Tag: Canadian

Daily Food Diary – Day 349 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 349 of my Daily Food Diary. 🥳

Yesterday, I had a few wins to celebrate:

1) I walked with Dan and Molly in the morning, did my aerobics in the afternoon and went for a spin on the treadmill in the evening.

2) I got most of the house vacuumed, scrubbed,  and tidied up – while dan washed all of the bedding.  Even if I am totally knocked down by my little surgery tomorrow, the house will be in order when son Dan and family arrive on the weekend.

3) I messaged with one of my nieces yesterday and it was all good news with her and hers! 🤗

This morning I awoke to a weird win…

I swear, since my Mother passed away in 2013, she communicates in music – music and hymns that I am vaguely familiar with.   I woke up to this tune playing in my mind this morning. (?) Not my favourite but not the worst way to wake up. 😂

My Daily Food Diary win for the day…

Cutting back on restaurant meals and on using processed foods at home.  We still get take out, eat out, and use some processed foods – but we have cut back a lot and Dan and I are both better off without the additives and extra salt and sugars.  👍

Good, nourishing, and natural (mostly)!

Daily Food Diary – Day 349

Breakfast:

(1l c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) serving shepherds pie (340)

(5) hot chicken wings flats (156)

(60) Oz water

Supper:

(2) Harvest hotdogs (320)

(6) onion rings (150)

(8) tater tots (124)

(2) mozzarella cheese sticks (127)

(2) tbsp Dilly Dip (100)

Total consumed calories:  1479

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1100

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1100 = 108 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary –  Day 335 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness, 2025

Today is Day 335 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤩

As the final days of 2025 pass by, I am counting the wins that I have celebrated since I began my Food Diary in January.

When I began this challenge, it was all about becoming  more mindful of what I was consuming on a daily basis.   One of the first things people here noticed was how little water I drank.  🙄

I knew it wasn’t much, but I hadn’t really considered that it wasn’t enough.  I just wasn’t a fan.   I still fall short of what I should drink, but I have improved my water intake to the point where I will take it as a win (with room for improvent.)  Proper hydration is important for everyone, but with my family history of kidney disease and my personal history of chronic respiratory issues, I know that it is one area that I must continue to monitor and improve on.

As for my more recent general life wins…

My morning walk yesterday with Dan & Molly was a disaster of draining sinuses, coughing fits, and Pyrenees attitude.  

1) I tried to take the pressure off of Dan’s back, but even with Molly’s pinch collar on  she was lunching and lunging.  I was choking and sputtering.  It was bad.  I made it around one block, before Dan had to take the leash and we headed home.  Dan headed off solo with Molly prancing  in unison beside him –  as if  this was a fabulous win for her. 😣

While waiting for Dan and Molly to finish their walk, I cleared my lungs with my Airobika and calmed down and regrouped. 

2) When they got back, Dan and I went down to Southland Mall.  I felt better and things went perfect.  We returned with four  Christmas gifts plus a new pair of winter gloves for me.  I saved ten dollars plus taxes on the goves – and I paid for them with Canadian Tire money since I bought them at Mark’s Work Wearhouse.  Wins all around!

3) Later in the afternoon, we had a surprise visit from  granddaughter Prim.   She helped me make supper.   She did all the prep and she whipped up a pan of chocolate/walnut brownies for dessert.   We had supper, and she watched the end of a game show with Dan before he drove her home with plenty of leftovers for her sister Maddy.   Prim’s visit was a win for all of us! 

This morning’s walk went way better.   Molly was still too wound up for me to hold onto her,  but she walked well for Dan.  On our way home we stopped at the dog park for half a hour where she had a good run with her friend Ripple.

Daily Food Diary – Day 335

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

(8) Hint of Lime chips (200)

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) servings homemade hamburger helper (615)

(2) Bicks baby dill pickles (6)

(1) Chocolate brownie with walnuts (101)

Total consumed calories: 1264

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1264

Net calories goal: 1208 – 2264 = 56 over 👎

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

I miss summer already. 💗

Daily Food Diary – Day 317 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 317 of my Daily Food Diary! 🌞

This morning we were up and about for an earlier that usual walk with Molly. We left the house at 8:30, just as a LOT of people were passing through the neighbourhood on their way to work and quite a few kids were making their way to school. Molly handled the extra foot and vehicle traffic quite well all things considered.

Our weather was fairly decent, but hard to believe it was as decent as our Weather Channel would have us believe. It was supposedly plus 13C with low humidity. It seemed pretty cool and damp to us but we were dressed accordingly so we were comfortable enough.

Yesterday, we had a quiet day around here. We had our walk and I did my aerobics. The rest of the day was spent getting our new phones in order and tidying up the house. I don’t know that I did anything out of the ordinary, but my lungs felt amazing when I headed off to bed last night. Absolutely clear, and I didn’t even cough when I took a few deep breaths just to check them out. I don’t know what happened, but I’ll take it when I can get it and I just hope there will be more days and nights like that in my future. 🤗

This morning, Dan is off for coffee with some of the guys that he worked with. Molly is down for a nap. I should get on with a workout or two while all is quiet on the home front.

Daily Food Diary – Day 317

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(1) cheese biscuit (129)

(3) oz roast chicken breast (75)

(1/3) c gravy (24)

Snacks:

(1) 315 ml Root Beer (170)

(1/2) c raspberries (32)

Supper:

(2) bowls vegetable beef barley soup (360)

(2) snickerdoodles (140)

Total Consumed Calories: 1327

Total Used Calories: 193

(30) minutes walking (137)

(30) minutes aerobics (174)

Total Net Calories: 1016

Net Calories Goal: 1208 – 1016 = 193 under 👍🏻

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

Regina Floral Conservatory – a few years ago.

Daily Food Diary – Day 312 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 312 Days since I began maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary.  🌟

From the very beginning of this challenge, I knew it would not be about perfection.  As it is with my Health and Fitness Lifestyle in general – it is about balance. 

My Daily Food Diary has been very helpful in making regular  improvements to my diet.   But, there have been days that have shown my diet to be less impressive than others.

Yesterday, on the other hand, was a good day! I started the morning with half a grapefruit, for a shot of vitamin C.  My lunch included a couple of chicken wing drumettes, which are high in collagen.  My snack was a tablespoon of raw local honey to help mitigate the environmental allergies that I have been struggling with.  The beef, barley, vegetable soup for supper was the star of the day with homemade broth – low in salt and rich in collagen, barley – part of any cholesterol diet, and mega vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.

Yesterday’s good for body, mind, and soul menu was just part of my good day ….

I went for a morning walk with Dan and Molly, easily covering the full circuit in the crisp, fresh air.   In the afternoon, I completed (3) sets of light (8 pound dumbbell) weight exercises.   And, in the evening, after straightening up the kitchen and doing dishes (with Dan)….

I hit the treadmill for thirty minutes. 😊

Action shot…

Today, being Sunday, I will probably scale things back as usual – possibly focus more on the Mind and Soul with some reading and relaxation.

We did go for our walk this morning, after Grandpa Dan got back from taking Maddy to work.   It was quite the interesting walk with the city closing off an intersection that affects access to two major streets and one avenue in our area.   The traffic on our quiet little side streets was uncharacteristically heavy and with many of the drivers looking fairly lost, confused, and frustrated, the intersections were pretty dicey! Not to mention icy from yesterday’s snowfall.   Fun stuff, but we made it home in one piece and we all felt  better for having gotten the fresh air and exercise!

Daily Food Diary – Day 312

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(2) chicken wing drumettes (122)

(6) onion rings (150)

(8) tater tots (124)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) bowls beef, barley, vegetable soup (360)

(3) mini chocolate treats (120)

Total consumed calories: 1188

Total used calories: 282

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min weights (73)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 906

Net calories goal: 1208 – 906 = 302 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 310 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 310 of my Daily Food Diary! 💓

310 days, since I have been maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary.   Every day,  for 310 days,  of being mindful of everything that I consume – and virtually 310 days of thinking that I could and should be doing better. 

But today I realized how different things would feel if I had a Daily Food Diary from  last year to use as a comparison. 😳

1. I do not drink enough water – but I drink a lot more than I drank in the past.

2. I still drink an occasional soda.  I have probably averaged one each month this year. Last year… Probably at least 4 each week.

3. I still have a snack most days – depending on what I have for breakfast. I used to mindlessly snack from morning to night.

4. A snack used to often be regular or seasoned  potato chips – now virtually all of our chips are lightly salted – as is our bacon, broth, and anything that we season as we cook.

5. I used to snack in the evening – especially when Dan was out.  Industrial sized snacks – a bag of popcorn, toffee by the handful, big bowls of icecream with unlimited toppings, cookies, the occasional cake…. Now,  I do not snack in the evenings.

Setting myself up for Dart Night (pre Food Diary) 🙄

6. I used to eat at least a couple of FULL servings every night, cooked with butter, seasoned with lots of salt, unlimited cheese.. Now my meals are generally one reasonable serving cooked in olive oil – light on the salt and cheese.

7. Take out or eat out used to be a regular thing – Chinese, KFC, Taco Time, Arby’s, steak & lobster on special occasions.  Now we have take out, Arby’s, Taco Time, or DQ once every couple of weeks – maybe!

There are more changes that I/we have made in the past year.   Being mindful of what I eat, has influenced what we eat and what Dan buys (since he does the shopping in our house).

Improvements can,  and may eventually,  be made to our daily diet.  But today I’m feeling pretty good about how far we have come! 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 310

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) crumpets (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (152)

(2/3) scalloped potatoes (150)

Snacks:

(3) mini chocolate treats (120)

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1 1/2) c Herb & Butter Sidekicks (240)

(3) sticks souvlaki (345)

(1) c broccoli & cauliflower (55)

(1) tsp butter (34)

Total consumed calories: 1382

Total used calories: 183

(30) min treadmill (73)

(1) hr food prep/cooking/cleanup (110)

Total net calories: 1199

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1199 = 9 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 285 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 285 of my Daily Food Diary! 💖

Today is also our Canadian Thanksgiving. Today as always,  I am thankful that Dan & Molly & I have each other, our family & friends, our health, a roof over our heads, food for our table, a reliable vehicle, and a warm, comfortable bed.   

Yesterday, we had our first snow of the season.  (Which TBH I was not so grateful for).  🙄

After three very busy days, I took a break  to read, relax, and enjoy a quiet day with Dan and Molly.

I don’t have a lot more planned for today.  We got bundled up and took Molly for a walk earlier this morning.  The cold wasn’t too bad but the air was still thick and humid from all the rain and snow yesterday. I struggled a bit, but managed the full walk.

It will be a challenge to get back up to speed with all of my workouts this week.   I am fighting the urge to hibernate until spring returns. 🌷

Daily Food Diary – Day 285

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1) 2 egg Denver omelet (235)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(15) raspberries (15)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(2) servings nachos (975)

(1) PC lemon meringue pie (303)

Total consumed calories: 1770

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1770 = 541 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 235 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 235 of my Daily Food Diary! 😀

We are having a fairly uneventful weekend.  Our air is (thankfully) smoke free.  Our temperatures are mild  and we have limited wind.

Yesterday, I took advantage of our pleasant weather to do some work in the garden.  Dan drove granddaughter Maddy to work and went driving with her after she was off.

Every once in a while I would check my phone (Life 360) to see where they were and make sure they were still on the road.  Dan had her drive for quite a while – in the city, far from country ditches. 😂

Apparently, she did quite well.  Our Jeep came close to losing a side mirror but no actual harm done.

I’m glad we have Life 360 – but seriously Maddy.  Using a photo from your first ever Annual Boxing Day Sleepover for your profile picture?  You should be driving a pedal car. 😳

This morning we went for an early morning walk, had our typical Sunday morning, breakfast and tidied up a bit.   Dan and his cousin from BC (who dropped in for a short visit) are outside in the gazebo.

Outside this morning – feeding the squirrels peanuts and cleaning up after Molly.

Daily Food Diary – Day 235

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (238)

(1) Mott’s Clamato Caesar – red (168)

(4) asparagus spears – green (20)

Supper:

(4) c nachos: tortilla chips, ground beef w/ taco seasoning, onion, peppers, & olives  – green, peppers – red, shredded cheese (650)

(3) tbsp salsa – red (15)

Total net calories: 1128

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1128 = 101 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 224 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 224 days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. That is a full 32 WEEKS! 🌹

You would think for such a notable day, that I would have done better for my diet yesterday. 

Net calorie wise, I actually did.  When I subtract the calories used I only use exercise – walking, aerobics, weights and cardio.  Yesterday, I walked with Molly and Dan and I did my aerobics.  It wasn’t a weight/cardio day, but I used a LOT of calories cleaning house.  Our house wasn’t that dirty, but I was clearing out our spare room and one thing led to another. (Including but not limited to: laundry – several trips up and down the basement stairs, dusting living room shelves and  rearranging  elephants, repacking Dan’s Mother’s china, hanging a couple of paintings, and cleaning out, sorting, and rearranging one kitchen drawer). 

Totally off topic here: Pet peeve time – This morning I caught a news blurb about how extreme heat is detrimental to one’s mental health.  After noting a couple of  ways that one can  help themselves, family, or neighbours during a heal spell, the experts have decided that our provincial and federal governments should be held accountable for providing extensive mental healthcare for people during such times. 

I agree that mental healthcare should be available and accessible to people when they need it.  Absolutely! 

But I am really tired of hearing how we as Canadians are too pathetic to deal with any and every challenge in our lives without government intervention.

On another topic (sort of), it reminds me of my son Dan’s Two Year checkup with the health nurse.   She was asking him a few random questions,  for whatever reason.   A couple of questions in, she asked him what his mother would tell him to do if he was cold.  Without hesitation, he said “She would tell me to put on my damn sweater”.   The nurse laughed and then she asked “What would your Mother tell you to do if you were hungry?”

In retrospect maybe I have never been into coddling people,  but I can’t imagine what good can come of constantly being told that our physical, mental, emotional, and  financial well-being should be the responsibility of our various levels of government.  🤦

Mark, Genie, and Dan – red pj’s (Does it look like I  ever starved him?)

* And for the record, all three of my kids have turned out relatively responsible and self sufficient.

Daily Food Diary – Day 224

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) sausage patty (150)

(1) cheese biscuit (151)

(1) egg (72)

(1) oz marble cheese (113)

(2) tsp butter (68)

Lunch:

(1) c homemade soup – white, red, green orange  (125)

Supper:

(1) Taco Time Mexi-fries (265)

(2) hard shell tacos – green, red, white (520)

(1) crisp meat burrito (428)

Total net calories: 1624

Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1624 = 403 over 👎

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

Genie taking a break at Waterfall Park (old pic/young Genie)

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.