Daily Food Diary – Day 323 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 323 of my Daily Food Diary.  323 Days in and this is the closest I have come to missing posting my blog.  😳

Our humidity was finally down this morning, so I joined Dan and Molly for a  walk.   We stopped at the dog park for a while so Molly got in a good run with her friends, but set us back a bit.  

We got home and I did some poo cleanup in the yard, fed the squirrels, brought in the mail, and had a bath.  By then, I was just all sorts of off track for the day.

It has been almost five months since I started taking collagen supplements.  I have seen a number of benefits and a few changes in my health/body that I wasn’t expecting.

The weirdest change could be to my hands.  They feel a little better and they are stronger, but they also look different!

They look kind of alien- ish and the color is off  (seriously difficult to take pictures of my own  hands) but my veins (or arteries?) are almost gone.  The left side photos were taken in July.

I have been noticing the change for a few months.  Whatever is going on, my blood pressure and pulse are fine.  🤷‍♀️

Daily Food Diary – Day 323

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/4) c milk (28)

(1) c brown sugar  Shreddies (210)

Lunch:

(2/3) c chicken broth (10)

(3/4) c Hamburger Helper Lasagna (210)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(10) Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips (200)

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man Chicken Dinner (520)

(1) extra brownie (50)

Total consumed calories: 1360

Total used calories: 174

(30) min aerobics (174)

Total net calories: 1186

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1186 = 22 under 👎

That’s it for today.  TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT DAY! 😊💖

In front of the main branch of our library.  We drove downtown just to see this elephant (a few years ago).   Im not surprised I hadn’t seen it before – it was almost impossible to see it when we were looking for it. 😂

Daily Food Diary – Day 322 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 322 of my Daily Food Diary.  With 46 weeks down, I have a mere 6 weeks left to my 2025 Daily Food Diary Challenge! 💥

This week, I have been trying to up my activity level.  Our weather isn’t really co-operating.  Yesterday it rained all day, so none of us went for our daily walk.  Today it is foggy, so Dan and Molly went without me.

Yesterday, I did do my aerobics and light weights.  I got on the treadmill last night, but had to pull the plug after ten minutes due to a severe coughing fit.  Dan and I did give Molly a good brushing yesterday, so that was a workout of sorts.

Molly, showing her appreciation for our efforts. 😆

Last night, I watched our evening news.  I generally avoid watching our news – preferring to read it online, where I can skip over the articles of little personal interest or those that will just serve to annoy me.

But, last night I watched the evening news.  Elections Saskatchewan announced that they were planning to do a test run of phone in voting for our next election,   plus they are looking at replacing Election Day with Election Week.   We currently have Advance Polling, Mail In Voting, Curbside Voting, Homebound Voting, and Personal Care Home and Hospital Voting. 

In last year’s provincial election, a paltry 54% of eligible voters exercised their right to vote.  So, Elections Saskatchewan has decided to take steps to make the election process easier.

Personally, I don’t care how votes are colleced,  as long as the votes are legitimate.  

But I don’t believe ‘easier’ is the way to go.  I think it cheapens the entire election process.   Easier seldom means better in my mind and rarely, if ever, brings out the best in people.  

Personally, I think we should look deeper if we want to really engage more people in the election process.   The problem isn’t access, it is apathy.  (In my mind)

Any thoughts?

Daily Food Diary – Day 322

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Eggo Waffles (180)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) tbsp syrup (104)

(3) slices bacon (130)

Lunch:

(1) c broth (5)

(8) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (200)

(1/2) c raspberries (32)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

Snack:

(60) Oz water

(1) tbsp honey (40)

Supper:

(2) servings chicken caesar salad (630)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

Total consumed calories: 1588

Less used calories: 271

(30) min aerobics. (174)

(30) min light weights (73)

(10) min treadmill (24)

Total net calories: 1317

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1317 = 109 over 👎

Daily Food Diary – Day 321 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 321 of my Daily Food Diary!🤗

I am not sure where this week is going, but it seems to be heading upwards! 🖕 (well that’s an awkward emoji)

Anyway… Sunday was rough.  It was foggy all day and my lungs were not happy.  I didn’t walk, didn’t workout, and didn’t sleep that night.

Yesterday, the humidity was lower.  I went for a morning  walk with Dan and Molly.  I did an aerobics workout and spent thirty minutes on the treadmill.   I did some cleaning up around here. And.. I slept like a rock last night.

Today, I got up to rain.  Obviously, the humidity is back up.  We did not walk – partly because of my lungs, mostly because our Molly dog does not like rain.

Nope!

I had a breakfast high in bacon protein.  I used my Aerobika to clear my lungs and I did my aerobics.   🤗

I plan to do light weights this afternoon, spend time on the treadmill, brush Molly dog – followed by swiffering, dusting, and cleaning the filters in our air purifiers.  (Because that’s what I do after brushing Molly. 😉)

Just working on getting through this unseasonably humid rainy season.

Daily Food Diary – Day 321

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c cheerios (200)

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

Lunch:

(1) c Campbell’s chicken broth (5)

(10) light salted chips (70)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(1) Oz Planters dry roast peanuts (162)

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(2) c Lasagna Hamburger Helper w/ lean ground beef, onions, and orange pepper (677)

(2) c Brussels sprouts w/ butter (180)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

Total consumed calories: 1454

Total used calories:

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1070

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1070 = 138 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 320 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 320 of my Daily Food Diary. 😋

With fog blanketing the city yesterday, it was a long rough day.   It seems every time I celebrate a really good day, things have to go sideways.  There are not a lot of things that will trigger my asthma anymore, but fog will do it every time.

Anyways, I missed our walk yesterday morning due to the high humidity.  I wasn’t terribly active all day, and I rounded the day off with a poor night’s sleep. 

Fortunately, the humidity is down today so I am feeling much better.  I made the morning walk and even managed to hang onto Molly’s leash for the distance – almost.  Dan took her solo for a bit after I decided I was done.

There’s not much else happening around here today so here is a photo for anyone who needs a Monday boost.

One of daughter Jen’s regulars at Superstore gave it to her a while back.  I thought it was such a special random act of kindness.   Who couldn’t use an emotional support pickle! 💓💓💓

Daily Food Diary – Day 320

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) scrambled eggs (182)

(3) slices bacon (130)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1/2) sm tomato (5)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

Supper:

(1) Gin & tonic (130)

(1) Ham salad wrap (400)

(8) Lightly salted ripple chips (116)

(1) Oz onion chip dip (40)

(3) baby dill pickles (9)

(1) snickerdoodle (9)

Total consumed calories: 1384

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1384

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1384 = 176 over 👎

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

Wascana Trails

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! ❤️😌