Tag: active living

Daily Food Diary – Day 347 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 347 of my Daily Food Diary! 🤩

Yesterday, I had a great win! While I was making my mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies, my sister Lorraine called to discuss how to make … our mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies. 😂

There is nothing like having a random meeting of the minds with a sister to make a good day great.

A bonus win came from perusing my James Clear motivational email of the week,  and coming across this gem..

“Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now.  Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different enviornment; act in a great way where you are now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to act in a great way with small things.”

– Wallace Wattles from ‘The Science of Being Great’

It is so easy to feel insignificant and victimized in this day and age.  I just love empowering quotes.  We only get one life, anything that helps us live it in a proactive, productive way is a huge win! 

My ‘December Wrap Up’  Daily Food Diary win for the day has become a proactive part of my life this year..

Learning to notice and appreciate the wins in my ‘day to day’ life.

Yesterday, sister Lorraine and I were discussing our chronic health issues and how the smallest glitch can kick off a downward spiral and how the smallest win can turn it around.   

That is typical of life in general.  Notice the wins in life and there are more wins to notice every day.   😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 347

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Supper:

(1) caesar salad (250)

(9) hot chicken wings flats (383)

(1) lemon tart (175)

Total consumed calories: 1269

Total used calories: 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1098

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1098 = 111 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 326 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 326 of my Daily Food Diary. 🙉  It is Sunday and our weather is amazing.  It is a few degrees above freezing, sunny,  warm, and DRY!  

We went for our morning walk a while ago.  The streets were relatively quiet.  We crossed paths with one dog that Molly would have liked to interact with, but they both just wanted to play so it was not a big deal.

On our walk, I coughed three times.  That was not three coughing fits – just a couple of coughs each time to clear my throat.  I am sure that is a three year record. 🤩

Last night Dan made Baked French Onion Soup for supper.   He used lots of onions, unsalted Campbell’s beef broth, toasted sourdough bun, and shredded cheese (marble for mine/mozzarella, provolone, & parmesan for his).   It was our second amazing supper in a row.

After supper we watched a movie (after the Toronto/Montreal hockey game).   We seldom watch movies.  I usually choose the movies we watch and my choices are questionable at best.  ‘Catnado’ hit a new low for me – and that took some doing! Last night we watched one that Dan was interested in seeing.  It was definitely a step up. 👍

The rest of our day today should be quiet.  Dan is going to pick up granddaughter Maddy in a bit.  He will probably let her drive home, as he usually does.  She completed her Driver’s Training course with a very respectable 93% – now she just has to keep practicing until the end of March, when she will be old enough to go ace her Driver’s Test.

Maddy – Her first drive ever. (With her Mom as co-pilot in my Taurus)

  

Daily Food Diary – Day 326

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

(1) Matt’s climate caesar (168)

Supper:

(1 1/2) servings baked French onion soup (552)

Total consumed calories: 1171

Total used calories: 337

(35) min aerobics (200)

(30) min walking (137)

Total net calories: 834

Net calories goal: 1208 – 834 = 374 under 👍

That is it for today.  take care and have a great day! 🤗💓

Daily Food Diary – Day 304 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 304 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. ☺️

Today is November 1st. TEN months down and Two to go.

I generally begin each month with a fresh focus for my diary.  This month, I am just going to wing it.  Each day, I will focus on a different aspect of nutrition – good, bad, or otherwise. 🤷

Since yesterday was Halloween, prepackaged treats seem to be a good place to begin.

This year as always, we stocked up on Halloween  treats to hand out, and as always we overstocked! Now that we are retired, we do not have the option of donating such leftovers to company lunch rooms. 

Fortunately, daughter Jen’s girls have aged out of Trick or Treating… and her youngest (Prim) chose the option of having a sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa.

While she arrived costumed up from her school dance, she soon opted to get comfortable.

After a supper of enchiladas, an evening of watching the Blue Jays,  a surprise visit from  her best friend, a good night sleep, and a breakfast bacon & tomato sandwich,  she headed home WITH our leftover Halloween treats to share with her sisters!

Another sugar and salt crisis averted – at least for us. 😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 304

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) potato patties (240)

(2) eggs (160)

(3) slices back bacon (52)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

Snacks:

(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)

(1) mini bag ripple chips (86)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1 1/2) homemade enchiladas: ground chicken with onions, peppers & taco sauce, rice with green salsa, refried bees, shredded marble cheese,  cheese tortilla shell (600)

Total consumed calories: 1249

Total used calories: 104

(40) min walking (104)

Total net calories: 1145

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1145 = 64 under 👎

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

Flashback to 2023

Daily Food Diary – Day 300 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 300 of my Daily Food Diary! 💗 I remember when the days of my diary were in the double digits.  100 Days seemed incredibly distant.  Here we are, with less than 100 Days to go and it seems like the year is all but over.   Funny how things always look so much closer in the rear view mirror!

Earlier today, I tagged along for the morning walk with Dan and Molly.  Fall has finally arrived.  

Not only are the leaves changing color, they are also falling – fast and furious.    

Dan just got home from shopping.  He said this seems like a good day for wonton soup for supper.   In the overall scheme of things, any kind of home made soup seems like a good plan for supper for the foreseeable future. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 300

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Brazilian cheese rolls (249)

(3) slices low sodium bacon (130)

Lunch:

(1) Harvest wiener (188)

(12) Lay’s lightly salted ripple chips (140)

(1) c coleslaw (50)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) cabbage rolls (394)

(1) pc chocolate cake (300)

Total consumed calories: 1445

Total used calories: 384

(42) min aerobics (244)

(35) min walking (68)

(30) min light weights (73)

Total net calories: 1061

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1061 = 148 under 👍

University of Alberta Botanic Gardens

Daily Food Diary – Day 279 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 279 of my Daily Food Diary! 😍

This morning Dan and I started the day with a walk for Molly.  It was the roughest one I have had for a while – and sadly the result of my own doing.

Last night, while the stew was cooking I decided that Happy Hour was in order.  For some reason, a Rye (whiskey) and Pepsi sounded good.  Finishing off the can of Pepsi after that seemed even better. 🤦

While the yeast used  in fermenting any alcohol is a problem for me, the sugar in any soda mix is a much bigger one.  Pepsi contains 41 grams of sugar in one 355ml can.  That is huge.  Too much for anyone and way too much for anyone with bronchiectasis.

So this morning while I was trying to keep up to Dan and Molly (while they deliberately took it slow for my sake), I struggled.  Trying to do anything when one is fighting to breathe through an abundance of  thick sticky mucus is never easy. 

I don’t remember when I last had a Rye and Pepsi, but I won’t be having another one any time soon.

Fortunately, having had a hot lemon water since I got back home, I am now feeling much better. 

Today is an aerobics and treadmill day. By the time I complete those, I will be back on track.  This afternoon I plan to get some housework done in preparation for our Thanksgiving  supper on Thursday. 

While Molly prepares in her own way.

Daily Food Diary – Day 279

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) Chicken burger (no bun) (120)

(1) sl provalone (70)

(1) tomato (22)

(25) barbecue chips (130)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(1) Rye & Pepsi (125)

(6) oz Pepsi (75)

Supper:

(4) c Beef, gnocchi, & vegetable stew (736)

Total consumed calories: 1455

Total used calories: 360

(40) min aerobics (234)

(30) min light weights (73)

(30) min walk (53)

Total net calories: 1095

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1095 = 135 under 👎

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

Husband Dan got up before me this morning to catch this amazing sunrise. 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 278 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 278 of my Daily Food Diary! 💗

Next Monday (October 13th) is our Canadian Thanksgiving.  Of all the major holidays that we celebrate, Thanksgiving is my favourite. There is none of the stress that comes with all the commercialization of  other holidays.  Thanksgiving is just that, a day to be grateful for what we have and an opportunity to share it with loved ones. 💞

Dan and I are hosting our Thanksgiving supper this Thursday.  It is the best day for those family members who work over the weekend.   And the leftovers they take home will make a handy meal for them, when they will be too busy to cook!

After joining Dan and Molly for a frigid walk this morning (as in our bird bath is now a miniature skating rink), I decided a pot of hearty beef stew was on the menu for tonight.   

Beef gnocchi stew. 😯

Just to note.. Jet Pack/WordPress is glitching out for me.  I find myself unable to like posts or comments.  Hopefully, you are getting my comments. And hopefully… The situation resolves itself soon.

Daily Food Diary – Day 278

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(2) sl. Bacon (87)

(1) tomato (23)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(1) pkg. Sesame snacks (150)

(48) oz water

(8) oz lemon water

Supper:

(1) bowl Knorr minestrone (66)

(5) soda crackers (63)

(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170)

(2) oz ham (89)

(2) oz marble cheese (227)

(2) green onions (16)

Total consumed calories: 1326

Total used calories: 59

(30) min treadmill (59)

Total net calories: 1267

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1267 = 38 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 243 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 243 of my Daily Food Diary. 😁

Today is also Labour Day and a stat holiday in Canada. 

Tools of the trade… (Maybe my trade lunch 🙄)

Kudos to those who labour to provide the goods and services that we require.  And kudos to those who have in the past, and those who still do, dedicate their lives to ensure the safety, fair wages and benefits, decent working conditions, and fair/honest treatment of those in our workforce.  

Being employed in today’s work environment is far from perfect,  but fortunately improving work standards  is an ongoing process.

Happy Labour Day!

It is eight months since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. As I approach each new  month, I struggle to find another monthly focus.   This month (September) I have finally decided on calories used. 

Every month since February, I have counted my calories consumed and subtracted my calories used (by legit exercise).  This month, I am going to highlight all significant calories used – by exercise, housework, yardwork, Petcare, shopping, and the like.

Since being unwell the past few days, I need the motivation to get back to my regular level of activity.  Let’s see how that goes!

Daily Food Diary – Day 243

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Eggs (160)

(2) slices Bacon (170)

(1/2) red tomato (22)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1/2) c caramel corn (85)

(1) c ice cream (120)

(2) tbsp chocolate sauce (105)

(10) filberts (88)

Supper:

(1) rotisserie chicken thigh/drumstick (320)

(1)c raw vegetables and – green onions, broccoli, & cucumbers, red radishes, orange carrots, white cauliflower (100)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)

(1) Lightly salted ripple chips (135)

Total net calories: 1597

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1597 = 368 over 👎

* Another day of zero activity to deduct calories.   I walked with Dan and Molly this morning.  We’ll see if I can burn anymore calories off.

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 236 of 369

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 236 of my Daily Food Diary.😍

Almost eight months ago, I started keeping a Daily Food Diary.   My main goal was to eat less high calorie/low nutritional foods and to eat more foods that are high in nutritional value.

One of my secondary goals, was to determine which foods I am allergic to, or for whatever reason I cannot tolerate. 

I have a few foods that I knew I cannot eat – pumpkin seeds (home made pumpkin pie is fine), cranberries (but I can drink cranberry tea), and YEAST.

It isn’t terribly difficult to avoid pumpkin seeds or cranberries.   Yeast is a whole different story.  Despite avoiding brewers yeast and baking yeast (in obvious products) I have still been having issues with yeast showing up in less likely foods.  I have found that restaurants use red and white sauces that contain yeast, canned gravy and store bought broths contain yeast, some soda crackers, potato chips and  other snack foods  contain yeast.   But there are other foods that bother me for no conceivable reason – store bought or restaurant served cakes, pancakes, muffins and the like.

Recently, I found that a LOT of commercial baking, including cake (icing), pancakes, and  muffins contain powdered egg whites and powdered egg whites contain Yeast.  🤦

According to Google, yeast is added to egg white powder to improve product stability and prevent discoloration and off-odors.

So, there’s that!

I have also discovered recently,  as has my daughter, that foods containing palm oil cause an allergic reaction.  (A severe one for Jen!). One more thing to check for on product ingredients.

We are fortunate that in Canada  we have strict packaging labels for food that contain comprehensive ingredient and national value lists.

I am also fortunate that my daughter, and hers, work at a restaurant where they have access  to information on typical commercial food ingredients used.   (Unfortunately, they both share my food sensitivities plus have their own to deal with). 

And I am fortunate that I have become more mindful of what I eat, by using my Daily Food Diary.   It is definitely helping me to zero in on foods that I should avoid going forward. 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 236

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) scrambled eggs (182)

(3) strips bacon (130)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1/2) red tomato (22)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

(1/2) bag popcorn (160)

(3/4) c Butterscotch ice cream (180)

(9) pecan halves (59)

(1) tbsp chocolate sauce  (52)

(1) tbsp caramel syrup (130)

Supper:

(3) c potato soup: white potatoes & onions, green chives & parsley, bacon bits, & cream mixed with water from potatoes  (420)

(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (120)

(5) soda crackers (63)

Total net calories: 1587

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1587 = 358 over 🤦

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 231 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 231 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  That is a full 33 weeks! 🤗🎈

Our weather has been warmer than usual the past couple of days so we have been taking Molly for her walk earlier.

Yesterday morning when we got back, I offered to make Denvers for Dan and I.   I cracked the first couple of eggs and they were typical.  I took the next two out of a new carton.  Both of them cracked lengthwise. 

This happened a few weeks ago.  We bought two or three cartons of eggs and all (or most) of the eggs cracked lengthwise.  😯

I checked with Google and read that I was holding the egg wrong.  Seriously – I have been cracking eggs for over six decades.  I think I know how to hold an egg.  Besides which,  even when Dan would crack the eggs in these cartons, they would crack lengthwise.

Why?   The eggs are perfectly fine.  The shells just break weird.

Daily Food Diary – Day 231

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(1) oz ham (29)

(2) Green onions (16)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

Lunch:

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

(1/4) c mixed nuts (180)

Supper:

(1) Lean ground beef patty (293)

(12) barbecue chips (130)

(4) oz potato salad (154)

(1) c raw vegetables – red tomatoes & radishes, green onions, white cauliflower (90)

(2) tsp Dilly Dip (100)

Total net calories: 1244

Net calories goal: 1222 – 1244 = 22 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 198 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 198 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary!

It is 3 and almost one-half years since I started living a lifestyle focused on my  Health and Fitness.

The quality of my life has improved exponentially in this time.  One thing that I have been particularly grateful for is a marked decrease in my anxiety – something I have struggled with throughout my entire life.

That being said, in the past few months my anxiety level has been creeping back up there.  I have several coping strategies but sometimes they just don’t want to work!

This morning I took Molly on a walk around the neighborhood, by myself.  It was hardly the first time.  But,  I have been walking her alone – knowing Dan was at home and available if anything went sideways.   This morning, Dan was not home.   It was truly Molly and I – no backup, if required.  

I’ll be good!

I got about two feet out our gate and down the sidewalk before my anxiety went through the roof.   There was no way, I was turning back  or taking any shortcuts.  

We finished our route with no major incidents and I felt fine as soon as we got back in the yard.    I will take that as a win,  and hopefully it will ramp up my confidence enough that it will make our next solo trek that much easier.

I am so over this anxiety stuff!  It serves zero purpose and just makes life so  difficult.  

Daily Food Diary – Day 198 of 365

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies (200)

(1/4) c  2% milk (28)

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Snacks:

(1) pear (103)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(5) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (125)

Supper:

Pan Pizza:

(1) Tortilla wrap (200)

(2) tbsp pizza sauce (17)

(3) oz sliced ham (86)

(15) slices pepperoni (150)

(1/4)  c red onion (15)

(1/2) c mushrooms (22)

(1/2) c red pepper (23)

(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (120)

(1) pc chocolate cake (472)

Total net calories:  1505

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1505 = 276 over

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

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