Tag: active aging

Daily Food Diary – Day 286 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 286 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

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! 💗☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 284 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 284 of my Daily Food Diary! 😉

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! ❤️😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 281 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 281 of my Daily Food Diary! 🥳

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! ☺️💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 272 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 272 of my Daily Food Diary! 💖

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 in the city as well! 🤩

Daily Food Diary – Day 271 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 271 of my Daily Food Diary. 😊

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! 💓🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 267 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 267 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

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! 😊💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 260 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 260 of my Daily Food Diary. 🌞

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! 😊❣️

Daily Food Diary – Day 259 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 259 of my Daily Food Diary.  That is a full 37 WEEKS! 😊💞 I remember celebrating my first week in.  I thought that was a major accomplishment at the time. 😂

I found a photo of my high school year book entry recently.  (I have no idea why it is black and white.  I am pretty sure color was a thing in 1973. 🤦)

Two things of note here: 

It is funny how much I thought I knew when I graduated.  😂 I was so naive and clueless but I thought I knew myself and everything about the world around me.

And… I still have no idea where I am going or  where I will end up  (or what places this adventure will take me along the way).  I do however, totally believe that I am on the right path. 👍

At seventy years old, I do not know everything, but I have stopped talking to plastic cows – so there is that!

I am feeling great this morning but Molly and Dan went walking without me due to another foggy morning.  I will be doing my aerobics, weights, and treadmill – indoors, with the dehumidifier doing its magic.

Daily Food Diary – Day 259

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(4) slices shaved turkey (60)

(1) medium tomato (22)

(12) Lightly salted Lay’s chips (160)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(1/2) c chicken broth (10)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) sm. Taco Time Mexi Fries (265)

(1)Taco Time Crisp Meat Burrito (428)

(2) Taco Time Hard Shell Tacos (520)

(1) 355 ml can RootBeer (170)

Total Calories consumed: 2028

Total calories used: 363

(30) min. Walk (53)

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

(1) hour house cleaning (135)

Total net calories: 1665

Net Calorie Goal: 1229 – 1665 = 435 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 258 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 258 of my Daily Food Diary – without a single miss! 🌋

Yesterday, I returned to my typical workout routine.  I had no problem doing a complete aerobics session nor a light weight routine.  I only did fifteen minutes on the treadmill but I was happy with that.  I was planning to step back a bit just because I had not been using the treadmill for long before I was sidelined by my latest lung infection.

Yesterday on my blog,  I was discussing the benefits that I have already experienced since I started taking collagen supplements two and half months ago.   One benefit that I failed to mention was my much improved balance and co-ordination.

I am so excited about all of the benefits that I am receiving from these collagen supplements.  I am constantly noticing the difference and thinking “Look what I can do!” . I went for an entire full length walk this morning and I DID NOT stumble once. 

Many years ago, many decades ago, I was a bridesmaid in my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding party.   During the rehearsal, I tripped and stumbled so many times that the best man got annoyed and asked me if I was drunk.   Nope… That was just my life before collagen supplements. 🙄

That there has always been something wrong with the way my body produces and/or uses collagen is obvious.  But looking at how people in general live and age, I believe that collagen deficiency is getting and will only get worse until things change.

A couple of nights ago, Dan and I were talking about our fathers.  They were both incredibly strong men – physically and otherwise.    Neither of them ‘worked out’ at a gym or otherwise.  Their strength came from their diet rich in collagen.

I see regular articles about the foods that Boomers (and pre-Boomers) ate – foods considered beneath the sophisticated palate of today’s youth. 

Our fathers ate head cheese and pork hocks, stewing hen soups, tougher cuts of beef  – slow cooked in sauce and gravy to break down the cartilage and tendons, gelatin salads and desserts, blood sausage, sardines and more of the like. 

It was good flavourful  food without the unhealthy additives that are in our food today and it made people strong.  Strong enough to live strong, healthy,  high quality lives. 

My Dad on the Left, Dan’s Dad on the right
Our supper last night.  It was good – the meat was slow cooked, the beets and garden tomato and cucumber were amazing, the mashed potatoes and gravy were perfect.  But the nutritional value fell short of our Dad’s diet.   Unfortunately!

Daily Food Diary – Day 258

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(1/2) c Campbell’s chicken broth (20)

(12) tortilla chips (153)

Supper:

(6) oz roast beef (376)

(1) c mashed potatoes (237)

(1/2) c gravy (50)

(1) c beets (75)

(3) tsp butter (103)

(1) tomato (22)

(5) slices cucumber (4)

(1) cooking onion(44)

(2) tbsp horseradish (14)

Total calories consumed: 1458

Total calories used: 474

(30) min. aerobics (176)

(30) min. weights (73)

(15) min. Treadmill (26)

(30) min. yard/garden (88)

(1) hr. Food prep/cooking/cleanup (111)

Total net calories: 984

Net calories goal: 1229 – 984 = 246  under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 248 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 248 of my Daily Food Diary and I am still on a roll! 🥳

I am still feeling pretty adequate on Day 4 of my antibiotics and Prednisone.   A couple of news bites since yesterday morning.

* The hospital surgical unit called yesterday to book my hernia repair for September 19th.  Unfortunately, they have to delay it until I have the Prednisone out of my system, but at least I am on their radar!  And someone else gets their procedure bumped up. 👍

* I got the results of my blood tests. I’m no expert but they seem to indicate that I have an infection. 👍

* And… I have plans this weekend  to help daughter Jen work on her Jeep.  She is changing out the motor, transmission, wheels etc. from the Jeep they rolled a couple of years ago to the one they bought this spring.  My mechanical proficiency won’t help her out, but I’m pretty sure I can hand her the tools she needs and take away the parts she doesn’t.  👍

And ‘Flea’ will be back rolling better than ever, sooner than later!

Daily Food Diary – Day 248

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

Brunch:

(1) lg cheese biscuit (258)

(2) oz Piller ham (57)

(1 1/2) oz cheese (170)

(2) tsp butter (68)

Snacks:

(1/2) c caramel corn (85)

(1/2) c ice cream (120)

(2) tbsp chocolate sauce (105)

Supper:

(1) lg cheese biscuit (258)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) beef wiener (150)

(2) tbsp salsa (8)

(1) green onion (8)

(6) onion rings (270)

(3) cheese sticks

(1) tomato (22)

(5) sl. Cucumber (4)

Total calories consumed: 1843

Calories used: 172

(20) min. Walking (49)

(30) min min. Housecleaning (67)

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

Total net calories: 1843 – 172 = 1671

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1671 = 442 over 👎

* Prednisone zoomies gone… Raging hunger on! 🤦

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