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! ❤️😌
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! 💖😁
It is 312Days 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! 💞😊
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! ❤️😊
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! 💓😊
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! 😊❣️
Gravelbourg graveyard – this isn’t my parent’s grave but I have always loved this sculpture. This is a very picturesque graveyard in general and extremely well maintained.
We are already solidly into November. This morning it was minus 9 Celsius, but with no wind and an abundance of sunshine, it was a beautiful day for a walk with Dan and Molly this morning. 🌞
Yesterday I went shopping. I’m not a ‘shopper’ at the best of times, but I needed a new hoodie, socks, and face mask. Dan came along as chauffer. It was just a Walmart run but it was good to get out, see a few unfamiliar faces, and I did score the items I needed. Finding socks was more difficult than I thought it needed to be but I persevered and scored a winter sock stash. For the hoodie, we had to head over to Giant Tiger, but worth the extra trip as I got TWO hoodies and a couple of lighter tops.
Today, I am out and about again. Daughter Jen works this afternoon and her daughter Prim has a dental appointment.
Prim Rose
I picked Prim up at noon and made lunch for her – a toasted (buttered) bacon and tomato sandwich with cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. It’s a family joke that Maddy came over one day and asked me if I had a tomato. That morphed into her scoring a bacon and tomato sandwich which continues to grow in complexity. The next level up might be a side of home fries. (chances are with a side order of gravy)
We don’t have to leave for her appointment for an hour so that gives me time to get a few things done around here and for Prim to finish her homework.
My day is rather a muddle again, but since it is dart night (which means an early supper), I am confident I will get my weight and aerobic workouts in this evening. Plus, I willhave plenty of time left to do my nails and do a face mask. ☺️
Daily Food Diary – Day 308
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) sourdough bun (259)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) sausage patty (150)
(1) egg (72)
Snacks:
(3) Black licorice Twizzlers (68)
(3) mini chocolate treats (120)
(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)
Supper:
(3) c dinner salad (190)
(2) tbsp Vidalia Onion salad dressing (100)
(2) chicken drumsticks (152)
Total consumed calories: 1187
Total used calories: 282
(30) min walking (137)
(30) min weights (73)
(30) min treadmill (73)
Total net calories: 905
Net calories goal: 1208 – 905 = 304 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞☺️
For the past couple of weeks, I have been struggling with environmental allergies. This week, I finally decided that I am better off dealing with the consequences of the allergies than the side effects of the anti histamines I have tried.
Face mask: moisturize, reduces effect of watering eyes and runny nose
Cucumber: (not shown) peel and slice, place on eyes to reduce burning
Two SistersLip balm: Beef Tallow lip balm used to sooth dry, cracked lips caused by constantly wiping nose with tissues
Local Raw Honey: helps build immunity to seasonal allergies, soothes throat and cough caused by post nasal drip, antioxidant
H20 : Keep hydrated, flush out allergens and histamines.
Aerobika: device used to clear mucus in lungs due to post nasal drip aggravating bronchiectasis
Black licorice: a health risk if consumed in quantity or for an extended period of time – check warnings! Contains glycyrrhizin which is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
I am feeling better so far. Yesterday, I took Molly for another solo walk. Getting out in the fresh air helps and she gets easier to handle all the time. I’m not sure if I am getting stronger or if she is just getting better. 🤷
In the afternoon, I was able to do my aerobics and treadmill. I am happy with how much easier the treadmill sessions are getting for me. I keep upping the speed, but still able to finish the session!
Today, I am going to do another treadmill session and a light weight/cardio session. I’m still using the right pound weights but happy to be crushing them!
Daily Food Diary – Day 307
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) granola bar (160)
Lunch:
(1) enchilada (194)
Snacks:
(48) oz water
(12) oz 7 up (140)
(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)
(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)
Supper:
(1) Arby’s Dbl roast beef no bun (200)
(2) tbsp horsey sauce (120)
(1) Gravy (35)
(1) sm crinkle cut fries (390)
(2) cheese sticks (220)
Total consumed calories: 1569
Total used calories: (358)
(30) min walking (104)
(30) min aerobics (174)
(30) min treadmill (80)
Total net calories: 1211
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1211 = 3 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❤️
Yesterday in my blog, I wrote about my yeast allergy and how it has affected my health.
I was born with three health issues – asthma (which I was diagnosed with in my thirties), allergies (I have been officially diagnosed with environmental allergies but have yet to be tested and officially diagnosed with food allergies), and a collagen disorder/deficiency.
Of the three health issues – the collagen issue has been the most detrimental when it comes to my quality of life. For the first fifty some years of my life, I struggled with head to toe issues that affected me physically and emotionally. The most difficult part being that I had absolutely no idea why I struggled so much – just that I did!
Finally, in my fifties, my grandson was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome – Type 3 (a genetic mutation that affects the collagen in one’s body. I started searching reputable health sites on the internet and I discovered information regarding not only the prevalence and importance of collagen in our bodies – but that the information described me and my long standing health issues perfectly. During the past twenty years, others in my immediate and extended family have likewise been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos 3 and/or with relative collagen issues.
Doctors that I have seen have brushed me off EVERY time I have brought up the subject. My respiratory therapist acknowledged the possibility that EDS could be affecting my respiratory system and my optometrist explained how it does affect my eyes.
Just having a solid lead as to the root of so many of my health issues has helped me immensely. For the first time ever, I understand my body. I have been able to make lifestyle changes that have helped me to live better.
This year, I began taking collagen supplements to see if they could possibly be of any benefit – particularly to my muscles and joints. While I had found a lot of information on collagen and Ehlers Danlos – I did not find much suggesting collagen supplements would be beneficial.
In the first two months, I noticed positive results to my nails, hair, skin, muscles, and joints. I was starting to notice an improvement to my sinuses. Then I saw my respirologist who put me on a course of antibiotics and 50mg Prednisone per day for ten days. (In a follow up visit, blood tests and X-rays indicated a possible minor infection/inflammation – which my respirologist said was nothing but that I had extra prescriptions on file if I required them. For an infection that I didn’t really have in the first place ?)
Within a few days of starting the antibiotics and Prednisone, I noticed that I was losing the benefits that I had been getting from the collagen supplements. My nails were breaking, my hair was thinning and falling, I was feeling like a dishrag and struggling to exercise with 5 pound weights.
I went back to the medical sites on the internet and found evidence that Prednisone inhibits the synthesis of collagen. The same Prednisone that doctors had been prescribing to me regularly (up to six times a year) for decades.
I continued to take the Collagen Supplements and once again (as the effects from the Prednisone wore off) began to see positive results. Except, that four months in, not only am I seeing an improvement to my nails, hair, skin, muscles, and joints, sinuses – I am feeling a notable improvement to the airways throughout my respiratory system. Despite, having recent issues with a flare up of environmental allergies, I can breathe easily. I can lay down or recline back in my chair without feeling like my airways are collapsing and that I am smothering. And I have upped my weights to eight pounders because the five pounders just weren’t cutting it. 👍
These are the Collagen Supplements that I have been using. (From Amazon Canada)
Once again, my point being that it is up to us to be proactive when it comes to our health. It is nothing against medical professionals – they save lives. But – we each live in our own body, day in and day out. And when it comes to resolving chronic health issues that matters – especially as we age.
Daily Food Diary – Day 306
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) potato patties (240)
(2) eggs (160)
(2) slices thick cut bacon (170)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) tomato (22)
Snacks:
(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)
(1) tbsp local raw honey (40)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2) c fried rice w/rice, pork, red onion, mushrooms, celery, red pepper, soya sauce, olive oil, butter (237)
(2) egg rolls (377)
(1) tsp plum sauce (12)
Total consumed calories: 1362
Total used calories: 110
(1) hr food prep/cooking/cleanup (110)
Total net calories: 1252
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1252 = 44 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💝🤗
Wood carving for sale in Deadwood, South Dakota – it probably would have come home with me if our grandbabies were still small enough to ride it…
Today is Day 305 of my Daily Food Diary. Sixty more days and I will have successfully completed one full year of mindful eating via tracking and posting everything I consume- one day at a time. 🤗
This challenge has been less about losing weight than anything. It has been about eating better – cutting back on salt and sugar, increasing more natural and less processed foods and identifyingfoods that have been causing digestive issues for as long as I could remember.
For decades, I dealt with bloating, severe abdominal cramps, chronic diarrhea, heartburn, and oddly enough hiccups.
Doctors sent me for ultrasounds, cat scans, blood tests, and a surgery for an epigastric hernia. I was given prescription strength medication for excess stomach acid.
At one point, I suggested an allergy test for yeast. Despite the fact that my daughter had tested positive for a yeast allergy I was told that there was no such thing. I was sent for a blood test for celiac disease, because it was probably a gluten intolerance. It wasn’t.
Finally, I took it upon myself to eliminate yeast from my diet. Amazingly, to everyone but me, my digestive issues disappeared with the yeast in my diet.
I have no idea why doctors are so averse to allergy testing in this province – or why we have virtually no allergy specialists.
I do know that being allergic to yeast is a thing. A bad thing. And I know it is a thing that other people are still struggling with and still being misled about. When my granddaughter met with a potential family physician recently she told him about her digestive issues and her family history of yeast allergy. She was told there is no such thing. 🤦 Fortunately, she does know better.
Sometimes it’s not that obvious.
It’s not just that yeast is an allergen, it is also used as an additive to foods where no one would expect it to be found – from prepared meat sauce to powdered egg whites (plus anything made using such products).
And being a fungus, yeast is a relative to many other fungi that can cause issues – mold, mildew, mushrooms, foods that are susceptible to mold and mildew, anything that is pickled or fermented…
Plus anyone who is allergic to yeast is also sensitive to any form of processed or natural sugar, which yeast feeds on.
It is complicated and one of the reasons I have ultimately become proactive about my health. Every body is different. Even if multiple doctors cannot diagnose an issue it does not mean that there isn’t one – or that it cannot be dealt with.
Daily Food Diary – Day 305
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Jordans Morning Crisp cereal (333)
(1/4) c milk (28)
Snacks:
(1/4) c peanuts (162)
(1/4) c corn nuts (132)
(3) Black Licorice Twizzlers (68)
(3) mini chocolate treats (100)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(3) c garden salad (190)
(2) tbsp French Dressing (146)
(3) oz pork tenderloin (206)
Total consumed calories: 1367
Total used calories: 174
(30) min aerobics (174)
Total net calories: 1193
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1193 = 16 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 