Tag: chronic disease

Daily Food Diary – Day 93 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 93 days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.   Diet is only one aspect of the health and wellness lifestyle that I am working to adopt.

Any healthy lifestyle includes diet, activity, fresh air, sleep, and stress management.  When one is working to manage chronic health issues, every one of these is crucial.

Since my less than memorable appointment with the surgeon who is going to do my hernia repair, stress management has been something I have been focussing  on.   The wait time for hernia surgeries runs about 8 weeks, but  it has been six weeks since my appointment, so it is time to get serious about this. My stress levels are better than they have ever been, but there are two major issues to deal with here – my discomfort with anything medical and the fact that stress triggers my asthma.  🤦

Several months ago, I bought myself  soft sleep headphones.  Normally, I go to bed listening to guided sleep meditations or soothing music.  Lately, I have been checking out more direct anti anxiety videos on You Tube.

I have been listening to this one for the past couple of nights.   To be honest, I had to listen to it sitting on my yoga ball yesterday, because it sounded interesting AND I would never have known  listening to it in bed.  I put on my headphones, turn on any form of meditation – guided, music, or nature sounds – and I am out cold. 😴

If you should  decide to listen to it, I suggest avoiding driving while you do so. 

One other thing…I may be partial to this video because the final words of advice reminded me so much of my father.  Whether it was something he deliberately did, or just who he was, my father lived by a personal code that saw him through every challenging situation in his life.   Regardless of anything or anyone else, my father was a man of strength, dignity, integrity, and peace.  💞

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

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

(2) eggs (160) (440 mg)

(2) oz ham (110) (640 mg) (2 g)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

(5) asparagus spears (16)  (10.5 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil  (40)

Snacks:

(34) oz water

(1) c Cinnamon Tea

(14) multigrain crackers (140) (110 mg)

(6) mini Easter eggs (85) (10 mg) (14 grams)

Supper:

Chicken Salad:

(7) oz skinless chicken thighs w/ salt free seasoning (228) (175mg)

(1) c lettuce (6)

(1/2) tomato (11) (3.1 mg)

(2) radishes (3) (7 mg)

(5) slices cucumber (4) (.7 mg)

(1/4) c green onion (10)

(1) tbsp sunflower seeds (50) (34.6 mg)

(3) tbsp crispy fried onions (60) (90 mg)

(2) tbsp PC Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing (100) (210 mg) (6 grams)

(2) scoops Vanilla Ice Cream (183) (33.2 mg) (14.1 g)

(1) tbsp PC Caramel Syrup (70) (55 mg) (8 g)

(1) tbsp PC Chocolate syrup (33) (22.2 mg) (5.9 g)

(5) pecan halves (33)

Total Net Calories: 1251

Daily calorie goal: 1269 – 1251 = 18 under👍

Total Sodium: 1848.7 mg 👍

Daily goal sodium: 1509 to 2300 mg

Total Processed Sugar:  50 grams 🤦

Daily goal processed sugar: 25 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 92 of 365 Days

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 92 Days since I began tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary.

This Food Diary, which I use as a tool to become more mindful of what I consume, began on January 1st. The date was more of a coincidence than anything.   This was not an  impulse New Years Resolution type of thing.   My  motivation began months earlier.

While I had never been particularly mindful of what I consumed in the past, I always thought that I had a fairly healthy, basic diet. Until…

Three years ago, I realized that consuming anything made with yeast was a major issue, causing severe digestive issues.  Dealing with that, made me take a better look at everything that I was eating.  Until…

Last summer, I experienced ‘sugar creep’ in a big way.  While I was blissfully unaware, I was adding more and more processed sugar to my diet.  It was a vicious cycle of  sugar highs, followed by lows, and back to the pantry for another sugar high. Until…

All of my digestive issues started coming back and my chronic lung issues flared up.  I finally looked at my diet – and there it was – mounds of processed sugar.  Cereals, deserts, toffee, candy covered nuts, store bought muffins, ice cream, soda….

By late September, I was enough of a wreck that I was ready to make a serious effort  to become  mindful of what I consumed on a daily basis and to make whatever adjustments  were needed.  

Ultimately, I decided that I would begin a Daily Food Diary on January 1st and finally that I would post it here, on my little blog, to help keep me accountable and committed for a  full year (by which time, mindful  eating will hopefully be a natural part of my health and wellness lifestyle) .  So, here I am at Day 92 and moving forward. 

Food Diary – Day 92

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7)

(1) c Raisin Bran Crunch ((190) (210)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (28.7) (3.1)

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice Tea

(1) Mango (135)

(1/3) c Dill Pickle Peanuts & Smokehouse Almonds (298) (317) (2)

(32) oz water

Supper:

(4) oz beef burger  – ground beef, sour cream, diced onion, Mrs. Dash spice, mixed spice, olive oil. (332) (91.4)

(1/2) cup mushroom and onions pan fried in olive oil. (38) (4.8)

(11) Old Dutch Ripple Chips (130) (115)

(1/2) c brown beans (130) (450) (8)

Total Net Calories: 1106 👍

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1106 = 163 under

Total Sodium: 1231.2 mg 👍

Sodium Goal: 1500 – 2300 mg

Total Processed Sugar:  33.1 grams 😳

Processed sugar goal: 25 grams

* Note to self… read the entire label before buying ‘ healthy cereal’ and find a recipe for home made brown beans that have minimal added sugar. 

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 89

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 89 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  Some days look better than others. 

This one missed the mark. I went over on calories and I went under on protein.  But, if I average the calories and the protein for the past week, it does average out.  And if I take a panoramic view of how I am doing lately, I am not disappointed.

I have been working at improving my water intake.  I was drifting back to my pre diary days for a while, so have been working on a correction there.  I have also been foregoing the carbonated water for regular filtered water.   I read lately that carbonated water is not recommended for people like me, with lung issues. We will see if this helps.

With the cold wind finally dying down, Dan and Molly, and I went walking yesterday.  We stayed in our neighbourhood, traveling down sidewalks that are still covered with ice ruts, snow, and water.   It doesn’t relate well to what I can claim for calories burnt but it is walking, at a slow pace, all stumbling and sliding aside.  One doesn’t get credit for staying upright for the duration – or for the fresh air that helps my lungs.

I have been sleeping well, using my soft headphones to listen to sleep meditations when I go to bed at night. 

And I have been making progress with my stress and anxiety management, which is huge for controlling my asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis.

Overall, my life is pretty good, and I am doing a pretty solid job of managing my health and wellness.  Candy coated Easter eggs aside… And spoiler alert, if you thought that matrimonial cake went on forever, don’t hold your breath waiting for me to polish off my JUMBO bag of Easter Eggs. 🙄

Food Diary – Day 89

Breakfast:

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

(1) fried leftover baked potato (139) (3.7)

(2) eggs (160) (14)

(3) sm. Slices bacon (130) (8.9)

(1) tsp olive oil (79)

(3) tsp butter (103) (.1)

Snacks:

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(27) Old Dutch salt & vinegar chips (250) (2)

(1/2) Cup Sunflower seeds – (120) (4)

(6) candy coated mini Easter Eggs (85) (2.4)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) 8 oz bowl Cream of Asparagus Soup (278) (15.3)

(5) soda crackers

Total calories: 1409

Less 75 calories (walking) = 1334 Calories

Daily Goal: 1269 calories – 1334 = 65 OVER

Total Protein: 51.1 grams

Protein Goal: 46-58.5 grams

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

June 5th – Weekly Health and Fitness Update

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2023, Health and Fitness

I’m kicking off the week with some positive vibes here! I have three chronic lung conditions – asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis – all of which have kicked into high gear since I developed a lung infection a couple of weeks ago. Forest fire smoke will do that for me, as will excessive heat, and super high humidity. We have been dealing with the trifecta and my lungs are not dealing all that well.

So, it is fight or die AND we all know which direction I am going. 😁

That’s about it for my Health and Fitness Update this week, other than continuing to research yeast intolerances and finding substitutions for some of my favourite foods on the ‘yeasty’ list, like soya sauce, vinegar, anything containing soya sauce or vinegar, sauerkraut, wine, black pepper, breads, breadcrumbs, and the like. The good news is… digestion wise, I am feeling better than I have for YEARS.

The rest of my life is under control. Our garden is in. It isn’t photo ready yet as we have some cleanup to do. It is slow going as I am not a lot of help these days and Dan had to make it Molly proof as we go.

Our front lawn is coming along. Between our monsoon season and Dan’s diligence, it actually has a chance this year to beat out the weeds and bald spots.

My little flowers are just peaking out. This area of the lawn struggles on.
I love my stepping stones after a fresh mowing. This flower bed has a chance to make something of itself with the addition of Peonies from daughter Jen.

I hope to have the garden area and large patio photo ready within the week. Dan lost his Bleeding Heart over the winter but I replaced it with a super pretty plant that I am anxious to share.

I also got my June fridge inspiration sign up a couple of days ago. So far the inspiration is more mental than physical but that’s okay. It all starts with our mindset – and my mind is set to come back STRONGER!

Soon!

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

June 1st Health & Fitness Update

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2023

Anyone who knows me here would think that I haven’t been here because I am busy working out, basking in the sunshine and fresh air, walking my dog Molly, and just living the good life….

Molly – walking herself at the off leash dog park.

No, you would be wrong.  I am sick again.   Sucking in Alberta wildfire smoke for a week with chronic lung issues was just a bad idea. Now I deal with a full-blown lung infection. (Sorry Alberta – not your fault. Although, if they can add additives to cigarettes and fabrics to make them fireproof, you could probably spray down your trees with something similar. Just saying. 🧐)

So, I am sick and it’s another setback to add to my journey – which is starting to look like a Saskatchewan construction zone.

Not all is lost! First of all, I’m pretty sure I had a lingering infection from my pre-Christmas respiratory flu extravaganza, so getting worse to the point of getting it actually cleared up is probably a good thing. And, I have time to focus on my recent diet change. It has only taken me three years to figure out my bloating, heartburn, and other digestive issues. After tons of blood tests and scans for everything from celiac disease to fatty liver – eureka – I have figured out that (like my daughter) I am allergic to baker’s yeast. I don’t usually eat that much bread and such, but three years ago when I retired I started having a couple of toasts for breakfast every morning – in addition to any other foods containing baker’s yeast that I was eating. I cut that out of my diet and the results have been amazing. But, I am discovering there are a lot of foods that have baker’s yeast in them – like KFC chicken 😯, panko crumbs, English muffins, the list goes on and on! Now, we are working on finding yeast free alternatives. Fortunately, husband Dan is being super accommodating and helpful. It’s kind of rough – but all around really good. 🤗

Also, I got right in to see my respiratory specialist and got the antibiotics and oral steroids to get my lungs cleared up. Yea for the quick appointment and for the meds of course.

Been through the good, the bad, the great, the sad here. (sounding kind of Dr Zeusy) Now we get to the downright weird.

My specialist also gave me requisitions for blood tests and x-rays that I needed done. OK, that’s fair. I went to my regular medi-clinic to get the x-rays done today. It is a physician’s office with an x-ray department. I made an appointment and they got me right in. 👍

I get to the clinic and from the front door to the reception desk there are FIVE signs (each one bigger than the last) that read “DO NOT ENTER MEDICAL CLINIC IF YOU ARE SICK OR FEELING ILL”. Wtf is this latest improvement to healthcare? Do not go to a health clinic if you are sick? Where would you like me to go? (Never mind… ) 🤦

I had a mask on, I strutted (snuck maybe) in, like the rebel I am and made it through reception and x-ray without being taken down or tossed out. Phew! (I might be found out when someone looks at my x-rays.)

That’s my update for this week – no workouts or work for that matter. Just ailing and healing. Again! 😢

We did have a nice little shower one day. 😂. Not really funny – the city was flooded pretty bad.

Have a great happy, healthy, sunny, day! 🌞💞🤗.