It is cold, it is WINDY, and my allergies are through the roof.
Molly, back from her walk with Dan. If the weather doesn’t improve, he might be on his own tomorrow.
About the most exciting thing around here these days, has been watching the Blue Jays play in the World Series this week.
For the record, I do not follow sports. I have watched more baseball in the past few days than I have in my lifetime. While I can’t say I have been enjoying it – I can see why people get caught up in the hype. The game that went on for eighteen innings had me so engaged, I had to go to bed before I got too into it.
I was hoping the Blue Jays would win – Canadian pride and all. 🇨🇦 But it just got weird that I was getting so desperate for a win. 🙄🤦
It was a relief to see last night’s game over in the allotted nine innings.
Only a couple of more games and life can return to our less intense normal. 😂🙆
Daily Food Diary – Day 302
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) plain paratha (240)
(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
Lunch:
(1) cabbage roll (197)
(6) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150)
(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)
Supper:
(2) bowls wonton soup (450)
(1) mini peanut butter cup (40)
(1) snack size Reese’s pieces (67)
Total consumed calories: 1369
Total used calories:
(30) min walking (68)
(30) min treadmill (80)
(30) min weights (73)
Total net calories: 1149
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1149 = 60 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
This morning I went for a walk with Dan & Molly. Since Dan was taking the leash, I didn’t bother switching Molly to her pinch collar. As usual when Dan takes the leash, she was perfectly well behaved. No trying to leap into random vehicles, no trying to chase FedEx trucks, not even a yip when she passed barking dogs. 🙄
Yesterday, Dan turned up our forced air furnace. Since it sits idle, collecting months of dust and dog hair, turning up the furnace is a bit of an ordeal. He covers the vents and then vacuums each vent for a full cycle before moving on to the next. We did have ‘experts’ come in a couple of times, but honestly this works just as well in our little house and is less of a hassle (at least Molly wise).
This morning, I cleaned the filters for our air purifiers and we are ready to go.
Yesterday morning, I did my aerobics. Last night, I did a full thirty minutes on our treadmill. I had zero incline, but did up the speed to level five for three (three minute) rounds. Today I am doing aerobics and thirty minutes of light weights and cardio. I am pumped about upping the weights to eight pounders. I know I am more than ready. 💪
Still no word on when I will be called in for my hernia surgery, but I am hoping it won’t be until after Christmas. The surgeon wants me under general anesthesia to do it, so I want to be in the best possible shape.
Now that the Prednisone is obviously out of my system, and I am moving forward once again, the last thing I want is another drug induced setback. 😋
1) My food focus this month is on changing from our light summer barbecue diet to a heartier diet of winter comfort foods. Last night, I used one of the pork tenderloins that we had bought to barbecue and serve on salad. However, I roasted it in our small convection oven and served it with home fries, gravy, and steamed broccoli. Very seasonal. 🙂
2) This morning, I walked Molly solo…
Molly
For the first few blocks all went well. Molly was excellent – the image of those large mellow dogs that one sees out and about or in random photos on social media posts.
Anyway, Molly is just walking along, while I am scanning the vicinity for any potential issues.
I catch a slight glimpse of a vehicle coming up behind us. I glance down to Molly, just as it rolls to a stop beside us. Molly lunges in front of me and attempts to catapult herself through an open window. I am desperately holding her by her pinch collar and trying to drag her away from the vehicle. When I finally, glance up I see daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Maddy laughing and reaching out to her.
I didn’t get that photo. 🤦
3) Recently I went back to doing light weights three times a week. Since I am waiting to have surgery to repair my epigastric hernia, I have been cautious – using only five pound weights. Taking collagen supplements has increased my upper body strength to the point that I have decided it was time to move back up to eight pound weights. Considering how long it had originally taken me to work my way up to five pounders (before collagen supplements), it seems amazing that they just aren’t doing it for me anymore. 💪😁
Daily Food Diary – Day 288
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(3) Eggo waffles (330)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(2) tbsp Maple syrup (104)
(2) PC bacon (87)
Snacks:
(1) c turkey broth (100)
(3/4) c Maple walnut ice cream (225)
(1) tbsp chocolate sauce (52)
(1) tbsp caramel sauce (52)
(1/8) c chopped walnuts (100)
(36) oz water
Supper:
(12) oz carbonated water
(4) oz pork tenderloin (120)
(1 1/2) cup air fried French fries (173)
(1/4) c gravy (69)
(1) c broccoli (55)
(1) tsp butter (34)
Total consumed calories: 1573
Total used calories: 332
(30) min walking (83)
(30) min aerobics (176)
(30) min light weights (73)
Total net calories: 1241
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1241 = 12 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💓😊
Seventy Days left of 2025 and so far I haven’t missed a single day of keeping up and posting my Daily Food Diary!
No matter what, I have not missed a single day! That is more than I can say for the rest of my daily routine.
Having chronic health issues, there is the potential for multiple wins, if one is willing to make health a priority. Unfortunately, there is also the risk of unavoidable setbacks.
Having been diagnosed with asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD – weather, seasonal allergies, environmental pollution, and more can trigger flare ups. Flare ups also make one more susceptible to infection, which is routinely treated with antibiotics and Prednisone – both of which have detrimental effects on my health.
In early September I went through my latest setback complete with a round of antibiotics and prednisone. I am finally seeing the last of these effects wearing off and feeling ready to get back on track. 👍
Last night we had a visit from our Granddaughter Genie. Over tea – and a last minute supper of Oriental appetizers, we had a chat about investment strategies. A topic Genie had expressed interest in recently. We talked about everything from stocks and bonds to mutual funds – but mostly we discussed the different tax saving accounts available to keep them in. Not a particularly exciting topic, but important for a young couple starting out – looking to buy their first home, start a family, save for major expenses, and ultimately plan for retirement.
I’m no financial expert, but I do have an idea of what is available, where to find more information, and who to go to for the level of advice that I cannot provide.
Fresh from the wedding and ready to plan for the responsibilities of their life together.
The great thing about helping Genie and Alec with anything like this is knowing that they will pass anything they learn down to their younger siblings, when the time comes.
Daily Food Diary – Day 286
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c cinnamon oatmeal crunch Cheerios (200)
(1/4) c milk (28)
Lunch:
(2) c turkey broth (200)
(2 1/2) oz turkey (115)
Snacks:
(36) oz water
(1) c licorice tea
(12) oz 7up (140)
(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)
Dinner:
(1) egg roll (189)
(2) Gyoza (67)
(2) tempura shrimp (70)
(2) shrimp nests (52)
(1) PC Buttermilk chicken (120)
(1) tsp Gyoza sauce (5)
(1) tsp plum sauce (12)
(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)
Total consumed calories: 1467
Total used calories: 138
(30) min walking (83)
(30) min cooking (56)
Total net calories: 1329
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1329 = 99 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💗☺️
This month (October) I am focusing on how the change of season affects our diet. So far, I have waffled between summer barbecue, to hearty soups or stews, to light salads, to a full blown Thanksgiving supper.
Today, It is cold and WET! I am not sure there is a meal that is geared to deal with that. We had Denver omelets for breakfast. I am thinking something ‘Light Comfort’ for supper. Whatever that is?
Before the rain started coming down last night, Dan and I did a lot of yard and garden cleanup. Dan worked at packing away the patio furniture and gazebo coverings. I picked the last of the tomatoes and peppers and pulled out the plants.
A number of the tomato plants had oddly stunted root systems, but deeply rooted or not, I got all of them pulled out and into the green bin. I am truly impressed with the strength I have!
Out front, the leaves are finally falling but the grass is only getting greener as the rain continues to fall. 🙄
Daily Food Diary – Day 284
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) Plain paratha (240)
(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)
(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)
Lunch:
(2) c turkey broth (200)
(6) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150)
(36) oz water
Supper:
(12) oz carbonated water
(8) oz dark turkey meat (320)
(1) cabbage roll (117)
(10) asparagus spears (33)
Total consumed calories: 1217
Total used calories: 627
(47) min walking (100)
(30) min aerobics (176)
(2) hours yard/garden cleanup (351)
Total net calories: 627
Net calories goal: 1229 – 627 = 640 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
Monday (October 13th) is our Canadian Thanksgiving. Being the overachievers that we are, we are celebrating today! (Ok, some of us work this weekend so this just works better for our family.) 🙄
Dan and I started the day off early this morning with a walk for Molly. I stopped enroute at Dollarama for a few things that I needed. Dan has already been back there plus he has made a trip to Superstore because I forgot we would need asparagus and corn yesterday when he did the last minute shopping. 🤦
I have the lemon meringue and pumpkin pies made, the turkey is stuffed and cooking, the ham is cooked and sliced, and Dan is in the process of making cabbage rolls.
Not picture perfect – but made with love! (Which is the most important ingredient)
I still have lots of food prep and setting up to go, plus my aerobics and treadmill – so best get back to work! 😊
Daily Food Diary – Day 281
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1 3/4) c Cheerios (249)
(1/4) c 2% milk (28)
Lunch:
(2) potato patties (240)
(1) tomato (22)
(3) slices back bacon (52)
Snacks:
(1) c hot lemon water
(1/2) c beef broth (16)
Supper:
(4 1/2) oz baked ham (163)
(1 1/2) c potato au gratin (300)
(3/4) c corn (105)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) side salad (253)
Total consumed calories: 1465
Total used calories: 302
(30) min walking (53)
(30) min aerobics (176)
(30) min light weights (73)
Total net calories: 1163
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1163 = 66 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ☺️💞
This is also September 30th – mere hours away from October. It is beautiful out now, with a bit of wind, and forecast to reach 29 degrees Celsius (84 F). 👍
Dan went golfing a few days ago. The lack of leaves on the fairway was amazing for this time of year!
I am having a good if somewhat muddled day, but I have been for a walk with Dan and Molly. I have done my aerobics. I am ready to start some laundry as soon as I am done my blog. And the plan is to clean the inside of the Jeep and do thirty minutes on the treadmill before supper.
My plan yesterday, was to do my treadmill but I tweaked my back walking Molly in the morning. After Dan rubbed it with CBD cream, I felt so much better I fell asleep at 8 pm and basically slept through the night. At some point I got off my recliner and went to bed. 🙄
Daily Food Diary – Day 272
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) granola bar (160)
Lunch:
(1/2) c beef broth (15)
Snacks:
(6) hint of lime tortilla chips (150)
(1) PC puffed wheat cake (226)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2) servings pork fried rice (894)
(12) oz carbonated water
Total consumed calories: 1447
Total used calories: 445
(30) min aerobics (176)
(30) min light weights (73)
(30) min walk (53)
(30) min food prep & cooking (56)
(30) min yard and garden (88)
Total net calories: 1002
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1002 = 227 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❣️
A bit of color in Regent Park, but most of the leaves are still on the trees inthecity as well! 🤩
Today is also Monday. Yesterday, we had Prim and dog Sasha over for the afternoon and into a sleepover.
It is amazing how well Molly and Sasha get along. They are both big dogs, both females, and there is never a whiff of an issue. I don’t think I have ever heard Sasha bark, and when they are together, Molly is too chill to bark either. Sasha is like her support dog. 😂
Prim, who is thirteen, was likewise amazing. She made us all quesadillas for supper – including slicing the chicken breasts and vegetables and cooking them. She EVEN helped with dishes and kitchen cleanup after supper.
This morning she was up (without being called) at 6:30 so she could have breakfast and get home by 7:30 so do her morning chores, finish her homework, and feed Sasha and the cats BEFORE school. 🤗
Prim!
After cleaning up, we played three games of chess. I won the first, Prim won the second in three moves (with help from a friend she was on speaker phone with), and she won the third – all on her own. 👍
Daily Food Diary – Day 271
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) scrambled eggs (182)
(1 1/2) oz ham (43)
(1) tomato (22)
Snacks:
(6) Hint of Lime Chips (150)
(1) 355 ml RootBeer (170)
(1/2) chocolate/coconut brownies (74)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(1) lg quesadilla – 2 tortilla wraps, chicken breast, green onion, black olives, red pepper, jalapeno, banana pepper & taco sauce (713)
(1) butterscotch brownie (229)
Total consumed calories: 1585
Total used calories: 111
(1) hour food prep/cooking/cleanup (111)
Total net calories: 1474
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1474 = 245 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💓🌞
This is starting out to be a good day. Dan is off golfing so Molly and I went solo on our walk. We both went the distance without any issues whatsoever. 😀
Yesterday did not go as planned. I did walk Molly and I got my workouts in. My baking date with Jen fell apart. She had errands to run and work to do on her truck..plus a bit of a vehicle tuneup demo that she gave to Maddy and her friends who are all working on their Drivers Training this year. (If you are going to drive, you should know the basics of vehicle maintenance. 👍)
It was one of the warmest days of our year so far, so baking wasn’t looking like a great idea. I was happy to water our garden and do a bit of reading.
First published December 24th, 2024.
I am not too deep into this book, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. I highly recommend it. In fact, I think it should be required reading in highschool, recommended reading before getting married, and an absolute necessity before having children and/or grandchildren.
Since I began my health and fitness journey, one unexpected benefit that I have enjoyed is that I worry less about what others are doing, eating, thinking, or saying while being more focused on working on myself.
This book is next level and well worth the modest price and time it takes to read it.
Today I have my regular aerobics workout and treadmill time. I am going to do more baking – alone as Jennifer is at work, and hopefully get more reading time.
Daily Food Diary – Day 267
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) paratha (240)
(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
Lunch:
(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170)
(1 1/2) oz sliced chicken (70)
(2) slices bacon (87)
(1) tomato (22)
(1/4) c white onion (5)
(1) c lettuce (8)
(1) tbsp peppercorn ranch dressing (30)
(60) oz water
Supper:
(1) sourdough bun (259)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(5) oz lean ground beef burger (304)
(1) slice havarti (180)
(1) tomato (22)
(1/4) c white onion (5)
(1/2) c spinach (2)
(20) lightly salted ripple chips (160)
(1/2) oz Philidelphia Cheese onion dip (20)
Total consumed calories: 1694
Total used calories: 302
(30) min. Aerobics (176)
(30) min. Walking (53)
(30) min weights (73)
Total net calories: 1392
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1392 = 163 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊💞
Yesterday was a great day! I did a complete aerobics and light weight routine plus I did twenty minutes on the treadmill. We also had visits from Maddy and Genie & Alec!
Yesterday was also another day that my collagen supplements proved their worth. At suppertime I opened a new jar of horseradish and a new can of coffee with my bare hands! The coffee comes with a top seal that requires hand strength to grab the tab and pull the seal off. Until now, I have had to take a sharp knife and slice it off. Less than three months after starting Collagen Supplements I can easily remove it as directed.
After supper and twenty minutes on our treadmill, I did my lung clearing with my Aerobika device. I take deep breath in and blow out which engages a flutter valve that vibrates and loosens the mucus in my lungs. In two years, my best effort generally involves one to two breaths before I have a coughing fit and start choking up large amounts of mucus. (Sorry, I know that sounds gross). Anyway, it is a long messy process.
Last night, I did THREE sets of TEN deep breaths, coughing up a minute amount of mucus.
That is amazing!
I did cough up a bit of mucus when I went to bed, when I woke up at 4 AM and after I got up this morning. Absolutely NOTHING compared to what I have been dealing with for the past five to twenty years.
Purchased from Amazon for less than $30 cdn for a month’s worth.
For twenty years, I have been telling doctors that my biggest health issue (possibly a tie with my yeast intolerance) was a collagen issue. Every one of them told me collagen issues are nothing.
Three months ago, Martha from http://walkingchester.wordpress.com left a comment on one of my blogs telling me how much collagen supplements had improved her mobility and quality of life. I ordered my first bottle of Collagen Supplements that day and they have been more effective than I could possibly have hoped for (with zero side effects).
I could be upset, or sad for the quality time I have lost in my life, but I am not. I am just grateful to Martha for encouraging me to try Collagen Supplements.
And I just want to share my results going forward in hopes that others seeing my results will look into trying the collagen option for dealing with their stubborn chronic pain, weak muscle, general health issues that do not respond to typical treatments. Especially, as we age… Collagen deficiency becomes a real issue. 🧓🧑🦳
(* As with any supplement anyone with health or allergy issues must do their own due diligence.)
Daily Food Diary – Day 260
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) Eggo waffles (180)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(2) tbsp syrup (104)
(2) slices bacon (87)
Snacks:
(1) Asian pear (116)
(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(6) oz beef roast (376)
(1) c mashed potatoes (237)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(1/2) c gravy (50)
(1) c beets (75)
(2) tbsp horseradish (14)
Total consumed calories: 1593
Total used calories: 363
(30) min. Aerobics (176)
(30) min. Light weights (73)
(20) min. Treadmill (35)
(30) min. Food prep/cooking (56)
(30) min. Cleaning (67)
Total net calories: 1186
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1176 = 43 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❣️
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 