Today is Day 265 of my Daily Food Diary! 100 days to go and I will have completed a solid year without one miss! 😁🎈
We are having the roof of our garage reshingled today so I took Molly for her walk solo again. That went well so it was a boost for my confidence as well as hers.
I have yet to do my aerobics but that as well as time on the treadmill will happen today.
And.. This afternoon, daughter Jen is coming over to do some baking with me.
All things considered, I don’t have much time to blog this morning so I will just leave you with a bit of ‘Food for Thought’.
“It’s your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” – Rumi (my favourite quote ever)“This is a happy moment!” Thich Nhat Hanh in his book ‘No Mud, No Lotus’ (An unexpected random Sunday afternoon visit from Dan’s cousin from BC)“More harm is done not by the evil, but by the good who do nothing about it” – Martin Luther King (This rings so true to me. I have seen bad apples everywhere – law enforcement, court rooms, politics, schools, churches, hospitals…. I get it, but I have never understood how their good, competent, caring, decent coworkers, bosses, unions, etc. can support the rotten apples and ignore the pain of their victims.) “If you knew it all now, there would be no point to the rest of your life.” Nobody brilliant or famous, just something I said to Genie one day when we were having tea and discussing life. She keeps it on her list of favourite quotes so I had to include it. 🙂
Daily Food Diary – Day 265:
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Light frosting Shreddies (170)
(1/4) c milk (28)
Lunch:
(6) Gyoza (200)
(3) oz riblets (148)
(1) PC Buttermilk chicken (120)
Snacks:
(48) oz water
(8) oz herbal lemon tea
Supper:
(1) pan pizza – tortilla wrap, pizza sauce, ham, pepperoni, onion, yellow pepper, mushrooms, black olives, shredded marble cheese (599)
Total consumed calories:1266
Total used calories: 390
(30) min walking (53)
(30) min Aerobics (176)
(30) min light weights (73)
(30) min yard/garden work (88)
Total net calories: 876
Net calories goal: 1229 – 876 = 353 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💝😊
Today is Sunday and I am looking forward to a laid back day, much of which I intend to spend out in the gazebo reading and enjoying this beautiful, sunny, unseasonably warm day. 🌞💞
Yesterday was a fairly laid back day as well with a couple of notable exceptions.
Late in the evening, our granddaughters Maddy & Genie, stopped by for a quick visit and a little quality time with Molly.
They also dropped off a couple of candles that daughter Jen picked up for me at Superstore. They smell amazing!
The other notable moment for me was making a snack for Dan and I earlier in the day. Not only did I open the new uncracked jar of cheese with my bare hands, but I also tore open the bag of Hint of Lime tortilla chips likewise! 💪 Since I began taking collagen supplements, less than three months ago, I cannot believe the difference they have made. 😊💖
Daily Food Diary – Day 263
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
(1) granola bar (160)
Snacks:
(12) Hint of Lime chips (300)
(1/2) c nacho cheese w/salsa (172)
(1/4) c peanuts (240)
(60) oz water
Supper:
(1 1/2) servings homemade Hamburger Helper (615)
Total calories consumed: 1536
Total calories used: 228
(30) min. Walking (53)
(30) min. Aerobics (176)
Total Net calories: 1308
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1308 = 78 over 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
There is not a lot happening in our little corner of the world this morning.
We started the day with a nice walk around the neighborhood with Molly.
I didn’t really leave the yard dressed like this nor did I really want to slap somebody 🤦 – but this was a great photo of Molly.
Molly walked particularly well this morning despite crossing paths with several other dogs, including her old friend Ripple.
Molly & Ripple back in their dogpark days.
I am not anticipating anything happening for the rest of the day, but I am about to do my aerobic workout and then will buckle down to some Saturday cleaning. 🤷
Daily Food Diary – Day 262
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
Lunch:
(1) sourdough bun (259)
(4) oz roast beef (251)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(2) tbsp horseradish (14)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2) oz riblets (99)
(6) Gyoza (200)
(3) egg rolls (440)
(1) PC Buttermilk chicken (120)
(6) tempura shrimp (210)
(1) tbsp Gyoza sauce (15)
(1) tbsp seafood sauce (12)
(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)
(1) tbsp plum sauce (35)
Total calories consumed: 1809
Total calories used: 548
(30) min. Aerobics (176)
(30) min. Walking (53)
(20) min. Treadmill (35)
(30) min. Light weights (73)
(30) min garden/yard (88)
(30) min. Cooking (56)
(30) min. Cleaning (67)
Total net calories: 1261
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1261 = 32over 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💖☺️
After a couple of weeks off to deal with a lung infection, I am back to my regular workout routine today. 👍
Despite already encountering one small glitch, I am excited. This morning we have FOG. With my asthma, that means Dan and Molly are off on their morning walk without me while I stay housebound with the dehumidifier running on high. 😯
When it comes to being pro-active with our own health, sometimes we have to make adjustments.
Speaking of being proactive, it is 2 1/2 months since I started taking Collagen Supplements. The information that came with these gelcaps stated that it would take a full five months of use before one would see a notable difference.
Collagen supplements from Amazon.
The transformation that I have already experienced, two and a half months in, is definitely notable!
Top to bottom:
My hair is the consistency of hair – unlike the cat fur that I have been sporting for my entire life.
My sight is notably clearer due to..
Increased stability of my sinuses.
My hearing has improved and my vertigo has virtually disappeared due to stability of inner ear, etc.
For the first time in three years my cough is showing significant improvement due to stability of sinuses and airways in my throat and upper lungs.
My hands are not numb, achy, or stiff. My dexterity shows signs of definite improvement.
My nails are stronger and healthier.
My skin tone has improved significantly.
Increased stability in joints – I can walk (indoors or out) without tripping, stumbling….
Increased upper body muscle strength (despite not working out).
Reduced muscle pain – especially sitting or lying in place.
My hips, knees, and ankles do not automatically lock when I stand in place. I can move freely or stand in one place without feeling tense. 🥰
It has been two decades since I realized that most of my wellness issues came from a collagen disorder/deficiency. It never occurred to me that using a collagen supplement could help me. I have been told by medical professionals that collagen issues ‘are nothing’. (Maybe they are if you do not experience them).
I honestly do not understand the disconnect between what doctors (here) say and what I know. I just know that EVERY BODY is different and that mine requires more collagen than I get through my diet or that my body can produce.
It’s about being proactive and accountable, about knowing our bodies and how to maintain them. For me that means Collagen Supplements. 😉
Daily Food Diary – Day 257
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(3) thin slices bacon (150)
(1) 2 egg cheese omelet (260)
(2) potato patties (240)
(1) tomato (22)
Snacks:
(1) c caramel corn (170)
(1/2) c beef broth
(48) oz water
Supper:
(1) Dinner salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green onions, radishes, cauliflower, black olives, sunflower seeds, dried fried onions, lemon garlic vinaigrette (328)
Our Monsoon Season has finally passed! I have no idea how much rain we received but it was A LOT and we missed the worst of it in our neighborhood.
Not only did we get an abundance of rain, but we also had thunder and lightning for the duration. Now that the sun has come out and the heat has been turned up, we can watch our grass grow and see our garden reverting to jungle status.
While we were confined to the Ark yesterday, I baked Apple Crisp – enough to share with Jen and her girls and Genie and Alec. I sent the biggest pan to Jen and the girls. Apparently, the girls are fans. There may not be much left for Jen by the time she is done with her current run of double shifts. 🙆
This is my very last day before getting back to my regular work out routine. I couldn’t be more excited to see how it goes tomorrow. I am feeling great and anxious to get back to it. 💪
Daily Food Diary:
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(3) PC Crumpets (240)
(3) tsp butter (103)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
(2) Slices bacon (87)
Snacks:
(1/2) c beef broth (5)
(36) oz water
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) c Lemon Ginger Tea
(12) Low sodium Lay’s chips (160)
Supper:
(1) Manwhich Sloppy Joe – w/sourdough bread, lean ground beef, cheese, Manwhich sauce, green pepper, onions (817)
(12) Lay’s low sodium chips (160)
(1) serving Apple Crisp (227)
Total calories consumed: 1851
Total calories used: 167
(1 1/2) hours cooking/food prep: 167
Total net calories: 1684
Net Calories Goal: 1851 – 1684 = 455 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day!
Yesterday and today our weather has been WARM and WET. I think we have gotten more rain in these two days than we have had all summer. And the humidity is through the roof!
Things are looking green and clean around here, but I can’t imagine that this is what the farmers need right now.
I am taking one final (regular) workout day off today but I am excited about getting back into my routine on Monday. It will be fun to see what I can do on our ‘new to us’ treadmill, now that my lung infection is cleared up.
Today, I will proceed with my fall cleaning and do a bit of baking.
Dan picked up a nice bag of apples yesterday, so I am going to make a double batch of Apple Crisp to split with Jen and Genie. They are both excited and it will save everyone here from reading about Dan and I eating one piece of Apple Crisp a day for the next month. 😊
The flower pots are some of the ones that Dan bought this week to use on the new plant rack he is making next summer, using a repurposed pool ladder.
Daily Food Diary – Day 255
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Cheerios (147)
(1/4) c 2% milk (28)
Lunch:
(12) Doritos (153)
(2) oz shaved turkey (60)
(1) small tomato (22)
Snacks:
(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)
(1/2) c beef broth (5)
Supper:
(1 1/2) servings nachos (975)
Total calories consumed: 1608
Total calories used: 360
(30) min. cooking (56)
(1 1/2) hour house cleaning (202)
(30) min. pet care (103)
Total net calories: 1248
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1248 = 18 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊💕
Today is Day 254 of my 2025 Daily Food Diary! 💓 I have (so far) been successful in putting out my daily post. 👍 I have been enjoying recapping my days in this manner and I have been successful in making some beneficial changes to my diet.
For the reasons above, I have decided to maintain this project through 2026 – with one slight change….
Rather than tracking my calories consumed each day, I am going to track my calories used.
I feel that I am ready for this move and I am excited to explore new ways and means to keep active. AND I am excited to share my conquests with all of the regular and occasional visitors to my blog.
Getting down to the core health issues that have plagued my entire life and discovering ways to deal with them and improve my fitness level and quality of life has been an amazing adventure for me.
I know it has been less than exciting, and more than a bit painful, for those who have been following me for the past +3 years.
I get that, and I appreciate it. But the wins I make are not made in the grand gestures or the five star days. They are an accumulation of all of the moments, the choices, the bits and pieces of knowledge that I pick up along the way.
It’s not fireworks and shooting stars – but from where I was three years ago to where I am now, I think it’s pretty impressive. 😁
Two family weddings – only 4 years but a lifetime apart. 💞
Daily Food Diary – Day 254
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) Denver breakfast wrap (560)
Lunch:
(1) BBQ chicken drumstick (135)
(6) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150)
Snacks:
(1/4) c mixed nuts (180)
(3/4) c Maple Walnut Ice Cream (225)
(2) tbsp chocolate sauce (105)
(48) ox water
Supper:
(1 1/2) serving Baked French Onion Soup (552)
Total consumed calories: 1909
Total used calories: 419
(30) minutes walking (53)
(30) minutes cooking (56)
(1) hour gardening (176)
(1) hour house cleaning (135)
Total net calories: 1490
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1490 = 261 over
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞☺️
Our skies are clear, our air is smoke free, and we are finally starting an entire week of actual summer temperatures.
Dan and I took Molly for an uncharacteristically uneventful walk this morning. We did stop at the dog park where Molly got in a few short solo runs across the park.
I have to cut this one short. Our garden is starting to wilt and it’s not going to water itself!
Daily Food Diary – Day 237
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Cheerios (147)
(1/4) c 2 % milk (28)
Lunch:
(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170)
(2) oz ham (57)
(1) oz marble cheese (113)
(1/4) c white cooking onion (3)
Snacks:
(14) hickory smoked almonds (70)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2 1/2) c chicken stir fry – orange carrots, green onions, cabbage & celery, brown mushrooms, red pepper, chicken filets, ramen noodles (622)
(1) vegetable spring roll (100)
(4) Gyoza (133)
Total net calories: 1022
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1022 = 207 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❤️
Today is Day 229 since I started keeping and posting my Daily Food Diary. 🤗🥳
When I started my Daily Food Diary, I had a few reasons for committing to this practice. My main reason was to become more mindful of what I was eating, to hopefully zero in on which foods were detrimental or beneficial to my health and wellness – and to adjust my diet accordingly.
I started posting my Daily Food Diet to help me to be accountable for maintaining this practice for an entire YEAR.
So far, I am finding that the benefits that I have enjoyed from this practice have been totally worth any effort that I have put into it.
By becoming mindful of what I consume, I have cut back on the sugar, salt, and between meal snacks that I was accustomed to. I have become aware of how many calories can be packed into processed foods and fast-food takeout. I have even learned the difference that supplements can make in my health and wellness – specifically (for me) collagen supplements.
I have learned that a Daily Food Diary can be a powerful tool. But apparently, like all tools it can be dangerous if it is used incorrectly or for the wrong purpose.
Yesterday, I was browsing social media and I came across a video that mentions the dangers of using a Daily Food Diary. The video itself was a bit much (for me) politically and socially.
But, the poster did make a good point about becoming overly obsessed over every calorie one consumes, in a bid to reach an unhealthy and unrealistic weight/body image.
I think it is something to definitely be mindful of before starting a Daily Food Diary – especially if one’s main goal going in is weight loss.
The point of using any weight loss tool, should be to enhance one’s health and wellness. If any weight loss tool is failing to do just that, it needs to be set aside or at least adjusted to meet one’s needs.
If you do decide to start your own Daily Food Diary, just be aware of the potential benefits and possible dangers. 💞
Daily Food Diary – Day 229
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) scrambled eggs (182)
(3) slices bacon (130)
(2) potato patties (240)
Snacks:
(1) Mott’s caesar –red w/pickled asparagus – green (120)
Yesterday marked one full month since our granddaughter Genie married her ‘To Infinity’ Alec. 💞
This week when Alec and Genie delivered our ‘new to us’ treadmill, we finally convinced them to send us some more wedding photos.
Dan & I with the happiest young couple! 😊Prim looking so pretty (as always). Acting as official flower girl, Prim took her duties seriously. With help from the mother of the bride & flower girl (our daughter Jen), Prim helped to choose, arrange, and distributeall of the flowers – including the bride’s bouquet.
Back story of theflowers… the basic blossoms were store bought (and included red carnations and pink rosebuds in memory of Genie’s great grandparents). They were also filled out with wildflowers that Jen and Prim picked for the day – in honor of another day from Genie’s youth.
When all of Jen’s kids were young, we used to take them to visit my Mother in the Foyer in Gravelbourg. We always brought Mom something, most often flowers. On one visit, I forgot to get anything, but as we turned onto the highway to Gravelbourg, the ditch alongside the road was filled with wild flowers. Jen and I decided we would pick a bouquet of wildflowers for Mom. 👍
After telling ALL of the kids to stay in the car, we made our way down into the ditch. We heard the car door open and close. And looked back to see Genie rolling into the ditch behind us.
There was no turning her back, so we just watched over her while she picked an armload of wildflowers for greatgrandma.
My mother loved the bouquet and we never let Genie forget the story. 😂
I am taking things easier this weekend. Yesterday, I went for Molly’s walk. I did a bit of housework (nothing too heroic). I did my aerobics. And… I did 21 minutes on the treadmill – getting up to a Level 4 (of 16). No incline yet, but today could be the day.
Daily Food Diary – Day 228
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) pink grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
(1) granola bar (170)
Snacks:
(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)
(12) Mini Easter Eggs (the LAST) of the mini Easter eggs: (190)
(60) oz water
Supper:
(1) sourdough bun (190)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(1) Beef/pork burger with bacon bits, provalone cheese, onions – white, tomato – red, lettuce – green , & horseradish – white (256)
(12) barbecue chips (130)
(5) slices cucumber – green (4)
(5) slices tomato – red (13)
Total net calories: 965
Net calories goal: 1222 – 965 = 256 under 👍
That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 💓🤗
Grandpa escorting his girl to the altar, while she clutched her, special as she is, bouquet.
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 