Tag: active aging

Daily Food Diary – Day 230 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 230 of my Daily Food Diary.  😎

Today is also August 19th  and for the second time this summer we have our air conditioner turned on! 

This summer has been less than sunny and warm.  Even on the warmest days (both of them) the temperatures at night dip to low single digits Celsius. Zero is freezing. 🙄

There are two relatively nice things about this summer. 

(1) There have been fewer smoke days from the northern wildfires.  The fire season has been terrible up north,  but the smoke hasn’t been too bad here.

(2) There have been fewer bugs this year than usual.  Less annoying, but the ones we have seem to be getting meaner.

Our new pet – the Striped Garden Spider.  Relatively harmless with a sting comparable to a bumble bee.   I have stepped on a bumble bee.   I would NOT consider it’s sting to be harmless. 😧

I remember that day… I was getting ready for our big move from North Battleford, Sk. to the metropolis of Spruce Lake, Sk. (Population 50 once we moved in).

As usual when these transfers came up, my ex was off to training for his new position.  I was left to get everything ready for the U-Haul, our house ready for the new tenants, while taking care of the kiddos.  Mark was 4 years old, it was Danny’s second birthday, and Jen was 7 months old.  I had dismantled the beds, cribs, etc… I had an unhappy two year old hanging off one leg, a shrieking baby, and a four year old doing Lord knows what.  The U-Haul depot manager called to cancel our truck because back in those days they didn’t rent trucks to women. Not like I would be driving – which I explained when I made the arrangements.

I decided I needed a nice cup of tea to settle my nerves before getting back to wiping out cupboards and cleaning the kitchen sink/stove/fridge.  I made my tea and set it beside the teacup full of Lime Away – and proceeded to take a good swing out of the wrong cup. 

Having a two and a four year old, I knew the  drill.  I poured myself a glass of milk and chugged it down.  I don’t drink milk.  I haven’t drank milk since EVER.  It comes up faster than it goes down.   But I knew I had to keep it down, so I battled through the nausea and got back to work. 

I strode across the kitchen, more determined (and nauseated) than ever and stepped on a frigging bumble bee.  The searing pain was bad enough, but the baseball sized lump on the bottom of my foot was the last straw.

At this point, my father-in-law stopped by to wish Danny a Happy Birthday. 🎈 My father-in-law was seldom my hero, but he came through that day.  He scraped us all together and took us to McDonald’s for lunch. 

That gave me the time to pull myself together and for the swelling on the bottom of my foot to go down.   When he dropped us back off at our house, my ex’s boss called to see how everything was going.   That second act of kindness in one day was one too many for me.  I told him exactly how everything was going – including my dealings with the U-Haul manager.

That was too much for him.  He told me he would deal with it.  Within minutes, he called me back to tell me the truck was ready for my ex to pick up when he got back.

Just one of several moves we made back in the day, but I am pretty sure it was our worst.

Although… There was the bowl of chocolate pudding that got packed in the box of linens when we moved to La Ronge… Who does that? And that was the one move we made with professional packers/movers.

Daily Food Diary – Day 230

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Eggo waffles (180)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(3) slices bacon (130)

(1 1/2) tablespoons maple syrup (78)

Snacks:

(10) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (250)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) Barbecue chicken drumsticks (270)

(1) Dinner salad: lettuce, onions,  cucumber, olives – green, tomato, radishes, pepper – red, sunflower seeds, dried fried onions (190)

(2) tbsp Vidalia Onion Dressing (100)

(12) oz carbonated water

That’s it for today – Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 228 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 228 of my Daily Food Diary.  ☺️

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 distribute all of the flowers – including the bride’s bouquet.

Back story of the flowers…  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.

Daily Food Diary – Day 225 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 225 of my Daily Food Diary.  Not a single miss in 225 Days!  💃

Yesterday was another busy and productive day.   I got to go for Molly’s morning walk with Dan. (We have been wildfire smoke free for a few days now. 👍) I did my morning aerobics and Wednesday weights. I spent the afternoon outside watering, pulling weeds, trimming plants, and doing general yardwork.   And, I came in to bake apple pies and straighten up the kitchen.

I can’t tell you how great it feels to wake up every morning feeling well and going to bed every night feeling that my day was productive.

I have been on this Health and Fitness Journey for three and a half years.  It hasn’t always been easy.  Not that it has been that hard, but there have been setbacks.  Regardless, weeks like this make it all worthwhile.

It isn’t about living forever, it is about living well.  This week, I am living exceptionally well! 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 225

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Rice Krispies (120)

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

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (401)

(9) Lay’s Low Salt wavy chips (131)

Supper:

(1) sourdough bun (190)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tomato (22)

(3) slices bacon (130)

(1) PC apple pie (178)

Total net calories:  944

Net calories goal: 1222 – 944 = 278 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day and 223 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 223 of my Daily Food Diary. 😁

Yesterday was one of those days when I realized how far I have come in the past three and a half years – since I first set out on my health and wellness journey to build up my strength and stamina.

Yesterday, I walked Molly first thing in the morning.  I came home to do half an hour of yard work, clear my lungs and then do my Daily Food Diary blog.  I was just about to post it, when my daughter arrived with her dog Sasha.

We had previously arranged to take Sasha for a bath at Pet Value.  But first,   we tag teamed a serious brushing session.    Once done, we headed off to bathe her.  An hour later, Sasha was fully groomed.   Jen and I should have both been exhausted.

Sasha, in the zone – enjoying her first Pet Value bath.

However, once I got home, I changed and  did my morning aerobics followed by my Monday weights and cardio. 

Following that, I made a batch of caramel corn and tidied up the house.  I made homemade macaroni and cheese and fixed vegetables while Dan barbecued the chicken for our supper.  After, supper I set up the coffee pot for this morning, straightened  up the kitchen and Dan came in to help with dishes.

This may not seem like that much,  but three and a half years ago, I would never have been able to take Molly for a walk…  much less everything, or anything else.

I honestly don’t know what most people expect life at seventy should look like.  To me these days, mine looks like a miracle. 🌹

Daily Food Diary – Day 223

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Snacks:

(1) cream cheese/peanut butter/chocolate chip cookie (160)

(1/4) c caramel corn (43)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(60) oz water

Supper:

(2) BBQ chicken drumsticks (401)

(1) c macaroni & cheese (400)

(1 1/2) brussel sprouts – green (84)

(1) mini cucumber – green (30)

(1/2)  tomato – red (11)

Total net calories: 1233

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1233 = 11 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 220 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 220 of my Daily Food Diary.  🌞💞

It has been over a month since I started taking Collagen Supplements.  My nails are stronger and healthier than they have ever been, my hands are barely achy (even first thing in the morning), my hair is shedding less and looking healthier, my skin texture is improving,  AND my sinuses are starting to feel noticeably better.  I don’t know how to describe that, except they feel firmer and less collapsible, if that makes any sense.

A couple of days ago, I mentioned Generational Health here,  on my blog.  I was talking about  the positive health and wellness lifestyle habits that we pass down to future generations.  I was mostly  referring to physical health.

Last night our daughter-in-law sent me a photo of our grandson Cason and son Dan.  Since Cason was a tot he has been playing board games, card games, and doing Jigsaw Puzzles with his parents, older siblings and grandparents.

When we were at Dan and Amanda’s  this spring, Cason brought out a chess board and asked me to play a game.   He said he knew how because he had seen someone playing Chess on one of his kiddie shows.  I was a bit skeptical but, ok then! 

With a little help setting up the board and the occasional advice during the first round, Cason had a good grasp on the game.    Despite my best efforts, he won the second one.

Natural talent, and above average intellect aside, kids need encouragement, support, and adult role models to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As a parent, I have occasionally wondered  if my parenting was ever effective or appreciated.    Seeing my sons and daughter  parenting their children, it is obvious that they were both. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 220

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(1/4) stuffed GREEN pepper (86)

Snacks:

(10) Lay’s lightly salted potato chips (57)

(1/4) c barbecue corn nuts (260)

48) oz water

Supper:

(2) c beef steak and vegetable – green, red, orange &  white stir-fry (200)

(1) c white rice  (242)

(2) tbsp soya sauce (30)

(1) tbsp butter (103)

(5) Gyoza (167)

(1) tbsp Gyoza dipping sauce (15)

Total net calories: 1090

Net calorie goal:  1222 – 1090 = 131 under

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 217 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 217 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary!  That is 217 days without a single miss! 💖

This month, I am focussed on adding more color to our diet.  This will mean adding some new foods – or at least foods that we don’t make on a regular basis.

Last night, I decided on Stuffed Green Peppers.  If I have ever made them before, it was long enough ago that I don’t remember.   Dan has made them, so he was amenable to the plan and offered to help.

Stuffed GREEN Pepper

We didn’t follow a recipe.  It was just a team effort of this and that and whatever we had in the fridge.

At any rate, they turned out pretty well and gave us ideas for a few more colorful meals.  You might be seeing Enchiladas and Spanish Rice.   I am NOT a squash fan but we might try some Spaghetti Squash.  I used to enjoy cooking  it for our dogs Casey and Kat.  They seemed to like it.  

Casey & Kat

Our weather is warm, sunny, and clear today.  We all took a walk this morning.  I made the full circuit but the humidity didn’t help for sure!

I am just clearing my lungs out with my Aerobika and then I am going to do my Wednesday workout – half an hour of aerobics and half an hour of weights and cardio. 💪

Hopefully, the humidity will drop so I can spend some time outside this afternoon.  Our garden is suddenly entering its jungle phase. 😳

Daily Food Diary – Day 217

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(1) Apple – Red (95)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1 1/4) c Caramel Corn (233)

Supper:

(1) Stuffed pepper – green pepper, white onion & garlic, seasoned ground beef, rice cooked in beef broth,  red pepper,  brown mushrooms, green celery, shredded habanero cheese, dried fried onions.  (465)

Total net calories: 1012

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1012 = 210 under

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 215 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 215 of my Daily Food Diary and it’s another late day – 2nd in a row.

Yesterday morning we headed to Gravelbourg to put new flowers on my parents and grandparents graves and to freshen up my uncle’s gravestone.

Dan cleaned up the headstone and painted the base yesterday.
I went to paint the letters and the rosary trim this morning.

The original plan was to work together, but one of us had to stay focused on Molly.

We tried having her loose, thinking she would stay close to us.  She didn’t.  We didn’t have the place to tie her down on a comfortably long leash.  Shade was hard to come by…. unlike crickets!   The entire graveyard was covered in little crickets! 

Fortunately, the crickets backed off while I was painting this morning.  I had a bit of an opportunity to empathize with my Dad as he originally carved the headstone. “In the memory of Herman…” must have been heartbreaking so soon after losing his little (younger) brother.    A year later, he would be carving his Mother’s name and date of death on the right side of Herman’s monument.  Thirteen years later, he would add his Father’s to the right.

When my parents bought their own headstone,  they bought one to match for Grandma and Grandpa Martel and placed one on either side of Herman’s. 

Last night I had a nice  visit with my Aunt Lil.   She is doing amazing.  At 91, she is still in her beautiful home, she reads and does puzzles, she has a small garden, she drives to do her own errands, and she BAKES – including her own bread – totally by hand.

I don’t have to look far to find women to admire and inspire in my family.

We drove home earlier today.   Tomorrow, I will be back to posting at my regular mid morning time.

Daily Food Diary – Day 215

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(3/4) Lg taco salad (green, yellow, red, white)  w/ fried bowl (645)

Snacks:

(1) Smirnoff Ice (114)

(1) Bottle Pepsi (200)

(30) g Caramel Corn (140)

(1/4) c mixed nuts (180)

(24) oz water

Supper:

(1/4) Lg taco salad (green, yellow, red, white)  w/ fried bowl (645)

Total net calories: 1567

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1567 = 345

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 🙂🌹

Daily Food Diary – Day 214 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 214 of my Daily Food Diary. 🙂💓

It was a busy day yesterday and today isn’t much better.  I am checking in late, but better late than never. It still counts!

Saturday is my serious house clean of the week.  After I got my aerobic workout done, I scrubbed down the kitchen, vacuumed, and moved furniture to do a thorough sweeping of the living room and the kitchen.  I also washed clothes and bedding, and we gave  Molly a thorough brushing.   And,  I fed the squirrels TWICE.

I also did a bit of garden/yard  work.  A BIG bit.  I watered EVERYTHING, fertilized the flowers and vegetables, and sprayed the tomatoes cucumbers, and peppers.  My ailing tomato plant is still alive, but hanging by a thread.   Most of the tomatoes are suddenly thriving, but the San Marzano are still fighting the rust fungus. 

By suppertime, I was ready for something  simple supper.  

It wasn’t our most colorful meal but there was yellow corn, white mashed potatoes, and dark brown brownies (which probably doesn’t count as a healthy colour). 

Daily Food Diary – Day 214

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp jam (90)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man Fried Chicken (520)

(1) Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie (50)

Total Net Calories: 793

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 793 = 429 under

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

A touch of colour for Mom & Dad’s graves when we go to Gravelbourg.  Always red carnations for Dad and yellow flowers for Mom.

Daily Food Diary – Day 211 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 211 of my Daily Food Diary.   Today is also Dan and my 26th Wedding Anniversary. 

That was us – with Dan’s Dad and my Mom.  Dan’s Mom & My Dad passed away before we met but I have always felt that they had a part in our getting together.

We are having another nice quiet day today.  I went for a walk with Dan and Molly earlier.  Our air quality was No. 5 again due to ongoing forest fire smoke.  It didn’t seem that bad, so I thought I would be ok.  I was wrong.  A few blocks in my lungs were so congested That I couldn’t keep up with Molly.    I gave Dan her lead and turned back home.   We were at a spot on our route where we could see almost to our house, so Dan and Molly waited until I got to our corner and then proceeded to finish their regular walk.

This afternoon, I am going to make a reservation for our short visit to  Gravelbourg.  Tonight we are going out for supper again.   We are going laid back again. This time we are going to a Fish & Chip restaurant that Dan’s cousin has been recommending for months.  We go out to eat so seldom now since I discovered my yeast issues, that we have to make the most out of it when we do.  Tonight we are going to experience our new favourite fish joint! 😊

Obviously, another day without my daily run today.  Yesterday, I ran on the spot on my kitchen fatigue mat.  I will do the same today.  If I can find a way to actually make running a regular part of  my daily routine, I will look at investing in a fold-up treadmill for our spare bedroom.  I know that come winter, I won’t be running on the snow and ice anyway, so I might as well start looking at options!

Daily Food Diary:

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

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

Snacks:

(4) oz lemon water

(8) Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips (200)

(2) tbsp Salsa (8)

Supper:

(5) oz pork chop (162)

(1/2) pkg chicken ramen noodles (120)

(1) c brussel sprouts (56)

(3) tsp butter (103)

(1) sm side salad w/lettuce, cucumber, green onions, sunflower seeds, dried fried onions, Vidalia Onion salad dressing (256)

(1) piece Caramel Toffee Cake (1050)

Total net calories: 2117

Net calorie goal: 2117 – 1229 = 896 over

*Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significantly  contribute to the production of collagen

That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 210 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 210 Days (30 WEEKS) since I started posting my Daily Food Diary.  Thirty full weeks without a single miss. 🤗💞

It is 3 days since I started running daily.   Today our air quality is ‘moderate’ coming in at a number 5.  Dan and Molly walked alone.  Today being a Wednesday, I will do a  weight/cardio  workout after my aerobics.  Tomorrow, hopefully the smoke will clear and I will be able to get in Run #3.

This is summer in Saskatchewan.   Cold, wet, hot, humid, smokey, clear, dry, and windy! This morning it was +6 Celsius when I got up. (42.8 Fahrenheit). 😯

The one positive of having a cold smokey summer day, is that it helps control the mosquitos and other obnoxious little bugs that generally thrive around here.  Of course it also discourages the butterflies and bees as well.  Such is life!

On the upside, I spent yesterday dressing up our patio furniture with the new seat cushions Dan bought yesterday.   If the smoke clears, I am ready to drag out a space heater and blanket to enjoy a bit of fresh air.

In other news, my  Lose It!  app sent me a notice this morning.  For the past 29 days, I have averaged 221 calories over my net calorie daily goal.  🙄

And in more news, Google just noted that I should have written ‘lost it’  instead of ‘Lose It!’  (Google isn’t wrong. 😂)

To be honest… While I have been noting a LOT of extra calories this month, I haven’t taken any credit for extra calories burnt this month.  I do spend as much time as possible out in our yard – cleaning, weeding, watering (much of it with a heavy metal watering can).  And, Molly is into super shedding mode so I also spend a lot of time in the  house dealing with that situation.

It’s exhausting losing so much hair and spreading it throughout the house.

Daily Food Diary – Day 210

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies (200)

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

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Lunch:

(1) PC Buttermilk chicken (240)

(1/3) c potato salad w/radish & green onion (113)

(2) Gyoza (90)

(1) egg roll (190)

(1) almond flour/chocolate chip cookie (50)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(4) oz lemon water

Supper:

(1) sourdough bun (259)

(5 1/2) oz lean ground beef  patty (334)

(1) slice havarti cheese (80)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tbsp bacon bits (30)

(1/2) c fried mushrooms & onions (30)

(10) lightly salted potato chips (52)

Total net calories: 1730

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1730 = 509 over 👎

*Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significantly  contribute to the production of collagen

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