Our skies are clear, our air is smoke free, and we are finally starting an entire week of actual summer temperatures.
Dan and I took Molly for an uncharacteristically uneventful walk this morning. We did stop at the dog park where Molly got in a few short solo runs across the park.
I have to cut this one short. Our garden is starting to wilt and it’s not going to water itself!
Daily Food Diary – Day 237
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Cheerios (147)
(1/4) c 2 % milk (28)
Lunch:
(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170)
(2) oz ham (57)
(1) oz marble cheese (113)
(1/4) c white cooking onion (3)
Snacks:
(14) hickory smoked almonds (70)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2 1/2) c chicken stir fry – orange carrots, green onions, cabbage & celery, brown mushrooms, red pepper, chicken filets, ramen noodles (622)
(1) vegetable spring roll (100)
(4) Gyoza (133)
Total net calories: 1022
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1022 = 207 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❤️
Almost eight months ago, I started keeping a Daily Food Diary. My main goal was to eat less high calorie/low nutritional foods and to eat more foods that are high in nutritional value.
One of my secondary goals, was to determine which foods I am allergic to, or for whatever reason I cannot tolerate.
I have a few foods that I knew I cannot eat – pumpkin seeds (home made pumpkin pie is fine), cranberries (but I can drink cranberry tea), and YEAST.
It isn’t terribly difficult to avoid pumpkin seeds or cranberries. Yeast is a whole different story. Despite avoiding brewers yeast and baking yeast (in obvious products) I have still been having issues with yeast showing up in less likely foods. I have found that restaurants use red and white sauces that contain yeast, canned gravy and store bought broths contain yeast, some soda crackers, potato chips and other snack foods contain yeast. But there are other foods that bother me for no conceivable reason – store bought or restaurant served cakes, pancakes, muffins and the like.
Recently, I found that a LOT of commercial baking, including cake (icing), pancakes, and muffins contain powdered egg whites and powdered egg whites contain Yeast. 🤦
According to Google, yeast is added to egg white powder to improve product stability and prevent discoloration and off-odors.
So, there’s that!
I have also discovered recently, as has my daughter, that foods containing palm oil cause an allergic reaction. (A severe one for Jen!). One more thing to check for on product ingredients.
We are fortunate that in Canada we have strict packaging labels for food that contain comprehensive ingredient and national value lists.
I am also fortunate that my daughter, and hers, work at a restaurant where they have access to information on typical commercial food ingredients used. (Unfortunately, they both share my food sensitivities plus have their own to deal with).
And I am fortunate that I have become more mindful of what I eat, by using my Daily Food Diary. It is definitely helping me to zero in on foods that I should avoid going forward. 👍
Daily Food Diary – Day 236
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) scrambled eggs (182)
(3) strips bacon (130)
(2) potato patties (240)
(1/2) red tomato (22)
Snacks:
(60) oz water
(1/2) bag popcorn (160)
(3/4) c Butterscotch ice cream (180)
(9) pecan halves (59)
(1) tbsp chocolate sauce (52)
(1) tbsp caramel syrup (130)
Supper:
(3) c potato soup: white potatoes & onions, green chives & parsley, bacon bits, & cream mixed with water from potatoes (420)
(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (120)
(5) soda crackers (63)
Total net calories: 1587
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1587 = 358 over 🤦
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞😊
It is three and a half years since I set off on the Health and Fitness Journey that I am on now.
Three and a half years ago, I was living a sedentary life with a questionable diet. I was struggling with multiple chronic health issues, and a lack of strength, stamina and energy.
Now, I am physically active (aerobics, light weights, cardio, walking Molly dog, and using our treadmill) an average of 630 minutes a week – plus doing housework, yard work, and the like. And.. I am keeping my Daily Food Diary, I have eliminated yeast from my diet, and I have cut back on sugar, salt, and snacking between meals and after supper.
Recently, I ran across something in a post on Instagram Threads. “Sobriety is not punishment. It is freedom.”
I have always lived a fairly sober life, but this rang true for me.
Living a life dedicated to health and fitness, isn’t always easy. It takes effort and perseverance and sacrifice. Some days, a lot of days, it feels like punishment.
But it really isn’t. It is the key to living my life on my terms. It is the key to my freedom – freedom to be happy and healthy and strong and fit. 💪
Daily Food Diary – Day 234
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Cheerios (147)
(1/4) c milk (28)
Lunch:
(2) Potatoes patties (240)
(3) stops bacon (130)
(1) small red tomato
(48) oz water
Supper:
(5) Gyoza (167)
(2) vegetable spring rolls (200)
(1) oz riblets (49)
(1) a chicken strip (120)
(5) tempura shrimp (175)
(1) tbsp Gyoza dipping sauce (15)
(1) tbsp shrimp sauce (20)
(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)
(1) tbsp plum sauce (35)
Total net calories: 1071
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1071 = 159 under
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
Today it is one week since we got our treadmill. I am not a world class athlete yet, but I have been using it for 30 minutes every evening and I am already noticing the difference.
Ever since I can remember, when I stand in one spot (even momentarily) my hips, knees, and ankles lock up. Even if I am moving, it is an effort to keep them from locking up. It is frustrating, but I am used to it.
For the past two days, I have noticed that at least my knees are moving a lot smoother. I’m not sure if my ankles are any better, and I know I am still struggling with my hips – but it’s a start!
Daily Food Diary – Day 232
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(3) crumpets (240)
(2) tsp butter (69)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
Lunch:
(2) Barbecue drumsticks(270)
(1) c raw vegetables: cauliflower – white, radishes & peppers – red, onions & green (90)
(1) tbsp peppercorn ranch dressing (60)
(60) oz water
(8) oz lemon water
Supper:
(2) SVG Arby’s roast beef (200)
(1) Medium Arby’s Crinkle cut fries (530)
(2) Arby’s cheese sticks (220)
(2) Arby’s gravy (35)
(1) horseradish sauce (50)
Total net calories: 1401
Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1401 = 180 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a good day! ☺️💕
It is 231 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary. That is a full 33 weeks! 🤗🎈
Our weather has been warmer than usual the past couple of days so we have been taking Molly for her walk earlier.
Yesterday morning when we got back, I offered to make Denvers for Dan and I. I cracked the first couple of eggs and they were typical. I took the next two out of a new carton. Both of them cracked lengthwise.
This happened a few weeks ago. We bought two or three cartons of eggs and all (or most) of the eggs cracked lengthwise. 😯
I checked with Google and read that I was holding the egg wrong. Seriously – I have been cracking eggs for over six decades. I think I know how to hold an egg. Besides which, even when Dan would crack the eggs in these cartons, they would crack lengthwise.
Why? The eggs are perfectly fine. The shells just break weird.
Daily Food Diary – Day 231
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) eggs (160)
(1) oz ham (29)
(2) Green onions (16)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) tsp olive oil (40)
Lunch:
(3) crumpets (240)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
Snacks:
(60) oz water
(1/4) c mixed nuts (180)
Supper:
(1) Lean ground beef patty (293)
(12) barbecue chips (130)
(4) oz potato salad (154)
(1) c raw vegetables – red tomatoes & radishes, green onions, white cauliflower (90)
(2) tsp Dilly Dip (100)
Total net calories: 1244
Net calories goal: 1222 – 1244 = 22 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❣️
Yesterday marked one full month since our granddaughter Genie married her ‘To Infinity’ Alec. 💞
This week when Alec and Genie delivered our ‘new to us’ treadmill, we finally convinced them to send us some more wedding photos.
Dan & I with the happiest young couple! 😊Prim looking so pretty (as always). Acting as official flower girl, Prim took her duties seriously. With help from the mother of the bride & flower girl (our daughter Jen), Prim helped to choose, arrange, and distributeall of the flowers – including the bride’s bouquet.
Back story of theflowers… the basic blossoms were store bought (and included red carnations and pink rosebuds in memory of Genie’s great grandparents). They were also filled out with wildflowers that Jen and Prim picked for the day – in honor of another day from Genie’s youth.
When all of Jen’s kids were young, we used to take them to visit my Mother in the Foyer in Gravelbourg. We always brought Mom something, most often flowers. On one visit, I forgot to get anything, but as we turned onto the highway to Gravelbourg, the ditch alongside the road was filled with wild flowers. Jen and I decided we would pick a bouquet of wildflowers for Mom. 👍
After telling ALL of the kids to stay in the car, we made our way down into the ditch. We heard the car door open and close. And looked back to see Genie rolling into the ditch behind us.
There was no turning her back, so we just watched over her while she picked an armload of wildflowers for greatgrandma.
My mother loved the bouquet and we never let Genie forget the story. 😂
I am taking things easier this weekend. Yesterday, I went for Molly’s walk. I did a bit of housework (nothing too heroic). I did my aerobics. And… I did 21 minutes on the treadmill – getting up to a Level 4 (of 16). No incline yet, but today could be the day.
Daily Food Diary – Day 228
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) pink grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
(1) granola bar (170)
Snacks:
(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)
(12) Mini Easter Eggs (the LAST) of the mini Easter eggs: (190)
(60) oz water
Supper:
(1) sourdough bun (190)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(1) Beef/pork burger with bacon bits, provalone cheese, onions – white, tomato – red, lettuce – green , & horseradish – white (256)
(12) barbecue chips (130)
(5) slices cucumber – green (4)
(5) slices tomato – red (13)
Total net calories: 965
Net calories goal: 1222 – 965 = 256 under 👍
That’s it for today! Take care and have a great day! 💓🤗
Grandpa escorting his girl to the altar, while she clutched her, special as she is, bouquet.
Time is such a strange concept. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years… All are set in stone. But, this year is just flying by. I can’t believe I have been posting every day for 227 DAYS in a row.
While this year has been passing ridiculously fast, this week has been dragging on forever! This is the longest week since I retired. 😳
At least, the days have been productive this week. Yesterday, Dan and I emptied our upright freezer and defrosted it. That was a job and then some, but it was great to have it all done and everything packed back in, in some kind of order.
I love those Dollar Store containers for keeping things organized!
Other than cleaning our deep freezer, We walked Molly, I did my aerobic workout, I did my Friday weights and cardio, AND last night I took another spin on my ‘new to me’ treadmill. Sixteen minutes and I got to Level 3. I haven’t attempted the incline yet. 🙄
Daily Food Diary – Day 227
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) pink grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
Lunch:
(2) eggs (160)
(1) oz ham (29)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1/5) c chopped red onion (13)
(1/4) c red pepper (12)
(2) brown mushrooms (20)
(1) oz marble cheese (113)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(1) sourdough bun (190)
(3) oz pistrami (120)
(1) slice Swiss Cheese (106)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1/2) c whitish sauerkraut (23)
(1) PC apple pie (296)
(1) vodka cooler (228)
Total net calories: 1046
Net calorie goal: 1222 – 1046 = 176 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a good day! 💖😊
It is Day 225 of my Daily Food Diary. Not a single miss in 225 Days! 💃
Yesterday was another busy and productive day. I got to go for Molly’s morning walk with Dan. (We have been wildfire smoke free for a few days now. 👍) I did my morning aerobics and Wednesday weights. I spent the afternoon outside watering, pulling weeds, trimming plants, and doing general yardwork. And, I came in to bake apple pies and straighten up the kitchen.
I can’t tell you how great it feels to wake up every morning feeling well and going to bed every night feeling that my day was productive.
I have been on this Health and Fitness Journey for three and a half years. It hasn’t always been easy. Not that it has been that hard, but there have been setbacks. Regardless, weeks like this make it all worthwhile.
It isn’t about living forever, it is about living well. This week, I am living exceptionally well! 😊
Daily Food Diary – Day 225
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Rice Krispies (120)
(1/4) c 2% milk (28)
(1) tsp sugar (16)
Lunch:
(2) chicken drumsticks (401)
(9) Lay’s Low Salt wavy chips (131)
Supper:
(1) sourdough bun (190)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(1) tomato (22)
(3) slices bacon (130)
(1) PC apple pie (178)
Total net calories: 944
Net calories goal: 1222 – 944 = 278 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
Yesterday was one of those days when I realized how far I have come in the past three and a half years – since I first set out on my health and wellness journey to build up my strength and stamina.
Yesterday, I walked Molly first thing in the morning. I came home to do half an hour of yard work, clear my lungs and then do my Daily Food Diary blog. I was just about to post it, when my daughter arrived with her dog Sasha.
We had previously arranged to take Sasha for a bath at Pet Value. But first, we tag teamed a serious brushing session. Once done, we headed off to bathe her. An hour later, Sasha was fully groomed. Jen and I should have both been exhausted.
Sasha, in the zone – enjoying her first Pet Value bath.
However, once I got home, I changed and did my morning aerobics followed by my Monday weights and cardio.
Following that, I made a batch of caramel corn and tidied up the house. I made homemade macaroni and cheese and fixed vegetables while Dan barbecued the chicken for our supper. After, supper I set up the coffee pot for this morning, straightened up the kitchen and Dan came in to help with dishes.
This may not seem like that much, but three and a half years ago, I would never have been able to take Molly for a walk… much less everything, or anything else.
I honestly don’t know what most people expect life at seventy should look like. To me these days, mine looks like a miracle. 🌹
Today is Day 222 of my Daily Food Diary. 222 seemed like an auspicious number so I decided to run it past Google.
The number 222 signifies Balance, Harmony, and Trust. That sounds pretty good to me!
I started my morning by taking Molly for her morning walk. It went well – better than usual, so that backed up Google’s prediction for the day. 😊
Daughter, Jennifer and I are taking her dog Sasha to Pet Value today to introduce her to their dog bath. We’ll see how powerful Number 222 really is.
Molly with Sasha. Sasha isn’t short of sass and attitude (even when she’s not the big dog).
Yesterday, I learned something new about my eating habits.
Left to my own devices, I am an evening snacker. I knew that from the night shifts that Dan used to work and the Dart Nights he goes to in the winter since he retired. Alone, I could mindlessly munch my way through countless empty calories.
Now that I am more mindful and accountable for what I consume in a day, that is not so much of an issue. But, I have a new one!
This summer, Dan has been golfing quite frequently. I am fine with that. He sees his friends, gets out in the fresh (somewhat) air, and is relatively active. It is all around healthy, quality time for him. I have my time to do my workouts, read, do my nails, whatever.
The only problem is, supper is generally much later than I am accustomed to. Even, if I have a good breakfast and lunch – or a hearty brunch, I am ready for supper by 6:30. By 7:30 I am starving! I am in a losing battle with any random snack that crosses my path. Even if I have a good mid-afternoon snack, it is a struggle until supper is served. 🤦
Daily Food Diary – Day 222
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) scrambled eggs (182)
(3) slices bacon (130)
Snacks:
(3/4) c ice cream with pecans, chocolate sauce, and caramel syrup (421)
(1) almond flour/chocolate chip cookie (50)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(4) oz pork cutlet (240)
(12) crinkle cut fries (82)
(1/2) c gravy (50)
(1) mini cucumber (green) 10
Total net calories: 1168
Net calories goal: 1222 – 1168 = 54 under
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 