their big back yard.  I helped Jen strip more parts off of her Jeep to make it as quick and easy for her fiance and their mechanic to drop in her new motor and transmission.  I can’t wait for it to be all done complete with  the new paint job and roll bars. 

These last two afternoons with Jen have been a LOT of fun.  It is amazing to see her work on this and demonstrate the analytical and organizational skills that I did not notice, much less appreciate, in my Mother growing up. 

When Jen drove Molly and I home, she swung by to pick up granddaughter Maddy from her school.  When she dropped us off, she got out to help me get Molly into the yard.  Maddy jumped at the opportunity to get into the driver’s seat.  I am so impressed  at how determined she is to practice her driving skills and ace her test next spring.   I didn’t think it would be something she would be so eager to embrace.  (Apparently, she is not a Grandma’s Girl in that department.)

Today is son Dan’s birthday.  I did text him earlier but I am waiting to hear from him before I call.   This has been a busy summer for him between work, boating, and camping so I’m never sure when it is best to get hold of him.

Daily Food Diary – Day 252

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(26) light sugar Mini Wheats (190)

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

Snacks:

(1/2) c Campbell’s beef broth (5)

(12) Doritos (153)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) 355ml can Pepsi (150)

(1) Dairy Queen single flame thrower burger – no bun (600)

(1) small onion rings (200)

(1) small fries (90)

(1) reg. Gravy (90)

(2) chicken strips (240)

Total consumed calories: 1748

Total used calories: 296

(1) hour gardening (176)

(30) minutes house cleaning (67)

(30) minutes walking (53)

Total Net Calories: 1452

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1452  = 223 over 👎

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

Today is Day 247 of my Daily Food Diary! 😊

Today is the third day of my latest round of antibiotics and oral steroids for my latest battle of lung infection

Yesterday I did pretty well, but the drugs were definitely kicking in. 

I started the day with a bout of antibiotic nausea.  The antibiotics that I am on are disagreeable little beggars, but my doctor likes them and he does have to switch them into the rotation on occasion so I don’t get too resistant to any particular type.

By the time that settled down,the Prednisone kicked in and I started getting shaky and anxious.  Not fun, but I managed to pull myself together and Dan took me to the x-ray clinic and blood lab to deal with that funness.   Neither was bad.  There was a bit of a wait at the x-ray clinic, but it was quick and simple once the technician called me in.  There was no wait at the blood lab.  It amazes me how painlessly those technicians draw blood.  I never felt a thing and never bled a drop. (I may have been dry after the five vials I donated).

Once we returned home, the Prednisone zoomies kicked in and I was able to do my aerobics (for the first time in days), scrub down the bathroom and hall (including fixtures,  walls, floors and everything in my path), and make supper (with Dan).

Aside from doing the official meds, I have been doing pretty well at sticking to a nutritious diet for the past couple of days.  That homemade chicken soup made from homemade stewing hen broth just feels so healing. 

I haven’t had a fever for two days so hopefully I am truly on the mend!

Daily Food Diary – Day 247

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) Blueberry Eggo Waffles (270)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(3) Slices bacon (130)

(1 1/2) tsp syrup (78)

Lunch:

(1/2) c homemade chicken broth (27)

(1) peach (58)

(1) c raspberries (64)

(60) oz water

Supper:

(3) c homemade chicken noodle soup (480)

(1) Large cheese biscuit (258)

Total calories consumed: 1436

Total calories used: 366

(30) min. aerobics (176)

(1) hr housecleaning (135)

(30) min. cooking/food prep (56)

Total net calories: 1070

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1070 = 159 under 👍

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

Today is Day 245 of my Daily Food Diary! Doing anything for 245 Days without one miss is pretty impressive, even if one is retired and has ample free time to get it done. 😁

This morning, I went to see my Respiratory Specialist (Respirologist according to the sign in his office which I had managed to miss on countless previous visits).

After a short chat, he listened to my lungs,  checked my blood oxygen/pulse readings,  and determined that I do have another lung infection.  This is my second this year and two too many in my mind.   He prescribed antibiotics and oral steroids, gave me a requisition for X-rays and blood tests, and told me to come back in a week.

While I was there, he told me that the lung function tests I had a few weeks ago were on  par with the ones last year, which were on  par with the year before.  I was hoping to see improvement, but he considers it a win if I have not gotten worse. 

They always do these tests in the summer, which while being my favourite time of year, is the worst time for my respiratory health.  Wildfire smoke and high humidity are an ongoing battle. 

This year there is also more of an issue with mould and mildew.  I noticed it on plants in our garden (tomatoes and cucumbers), and on fresh produce from the store (onions and carrots), both more than usual,  but I didn’t think that much of it.

A few days ago,  I put a couple of fruit fly traps (which I had filled with red wine) on our kitchen window sill.  They did their usual excellent job of collecting the fruit flies, but when I checked to see if they needed cleaning this morning,  they were full of mould.   I have used these traps for years and have never seen this before.

It makes sense that a bad mould season would make for a worse lung season for me.  Now I just have to figure out how to deal with it!

In the meantime, I need to take my meds, eat more chicken soup,  and take it a bit easy for a few days.  Hopefully by this time next week, I will be back to normal – or BETTER THN EVER!

Daily Food Diary – Day 245

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2)  grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

Snacks:

(1) apple (95)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (238)

(48) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

Supper:

(3) c homemade chicken noodle soup (480)

Total calories consumed:  863

Total calories used: 246

(1) hour House Cleaning (135)

(1) hour cooking/food prep (111)

Total net calories: 617

Net calories goal: 1229 – 617 = 612 under 😳

*** I was not trying to be that much under my Net Calorie Goal!   I was not feeling well enough to be hungry, but virtually everything I did eat was nutritious.

It is 219 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. 

Each month, I choose one aspect of my diet to focus on.  This month, I chose COLORFUL foods. 

Last night, we made enchiladas and Spanish Rice for supper.   We added a fair amount of color.  There was bright red salsa in the rice, white onion and garlic in the enchiladas,  as well as red pepper, green jalapenos, and brown beans.  There was also ground chicken and enchiladas sauce.  That was all wrapped in Grimm’s  cheese  tortilla wraps, covered in shredded mozzarella cheese and the rest of the enchiladas sauce. 

Once the enchiladas were baked and the rice was fried, everything came out a uniform golden brown.

I should have seen it coming, but I was shocked when I added up the calories. 1233 CALORIES!  I ate my entire supper and I was absolutely full, but I feel for people who have to stick to a super strict calorie wise diet.   It is way too easy to devour more than a day’s worth of calories in one meal.   We started out with lean ground chicken, a cup of refried beans, a few vegetables, and a bit of leftover rice and there you go! 1233 calories worth of Enchiladas and Spanish Rice!  It was delicious, but we won’t be  indulging in that again any time soon.  🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 219

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c 2% milk

Lunch:

(1) Apple – red (95)

(1) Kiwi – green (46)

Snack:

(28) Lay’s lightly salted chips (160)

(60) oz water

Supper:

(1) enchilada (870)

(1 1/2) c Spanish Rice (363)

Total net calories: 1571

Net calories goal: 1222 – 1571 = 349 over

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

It is 172 Days since I began my Daily Food Diary! 🤗

Today I am celebrating another non scale win.  It is nice to see numbers dropping on the scale – especially knowing  that the pounds I am losing are pounds of unhealthy fat.

But, it is equally exciting to be able to reach into my closet, take out a favourite pair of jeans from my younger years, and find that I can fit into them – comfortably!

These Size 6 jeans bring me full circle to where I began three decades ago.  Size 6 to Size 0 to Size 12 and BACK!   🥳

Daily Food Diary – Day 172

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Lg. Mango (135) (2 SVG)

Lunch:

(1/2) serving leftover Nachos (290) (1 SVG)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(1 1/2) serving homemade Hamburger Helper: lean ground beef, egg noodles, onions, celery, leek, red pepper, mushrooms, gravy (615) (1 SVG)

(4) mini baby dill pickles (2 SVG)

(1 1/2) pc’s Butterscotch Pudding Cake (230)

Total net calories: 1108

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1108 = 130 under 👍

Fruits & vegetables: 6 servings

Fruit & vegetable goal: 7 servings 👎

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