Tag: active living

Daily Food Diary – Day 74 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 74 days since I headed down this rabbit hole of tracking and posting everything I consume each day. 

Some days, I impress myself.  Some days, not so much!  Yesterday would be  ‘not so much’.

First off, there was the lack of any fruit and very little vegetables.  There was nothing in the fresh fruit or vegetable category.  I have noticed for the past three months that I haven’t been eating much fruit or vegetables – fresh or otherwise.  I do eat a lot of both in the summer but I am going to have to start working  on the other nine months of the year.

Second, this month I have been tracking my protein intake.  It is almost always higher than I would have thought.  Yesterday, I set a dubious record. I did a particularly intense aerobics workout yesterday morning  AND I went outside to get some fresh air yesterday afternoon. While I was outside, I shovelled the snow off of all of our walks, broke up and cleared away some ice, and I did my deep breathing exercises to clear my lungs.  Maybe I needed all that protein? 🤔

I have made progress on the quality of my snacks.  I have cut back on potato chips and that Root Beer that has been sitting on the little table in the porch taunting me is still there.

I have decided  that in April  I am going to track my processed sugar consumption. A woman is supposed to limit her daily sugar consumption to 25 GRAMS.   With that Root Beer weighing in at a hefty 46 GRAMS, it might be sitting there until we go to stay with Lucas and Cason in a few weeks.   They are active enough to burn off a little extra sugar. 👍

Cason & Lucas with their big sister Gabby

Food Diary – Day 74

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Shreddies (200) (6)

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Snack:

(1) c Lemon Ginger Tea

(24) oz water

Supper:

(10) chicken wing flats (425) (46)

(1) tbsp Extra Hot Frank’s Sauce

(3) Egg rolls (225) (3)

(4) Riblets (74) (12)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total Calories: 1356

Total Protein:  94 grams

Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 69 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I have been recording and posting everything that I consume for the past sixty nine days.   Being mindful of every single thing that I eat is a bit challenging, less so as time goes on.   Being mindful that everything I eat (at least at mealtimes), also affects what Dan eats, is slightly more challenging.  It isn’t that much of an issue.  Having been married for almost twenty six years, we have worked out meal plans that work for both of us.

Then there is Molly!

Molly is fed Blue Buffalo dog food, two cups twice a day – plus the occasional dog treat, popcorn, or nut.  For the past several months, we have been putting one Omega gel cap in with her morning food.   Molly would get up every morning, head outside to do her business, walk the perimeter of our yard to make sure everything was in order, and come back in the house to snarf down her breakfast – including the Omega. 

A few days ago, Molly decided that she was offended by the Omega gel cap.  She would balk at eating her food, take the Omega out and place it on a small mat, and finally eat her food.  THEN, she decided she could not eat until she removed the offending gel cap AND we dumped her food and replaced it with fresh, non Omega tainted food.

This week, Molly will eat her breakfast AND her Omega, BUT only if she sees Dan putting her food and the Omega into her bowl.

Trying to improve my eating habits, and Dan’s by default,  has its challenges.   Living with a Pyrenees – and feeding one, these days, takes that challenge to a  whole new level. 🤦

Food Diary – Day 69

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)  (.3)

(1) c Honeynut Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(1) c Tumeric Tea

(2) pc’s  matrimonial cake (278) (2)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(1/2) c brown beans (300) (20)

(3) Pork Spare Ribs  (300) (16)

(1) Side salad with dressing and dried fried onions  (180) (7.7)

(20) oz water (after supper)

Total calories: 1238

Total Protein: 50.7 grams

Daily goal for protein: 46 to 58.5 grams

* The recipe I used for the matrimonial cake called for Maple Syrup instead of sugar, plus it omitted the lemon juice,  in the date filling.  I am not sure why it would need Maple Syrup or sugar with dates.  We didn’t notice the difference in taste using the Maple Syrup, but I certainly missed the lemon juice! 

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 68 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am 68 days into tracking everything I consume in a day and recording it in my Daily Food Diary. 

This daily practice is part of my personal health and fitness journey that I began three years and one month ago. 

My ‘why’ at the time was just being sick and tired of being sick and tired.  Over the past thirty seven months my ‘why’ has changed and evolved.  Overall,  I feel healthy and strong and I want to stay that way – and continue to get healthier and stronger.    I love fitting into clothes that I hadn’t worn for years.  I love knowing that I am doing my best to avoid being a burden to our already overburdened health system. I love being able to easily do things that I struggled with for years. 

For years, I struggled to do my own hair. Reaching my arms up to hold a curling iron or a blow drier was exhausting and beyond painful.   A few months ago, I was told that this is normal for people with lung disease.  People with lung diseases – asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or bronchiolitis (I have been diagnosed with all four) find it difficult to lift their arms due to physiological changes caused by lung disease. 

For the past thirty seven months, I have been doing aerobics six mornings a week.  (I did miss a very few weeks due to illness, a broken arm, etc).

I still have chronic respiratory issues and I always will,  to some degree.  But!   I do not struggle to do my own hair.  I can wave my arms in the air, LIKE I JUST DON’T CARE, anytime anywhere – for any reason!

The freedom to move as I want, when I want, is ‘WHY’ enough to keep moving forward on my health and fitness journey,  but I do it for this and for so much more!

Food Diary – Day 68

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(2) scrambled eggs (196) (12)

(3) thin sliced bacon (130) (8.9)

(26) oz water

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice tea

(6) Hint of Lime Tortilla chips (150) (2)

(1/4) c sunflower seeds (180) (6)

Supper:

(14) oz water

(2) c homemade wonton soup (250) (19)

(2/3) c Butter Pecan Ice Cream with extra pecans and  butterscotch & chocolate topping(415) (5)

Total Calories: 1322

Total Protein: 53.2 grams

Protein Goal for the Day:  46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 64 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

I have been tracking, recording, and blogging everything that I have consumed for the past 64 days.  I haven’t been obsessing over everything I eat, but I have noticed one change in my eating habits.

Through January and into February, I had a lot of cravings or urges to eat or drink empty calories – a root beer here, a cookie there.  I had to make a deliberate effort NOT to nibble and snack from the time I got up to the time I went to bed.  Lately, that is no longer an issue.   Unless, I am sitting down to have a meal, or our afternoon tea and snack, I just go about my day – sipping on my water bottle and oblivious to the tempting  snack type foods on the table or in the pantry.

Due to this one change in habit more than anything, I am excited to report that as of this morning, my weight is down to 128 Pounds. On January 1st, I recorded my weight at 133.5 pounds, so I am happy with the progress I have made so far. 🤗

Food Diary – Day 64

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Shreddies (200) (6))

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

Lunch

(1/2) c dark chicken (267) (4.9)

(1/2) c coleslaw (74) (1.2)

(25) Lay’s salt & vinegar chips (230) (2)

Snacks

(1/3) c mixed salted nuts with peanuts (85) (8)

(1) c green  tea  (2) (-)

Supper

(3) c chicken Caesar salad (350) (8)

(2) slices thin sliced bacon (87) (5.9)

(1) PC Chocolate Fudge Cake (300) (40.3)

Total Calories: 1759

Total Protein: 40.3 grams

Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grand

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

Dan’s Bleeding Heart  – Daughter Jen and Granddaughter Genie keep replacing them  when our winters prove too much for them. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 62 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am sixty two days into my Daily Food Diary and I am still tracking what I consume, and learning from this exercise every day.

This month, I am specifically tracking the  protein in my diet.  I am only three days in, but so far I am surprised by how high my  protein intake is. I don’t know if it is a fluke.  I haven’t been planning my diet around it.  Having Dan buy a small Chocolate Fudge Cake on the weekend, certainly hasn’t helped the cause. 🙄

Meanwhile, our weather continues to stay relatively mild.  Our February temperatures were not conducive to getting much fresh air so I have really appreciated finally getting outside.

Our neighbourhood is still not great for walking, but fortunately we have a large yard.   We don’t get to a park for a walk every day.   But…  I am getting outside,  throwing a ball for Molly, and getting some exercise  fetching it for her.

Molly sitting in her favourite corner. 🤦

Food Diary – Day 62

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (2)

Lunch:

(24) oz water

(2) oz Piller shaved ham (57) (8.5)

(1/2) c Mini Ritz (140) (.2)

(1) oz medium cheddar (45) (2.5)

(1) c tea

Supper:

(1) Roasted chicken thigh & drumstick

      (387) (45)

(1) c mashed potatoes (113) (1.9)

(1/4) c Swiss Chalet gravy (20) (1)

(1) side salad (90) (5)

(1) pc chocolate fudge cake (300) (2)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total calories: 1379

Total Protein: 56.4 grams

Protein goal:  46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 61 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 61 days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  I am still eating and still tracking! 👍

This weekend was a double win for my health.

Yesterday, I went for a CT Scan that needed to be done before my hernia repair.  I had an appointment but they called me three hours early to ask me if I could pop down to the hospital right away to get it done.  That alone was a double win – I got it done and I didn’t sit around worrying about it for three hours. 😂

Also yesterday, I received the results of blood tests that I had done last week.  My results were a perfect win.  All the usual tests – cholesterol, blood sugar etc came in at mid normal.  AND There was no indication of any infection or inflammation.   That was all accomplished with exercise and diet. 👏 No medications used or required.  That is huge for anyone and especially anyone like me who cannot tolerate any drugs.

Food Diary – Day 61

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)  (.3)

(2) breakfast sausages (270) (20)

(2) pancakes (173) (4.9)

(1) tbsp Pure Maple Syrup (55) (-)

When I spoke to a nutritionist last fall, she told me that Maple Syrup is the best natural sugar to use. (Still in moderation)  I don’t remember if she said why, but I think it is because it is the least processed.

Compare ingredients! No contest. 💓

Snacks:

(24) 0z water

(50g) Frito Lays Hoops (270) (3)

(1) c licorice tea

Supper:

(12) oz water

(1) Ruben Wrap

  1. 1 Tortilla wrap (170) (5)
  2. 4 oz Montreal smoked meat (136) (15.1)
  3. 1 slice Swiss Cheese (106) (7.1)
  4. 1/2 c sauerkraut (23) (.5)
  5. 1 1/2 tsp hot mustard (10) (-)
  6. 1.2 pc chocolate fudge cake (360) (2.4)

Total Calories: 1643

Total Protein:  58.4 grams

  • In the past week I consumed 257 calories over my goal of a net 1276 calories  a day
  • My protein goal is 46 to 58.5 grams per day

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Photo compliments of our granddaughter Maddy who was in Alberta this weekend, staying in Calgary and visiting Banff.

Daily Food Diary – Day 60 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

I am SIXTY DAYS into my Daily Food Diary. I only have three hundred and fifteen days to go and I have this challenge in the bag. ☺️

It is Sunday morning.  I am about to start cooking up our Sunday Brunch.  We are having pancakes and sausage this morning, so it will be interesting to see how I do protein wise today.  😯

This afternoon, we are heading across the city to the Regina General Hospital.  I am having a CT Scan that the surgeon wants to see before he does my hernia surgery.  It’s odd that they book CT Scans on Sunday but it’s got to be done, and I know I am fortunate that they were able to get me in so quickly. 😉

Food Diary – Day 60

Late Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2)   (.3)

(2) Potato Patties (240)   (2)

(1) Egg (80)   (7)

(3) Slices back bacon (52)  (12)

(1) teaspoon olive oil (40) (-)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

Supper

(3) pcs English Battered fish (390)  (18)

(21) Cavendish fries (169)  (2.8)

(1) tbsp Tartar sauce (85) (.2)

(1) c coleslaw (50) (-)

(12) oz carbonated water

Snacks:

1)piece of Chocolate Fudge Cake (300) (2)

Chocolate Fudge Cake needs MORE protein and LESS calories 🙄

(1/2) c sunflower seeds with shells (12)  (4)

(12) oz water

Total Calories: 1529

Total Protein: 48.3 grams

Goal for Protein – 46 to 58.5 Grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 59 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 59 of my Daily Food Diary and  February is finally behind us. 

Heading into March, I have made a couple of changes to my Food Diary.

I have started breaking down my day into meals.  How each day breaks down and what I eat depends on what I am doing.  Yesterday, I had a quick breakfast, went to our local lab for blood tests, came home,  and Dan and I headed to a park,  to take Molly for a walk.   The blood tests took forever, so by the time we got back from our ‘morning’ walk, it was about 1:30 PM.

Breaking down my water isn’t an exact science.  I fill my 24 ounce water bottle in the morning and drink it throughout the day.

I have started tracking the protein I eat in a day.  Without particularly trying, I hit the higher end of my goal for eating 46 to 58.5 grams of protein per day. 💪

Food Diary – Day 59

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147) (2.7)

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

Late Lunch

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(2) sm peach (51) (1.2)

(1) lg pear (116) (1.4)

Supper

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) c spaghetti with meat sauce (574) (27.6)

(1/3) c shredded cheese (120) (7)

(3) Dill pickles (23) (1.2)

(25) Lay’s Classic chips (160) (2)

(2) tbsp Kraft Philadelphia onion dip (45) (2)

Evening Snack

(2 1/2) oz fresh coconut (175) (2)

(2) tbsp dark chocolate sauce (110) (6.8)

Total calories: 1552

Total protein: 55.9 grams

  • For my age, sex, and size my goal for protein is 46 to 58.5 grams per day (46 grams should maintain the muscle I have, up to  58.5 grams should build muscle).

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 56 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 56 of my Daily Food Diary  and a beautiful day it is shaping up to be.  The sun is shining and our temperatures are hovering above freezing so it’s all good.

Thanks to the great weather, I am finding it easier to step up my activity level this week.  My morning aerobics are, as always,  the cornerstone of my fitness program.   The rest of my day varies.  Yesterday afternoon, I spent an hour outside – just doing odds and ends and getting a good dose of fresh air.  I came in, had tea with Dan,  and danced for an hour before starting supper.  💃

I haven’t been doing afternoon weight and strength training for a few weeks, since I had my hernia incident.  I am looking forward to having my repair done so I can feel confident getting back to it.

Food Diary – Day 56

(2) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c 2 % milk (31)

(24) oz water

(4) Chicken drumettes (172)

(1) c Rice a Roni (310)

(1) c tea

(1/6) c almonds & cashews (150)

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) c spaghetti with meat sauce (574)

(1) side salad (223)

(2/3) c Butter Pecan Ice cream (213)

(15) pecan halves (98)

(1) tbsp caramel sauce (70)

Total Calories: 1980

Yikes – but I am determined  not to  scrimp on nutrition just to have a bowl of ice cream.   It’s all about balance. 🙂

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 54 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 54 days into my Daily Food Diary.  I am not starting to slide, I am running later than usual this morning because I had to get to an appointment with the hernia surgeon. 

Everything is fine, he is going ahead with surgery – under general anesthesia this time.   Surgery will probably happen three or four months from now. 

I am fine with the wait.  As long as I take care, the hernia does not bother me.  The wait also gives me time to Goggins up and build up my respiratory system as much as possible before I go under the anesthetic. 

Our weather is co-operating with my intention to get more active and get more fresh air.  The sun is shining and it is beautiful out!

A few weeks away, but I am ready to lose the  winter boots, grab the sneakers, and get out to enjoy some nature walks.

Food Diary – Day 54

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) slices bacon No Name thin low salt (140)

(2) large eggs (140)

(1/4) med tomato (6)

(6) oz coconut water (34)

(25) No Name BBQ chips (270)

(9) Almonds (90)

(1) c tea

(1 1/2) c Habitant pea soup (271)

(5) Sofa Crackers (63)

Total Calories: 1247

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