Our frigid weather has finally started to ease off a bit! It is hard to believe we are already (finally) seeing the end of another January. By the weekend we are supposed to be seeing temperatures near the thawing point! 👏
I haven’t been doing anything too exciting for the past few days – my aerobics and yesterday I went outside with Molly for half an hour. The effort it takes to get dressed to go out is as bad as being outside in the weather we have been having.
I did find a little ray of sunshine! It might be a few weeks until my plants start sprouting.
These last few days have not been great. I have been super congested and coughing ALL of the time. I have been drinking a lot of water, tea, and broth to help clear it up. Yesterday, Dan went to our health food store to pick up some Mullein tea and tincture. I have only had a couple of doses so far, but it seems to be helping A LOT! 🤞
Last night, I made roast beef for supper. I forgot to make yorkshire pudding, but everything we had was amazing. The horseradish we have is The Keg brand. It is awesome! We are having leftover beef for tomorrow night, so I get another shot at making the yorkshire puddings.
That is about it for today. Take care and have a great day!💞🌞
I came across this picture this morning. Molly was so little! I would be on the floor if she jumped up on me like that now. 😁
We are still in our deepfreeze here in Saskatchewan. I haven’t been outside for DAYS. I haven’t been further than our front yard in weeks. 😟
On February 14th, I will close the door on Year Four of my Health and Wellness Journey and I will begin Year Five.
Every single year since Year ONE, I haveapproached this date with excitement and anticipation. Every single year, I have crashed and burned as the date approaches.
Yes, Molly… wrapping up Year One and well into my plans for Year Two, you broke my arm. It was an accident – but still!
Every single year, January has thrown me a curve ball! It is like the universe is hellbent on dragging a deeper commitment out of me before allowing me to move forward.
This year is no different, but…
Yesterday, I happened upon a free Tony Robbins online seminar. Three days – three hours per day. January 29th, 30th, and 31st.
I know three things about Tony Robbins. He is a motivational speaker, he has been around forever, and my sister-in-law attended one of his retreats in Bali a lifetime ago.
I decided to sign up for it. What do I have to lose?
Part of the sign up procedure involved an invitation to join a Tony Robbins 2026 Tour Facebook page.
I avoid most social media. Not ALL, but most…
Anyway, I accepted the invitation to join the Tony Robbins Facebook page.
Then!! I was invited to post a photo of myself, a bit of an introduction, with a few words about why I was attending this seminar and what I hoped to get out of it.
I went with this photo, a few words about my Heath & Fitness Journey, and that I was looking for the motivation to kickstart it for another year and to reach my 2026 goal.
I completed my registration, marked it on my calendar, and moved on. I thought that would be it until the seminar began.
This morning, I picked up my phone and opened Facebook to find countless posts from people around the globe who had signed up for this seminar.
These posts are incredible! They are filled with grief and pain and joy and hope and humanity! People living their lives and focusing on becoming people who make the most of their own lives by learning and growing, accepting gratefully, and giving generously.
I have no idea how this nine hour seminar will go. I have no idea what to expect. But, I do know that I have already gotten more out of this experience than I honestly expected to.
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 🤗💞
Since I began my Health and Fitness Journey four years ago, I have focussed on Body, Mind, and Soul – physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
Today, I am focussed on all three, not just for myself, but for those around me.
When I got up this morning it felt like -44 ° celcius (-47.6 ° fahrenheit) with the windchill. It wasn’t much better without it! 🥶
That is brutal for anyone who must venture out. We are fortunate that we have the option to stay in our home, snug and warm and comfortable in our retirement. But, I feel for those who have to deal with this weather – as would any normal human being with an ounce of empathy.
But empathy be damned. Our city planners, managers, mayor, councillors, and any and all overpaid city hierarchy who have a voice in such decisions – decided this was a good day to unleash the city graders on our residential streets.
This is our street. The photo does not do the situation justice. The grader operator (under order from those higher up on the chain of command no doubt) passed up and down our street – scraping off the solid pack of ice and snow (which was not causing any issue) and pushed it up against the sidewalks.
It is hard to tell, but this is not a lttle ridge of snow. It is higher and wider than it looks. It is a solid, impenetrable barrier of ice and snow. The city will not be back to clear it away. (This is not a one and done – this is an annual event in recent years.)
Our neighbours who do not have the luxury of offstreet parking, will return from work unable to park in front of their homes. They will park as close as they can, and risk exiting their vehicle in traffic – then struggle to climb over this city built obstacle – carrying tots from daycare, groceries, and whatever else they need, to go about their daily lives.
Delivery drivers will risk life and limb to climb over these icy ridges, as will seniors accessing their vehicles, as will people – especially those with mobility issues, struggling to access public transit.
For most people in our city, life at minus 44 degrees is more than an inconvenience. That our city would do anything as unconcienable, dangerous, and stupid to make things harder is beyond comprehehension.
It is not a matter of finances. Our city has no issue raising taxes, or spending outrageous sums on vanity projects, or paying obscene severance packages to incompetent city managers who should never have been hired in the first place. They have no problem buying electric buses – in Saskatchewan 🤦♀️, questionable artwork, and so much more.
It is beyond stupid and irresponsible. It is a danger to our physical, emotional, andmental wellbeing and that of our friends, neighbours, and family.
Today is Day 362 of my Daily Food Diary! FOUR days to go, before I level up to my 2026 Daily Activity Journal! 💃
This morning I have been thinking about my life in general, so today my Daily WINS are wins that I get to appreciate every day!
1) Retirement…There is no downside. The best days are amazing. The rough days – still amazing. Sick – I don’t have to go to work or miss time. Snow, ice, pitch dark at 7:30 am when everyone (else) is driving to work – I don’t have to! Bored or lonely – never! Lower income – not really a problem (apparently we wasted a lot of money working 🙃).
2) Being Canadian – I love Canada and cannot imagine living anywhere else. Canada is an oasis of natural beauty, strength, and true values. We who live here are fortunate indeed.
Wascana Trails – Minutes from life in the city…
3) Life – this opportunity to live and learn and love – to grow and evolve physically, mentally, and emotionally. I have no idea what form my life takes after this – but I do know that ‘this’ is a small incredibly important step in my journey.
My Daily Food Diary win for the day has been the opportunity to discover and experience new flavors and foods. Often this come about by Dan, Jennifer, or Genie sourcing out products or recipes to try – but many have become my newest favorite.
Brazilian Cheese Buns
Daily Food Diary – Day 362
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) potato patties (240)
(2) slices bacon (130)
(2) eggs (160)
(4) sl tomato (11)
Snacks:
(1) c tea (5)
(8) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (200)
(4) Chocolates (200)
(5) licorice babies (78)
Supper:
(1) cabbage rolls (120)
(1) chocolate caramel squares (70)
Total consumed calories: 1346
Total used calories: 0
Total net calories: 1346
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1346 = 138 over
Thats it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😁🩵
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! 🥰💓
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 fabulouswin 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! 💞🤗
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! 🌞💞
It is 312Days 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! 💞😊
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! 💓😊
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! ❣️🤗
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 