Tag: bronchiectasis

Daily Food Diary – Day 201 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 201 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.   It is two years since I eliminated yeast from diet and started taking a serious look at improving my diet in general.    And, it is three and a half years since I started living a healthier and more active lifestyle.

One would think, I would have it all down to a science by now, but looking at my Food Diary entry from yesterday – obviously NOT.

What is truly ironic, is that yesterday I was  messaging  back and forth with my sister Lorraine and we were discussing our health issues, our eating habits, and our frustration with North American attitudes towards diet in general.  Every day is a celebration  – and every celebration needs an overindulgence of poor food choices and alcohol fueled fun. (At least I dodged the alcohol fueled fun. 🙂) 

Fortunately, another Monday has come around and it is a new opportunity to dial back on the calories and amp up on the exercise.  I’ve been one of the 35% of Canadians living with obesity, and I am not going back there!

We  started our Monday with a walk with Molly.   Dan and I both struggled  with the  100% humidity – as well as with trying to keep  Molly out of the burr laden weeds along one stretch of roadway. 

We  managed to walk a respectable distance – and brought Molly home ready for a nice quiet nap. 👍

Being Monday, I still have my aerobics to do this morning, weights this afternoon, and chicken salad is on the menu for supper. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 201

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) potato Patties (240)

(2) eggs (160)

(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (114)

(5) asparagus spears (16)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(3) slices bacon (130)

Snacks:

(25) No Name Barbecue Chips (270)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(7) oz New York Strip Steak (546)

(1 1/2) c white rice (363)

(1/2) c red pepper (23)

(1/4) c red onion (15)

(1/2) c celery (8)

(1/2) c mushrooms (22)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(2) tbsp soya sauce (30)

(1) c broccoli (30)

(1/2) c cauliflower (14)

Total net calories: 2086

Net calories goal: 1229 – 2086 = 857 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! 😊💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 199  of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 199 of my Daily Food Diary and it is 1 week until I turn seventy!

This morning,  Dan was scheduled to pick up  granddaughter  Maddy and drop her off at work.  Since he would be at the southern end of the city, he offered to take me out to Dutch Growers.

Dutch Growers, one of our city greenhouse/landscaping businesses was large when it was in the city.  Now that it has moved to a more rural location, it is massive.

They sell everything Yard and Garden, plus clothing, accessories, jewellery, house plants and home decor.   They have a large four season building that leads to several large enclosed greenhouses.  

I was looking for a specific plant spray (which they do not carry).   But, I had my eyes open for something that I would appreciate for my seventieth birthday present.  I could probably have spent a few thousand dollars on waterfalls, planters,  and fairy statues, but I managed to resist such temptations.

I do have a sizable elephant that I picked up there years ago.

I did walk out  with a serious case of lung congestion.  We were not halfway home before Dan asked me if the humidity in the greenhouses had bothered me. 🤦

Seriously, I have asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD – and I was so enthralled by all of the huge plants, decor, and miscellaneous goods that I hadn’t even noticed.  (Although, I certainly should have known going in).

It is great that between my daily workouts, my medications, and my general attention to diet, I can forget about my chronic respiratory issues.   But on occasion,  that does come  back to bite me on the butt!

Daily Food Diary – Day 199

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola nut bar (160)

Lunch:

(2) c romaine lettuce (15)

(2) green onions (16)

(3) oz canned chicken (150)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip  (80)

(25) No Name barbecue potato chips (270)

(6) candy coated mini Easter Eggs (130)

* I swear, the bag is ALMOST empty

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) c chilli with meat & beans (452)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(3/4) c ice cream (180)

(1) tbsp dark chocolate sauce (52)

(1) tbsp caramel sauce (130)

(9) pecans (59)

Total net calories: 1574

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1574 = 346 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! 💞😊

My garden meditation zone (pre Molly)

Daily Food Diary – Day 141 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 141 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary and this is the 1st Day that I almost forgot to do it!

In my defense (no excuses):

1) Yesterday, was a ROUGH day.  We had one more day of cold rainy weather and my lungs decided they were done.  I did get my workout done and laundry.  Dan made supper and did the dishes.  I went to bed at 7 pm and woke up at 5am to a much better day.

2) Today is grandson Lucas’s birthday.  We won’t be seeing them for a few more days, but when I got up I was focussed on sending him birthday wishes and a few dollars to spend on a gift from us.

Lucas (L) with his brother Cason – Happy 10th Birthday Lucas!

3) This morning I had an 8:30 appointment with my respiratory specialist.  I still have a lot of infection to clear up – especially in my left lung, but with better weather and the new sinus meds  I am on – it should happen!  Also chances are slim to nil that I will drown in my own mucus when I am under anesthesia for my hernia operation.  I am still on the waiting list (since February) but that is ok.  It gives me longer to clear up my lungs and a better chance of recovery from the anesthetic and the hernia.

4) On the way home, we stopped at the Dollar Store.  I hadn’t been to a Dollar Store for ages, so I may have gotten a bit carried away.  I put together a new bouquet for Dan’s parents’ grave, got a new solar frog for our garden (and some green paint because it  is just pale grey), a new hair clip, and a new book  to make notes of the Buddist wisdom that I have been studying this year – core values, breathing techniques, and the like, plus a few odds and ends.

My new notebook & frog. 

5) Finally, tonight is granddaughter Maddy’s last band concert of the year.  So, she called me about some last minute changes to the plan, I have to do my workout and my sinuses, AND take Molly for a good walk so she won’t destroy the place while we are gone tonight.

Maddy’s School is just a few blocks from us, so very convenient for attending concerts and such.

All in all, just more going on than I am used to!  I was about to start my workout and remembered to do my blog.  141 Days and still counting!

Daily Food Diary – Day 141

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(4) slices shaved ham (57)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(24) oz water

(20) raspberries (20)

(20) lightly salted Lays ripple chips  (291) (2.7 grams)

(6) mini chocolate Easter eggs (85) (2.5 grams)

(1/4) c hickory smoked almonds (160) (1 gram)

Supper:

(5) oz Lean ground beef burger (257) (4.8 grams)

(1/2) tomato (11)

(1/5) c red onion (13)

(2) mozzarella sticks (127) (3 grams)

(8) on rings (270) (2.2 grams)

Total net calories: 1355

Net calorie goal: 1243 👎

Total saturated fats: 16.3 grams

Saturated fat goal: 13.75 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 127 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 127 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary! 🎉  It has proven to be an effective goal for improving my eating habits.  Becoming mindful of anything we do is a good thing  keeping a food diary definitely keeps me mindful of what I am eating.

Nutrition is important, but it is just one part of my overall health and fitness lifestyle.  This morning, I got to focus on another part – professional medical advice and treatment!

This morning, I paid a visit to my respiratory specialist.  Expecting a refill of my regular inhalers and a “Keep doing what you are doing!”, I wasn’t overly concerned about this visit.

Needless to say, I left the specialist’s office with prescriptions for my regular inhalers, antibiotics and oral steroids for bronchitis, nasal spray for ongoing sinus issues, a requisition for a chest x-ray, and an appointment to go back to see the  specialist in two weeks. 😢

Asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD and bronchiolitis are chronic health issues.  Regardless of how hard you work to maintain a healthy lifestyle, they are always there.  It is frustrating, but fortunately I had a regular visit booked this morning,  and hopefully we can get a handle on this and move forward – sooner than later!

Daily Food Diary –  Day 127

Breakfast –

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies (200)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (.8)

(1) tsp sugar (8)

Lunch –

(3) oz dark, skinless turkey (150) (1.9 grams)

(1) c broccoli (31)

(1/2) cup cauliflower (13)

(4) radishes (6)

(1 1/2 tbsp) Dilly Dip (120) (1.9 grams)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(11) chicken wing flats air fried (420) (8)

(1) tbsp Frank’s Xtra Red Hot sauce

(2 1/2) air fried riblets (123) (1.7 grams)

(1) tbsp Frank’s Stingin’ Honey Garlic (40)

(1) carrot (25)

(1/2) c broccoli (20)

(5) slices cucumber (4)

(1/4) c orange bell pepper (9)

(1 1/2 tbsp) Dilly Dip (120) (1.9 grams)

Total net calories:  1168

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1168 = 75 under 👍

Total saturated fats: 16.2 grams

Saturated fats goal: <13.75 grams 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 104 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is  104 days since I started my Daily Food Diary.   🎊   These days are going by a lot quicker than I thought they would, but every day that I  maintain my posting streak, I get a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. 😁

It is easy to maintain any practice once it becomes a habit – especially one that is tucked neatly between other established habits.

I try to have a relatively flexible routine in retirement, but my morning begins with   a set pattern – one that is easy to build on.   Dan and I get up, let Molly out and get her breakfast, let her in, and get our coffee.  I sit down at the computer desk to take my inhalers and vitamins,  and to read our local online newspaper, while Dan turns on the tv to watch the morning news.

This morning as I was flipping past the pages of provincial news and Canadian election news, I was half listening to the American news that Dan was watching.   It occurred to me to wonder if the entire world was obsessed with politics.

Then I began to wonder if anyone reading my blog, thinks I am obsessed with my diet and my chronic lung issues – my asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, and apparently bronchiolitis that recently showed up on a CT scan.

For the record, I am not.  My Daily Food Diary is something I am  doing  to  help me to  manage my lung issues.  I also do aerobics, regular lung clearing and deep breathing exercises, clear my sinuses with a Neti Pot, get outside and walk, meditate, and   get adequate sleep.

That might seem a bit much – but it really is not THAT much, especially since doing these things gives me the ability to forget about my lung issues and live a normal healthy life for the rest of the day.

That is what I am really obsessed about – my life.   Spending time with Dan,  and with Jen and her girls when they stop by for random visits.  Spending time with Molly – brushing her, feeding her, cleaning up after her. Spending time in our yard, cleaning away the winter debris and preparing for spring planting.

Spending time with my little seedlings – the tomatoes and some of the flowers are going hard.  The peppers and herbs are dawdling,  as usual.

Spending time chatting with friends and family and catching up on social media.  Spending time cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and generally nurturing our little home.  Spending time reading, paying bills, and managing our finances. 

All in all, I have a good life.  Making the most of it by taking care of my health is not an obsession – it is just time and effort   well spent. 🤗

My life, my world… 🌞

Daily Food Diary – Day 104

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7 mg)

(2) eggs (160) (140 mg)

(1/2) tsp olive oil (20)

(1/3) c green onions (12)

(1 1/2) oz ham (54) (46.8 g)

(1/4) c red pepper (12) (1.5 mg)

(5) asparagus spears (16) (10.5 mg)

(1/8) tsp table salt (0) (291 mg)

(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (114) (175) (.1 g)

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice tea

(24) Lay’s Lightly Salted chips (134) (48 mg) (.5 g)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(4) oz Lean beef (251) (56.7 mg)

(7) oz Crinkle cut fries (280) (397 mg)

(6) tbsp gravy (30) (480 mg)

(1) c broccoli (60)

(2) tsp olive oil (79)

(2) tsp butter (69) (63.3 mg)

(1/8) tsp seasoning salt (190 mg)

(1) tbsp horseradish (45) (120 mg)

Total Net Calories: 1163

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1163 = 96 under 👍

Total Sodium: 2024 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 👍

Total Processed Sugar:   .6 grams

Processed sugar goal: 25 grams 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 87 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 87 Days since I started tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary.  It is 30 plus years since I was diagnosed with, and began treatment for, asthma.  It is 5 years since I was diagnosed, and began treatment for, bronchiectasis and COPD. 

Over time, I have learned a few things. 

First – Medications on their own (other than the antibiotics and oral steroids for acute infections) do little to manage respiratory disease.

Second  – Respiratory disease can be managed with inhalers, exercise, breathing exercises, fresh air, diet, adequate hydration, stress management, and adequate quality sleep. 

Third – Management of chronic respiratory disease is a personal responsibility.    For me, this has included a lot of research and a lot of trial and error.

A few days ago, I joined a bronchiectasis group on Facebook.  It has been validation of what I have learned and what I have done to live reasonably well with my respiratory issues.

I have also encountered some surprising information.  A LOT of the posts I have read mention the connection between diet and respiratory health. I have seen general physicians, specialists,  respiratory therapists, and a dietician (regarding general allergies).   None have discussed this connection.  None have mentioned the prevalence of food allergies – specifically a YEAST allergy.  None have advised me to avoid sugar, processed foods, or dairy products.  None have discussed proper hydration.  

In Canada, we have a health care crisis. We have a shortage of doctors and healthcare workers.  We have a shortage of health and long-term care facilities.  We have a shortage of  emergency and acute care facilities. 

What is really disturbing to me, is that we have a shortage of critical  information being passed on to people who are diagnosed with chronic respiratory issues.  Information that would keep people out of emergency wards and healthcare facilities.  Information and advice that we shouldn’t have to search out on social media. 🤦

Food Diary – Day 87

Breakfast:

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

(3) crumpets (240) (6)

(2) tsp butter (68) (.1)

(2) tsp jam (33) (.1)

Snacks:

(1) c Tumeric Tea

(1/3) c bbq corn nuts (161) (2.8)

(6) candy coated mini choc. eggs (85) (2.5)

(30) oz water

Supper:

Taco Salad:

(200) grams ground chicken (260) (38)

(1/4) c shredded cheese (208) (13.2)

(2) c lettuce (12) (.9)

(1/2) med. Tomato (11) (.5)

(5) sl. Cucumber (4) (.2)

(1/4) c green onion (10) (1)

(1/2) c red pepper (23) (.7)

(3) green olives (22)

(3) tbsp salsa (15) (.7)

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

Total calories: 1305

Less 106 calories – aerobics

Net Calories: 1199

Daily calorie goal  1269 – 1199 = 70 under

* Those candy coated chocolate eggs would have put me over my calorie goal for the day.  Fortunately, I found that if I used regular salsa instead of Salsa Ranch Dressing on my Taco Salad, I could squeak out one more win. 😊🙌🙌🙌

Total Protein: 69.3 grams

Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

A younger Genie at Waterfall Park 💞