Tag: chronic health issues

Daily Food Diary – Day 348 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 348 of my Daily Food Diary! 💥

Today there are seventeen days until 2026 and ten days until Christmas. 

I am infinitely grateful that we offered our newlyweds, Genie & Alec, the opportunity to host Christmas this year.  And moreso that they accepted the offer with the full support of Alec’s mother Denise.

That being said, it is ten days until Christmas and in two days I am booked for surgery…

And son Dan and family are coming on the 21st..

I am not ready.  Not by a long shot.

But my win for the day yesterday was Christmas baking with granddaughter Prim!

We had a good time, filled a few baking containers and our bonus win was having Grandpa (Dan) making an awesome supper of Shepherd’s Pie.

My Daily Food Diary win for the day was learning in real time the benefit of long term gain over instant gratification. 

I am not good at meeting specific result driven goals.  I get too frustrated if I cannot see my goals getting closer with every passing day.  My power is in commitment and longterm persistence.   I just plug along doing what I know has to be done – one day at a time.  The win is looking back over the year (or years)  and seeing what I have accomplished. ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 348

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) 2 egg scrambled eggs with bacon (415)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(1.5) servings shepherds pie (735)

Total consumed calories: 1392

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1392

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1392 = 184 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 347 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 347 of my Daily Food Diary! 🤩

Yesterday, I had a great win! While I was making my mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies, my sister Lorraine called to discuss how to make … our mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies. 😂

There is nothing like having a random meeting of the minds with a sister to make a good day great.

A bonus win came from perusing my James Clear motivational email of the week,  and coming across this gem..

“Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now.  Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different enviornment; act in a great way where you are now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to act in a great way with small things.”

– Wallace Wattles from ‘The Science of Being Great’

It is so easy to feel insignificant and victimized in this day and age.  I just love empowering quotes.  We only get one life, anything that helps us live it in a proactive, productive way is a huge win! 

My ‘December Wrap Up’  Daily Food Diary win for the day has become a proactive part of my life this year..

Learning to notice and appreciate the wins in my ‘day to day’ life.

Yesterday, sister Lorraine and I were discussing our chronic health issues and how the smallest glitch can kick off a downward spiral and how the smallest win can turn it around.   

That is typical of life in general.  Notice the wins in life and there are more wins to notice every day.   😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 347

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Supper:

(1) caesar salad (250)

(9) hot chicken wings flats (383)

(1) lemon tart (175)

Total consumed calories: 1269

Total used calories: 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1098

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1098 = 111 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 346 of  365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 346 of my Daily Food Diary.  Only nineteen more days to go! 🥳

It is hard to believe there are only nineteen more days to go in 2025.  Looking at everything that is scheduled to happen between now and 2026, I’m not at all sure how it will happen… 😯

Today my win is an easy one… once again my husband Dan is front and centre!  Yesterday, he spent the morning with me at the  pre-surgery clinic,  followed by taking me out for lunch, followed by going to pick up the groceries we needed.  This morning he is off for a walk with Molly.  It is Minus 32° Celsius without the windchill.  That is bloody cold!

My Daily Food Diary win for the day is an easy one as well..

Balance and sustainability… when it comes to creating a new lifestyle, I leaned that it had to be doable and flexible to meet the needs of the day,  while keeping mindful of the overall goal.  Yesterday’s Diary entry was all about keeping it real.   It was not a fail (calorie or nutritional wise) – it was just about focussing on protein and simple and fun.  I’ll take that as a win. 😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 346

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1) A & W lettuce wrap teen burger (330)

(1) A & W onion rings (350)

(1) A & W gravy (50)

(8) Oz A & W rootbeer (110)

Snacks:

(24) Oz water

(1/2) c mixed nuts (360)

(2) coconut macaroons (220)

(1) peanut butter snowball cookie (132)

Total consumed calories: 1913

Total used calories 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1842

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1842 = 633 over 👎

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

Mini Maddy decorating the Christmas tree with the BIG kids. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 344 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 344 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤩

The win for my December Recap of my Daily Food Diary today is as simple and basic as they come – I started!

My main reason for starting this challenge was to get a handle on foods that were giving me grief and to eliminate them from my diet. 

I decided the best way to do that would be to note everything that I consumed – for a full year.   I figured the best way to keep myself accountable was to post these daily entries on my blog.  Since it was mid December, it seemed to make sense to begin on January 1st. 

It made sense until January 1st…  our house was still filled with caramel corn, chocolates, nuts, and home baking.  And.. I was facing a 365 DAY commitment.

But, you don’t get anywhere without taking that first step – so I started.  As basic and simple as they come, but a BIG win for me!🎀

Happy New Year!

My real time/real life wins for the day today are also pretty basic:

1) I managed a relatively productive day yesterday,  getting in three workouts, starting my Christmas baking, and making an early supper to get ready for Maddy’s band concert.

2) Attending Maddy’s band concert with daughter Jen.  These events are so packed that we get  there an hour early to get parking and seating, which made for some quality visiting time.  The concert was excellent, as usual.  I love that the teachers at O’Neil make these events ALL about the kids, showcasing their talent and their commitment to music.  💝

Maddy – our musical reindeer.

3) I was up at 6:30 this morning to drive Maddy to early morning band practice.  Jen was at work at 6 so could not drive her, walking through their neighborhood, over ice and snow to O’Neil from their house before sunrise is a bit much.🙄   Plus, I got to see Maddy and get some extra driving in… Ok, I missed her school so we did a bit of touring around.   She was still on time – with time you spare. Multiple wins!

4) Bonus win.. I made plans with granddaughter Prim to do more Christmas baking this weekend!

Daily Food Diary -Day 344

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) eggo waffles (270)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(3) tbsp maple syrup (157)

(2) slices bacon (87)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(15) Lays chips (218)

(1) almond roca (67)

Supper:

(2) c pork fried rice (580)

(1) butter tart (230)

Total consumed calories: 1679

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1300

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1300 = 91 over 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 😄😍

Daily Food Diary – Day 342 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 342

Today is Day 342 of my Daily Food Diary! 😁

Today I started the day off with a few wins…

1) I went for a morning walk with Dan & Molly.  100 % humidity and I made the full route!

2) Dan remembered that I had to go for blood tests today in preparation for my pre-surgery appointment on Friday (which I may or may not remember).  He also drove me to the blood clinic, so double win! The streets are icy, the traffic is heavy,  and no people can’t drive. 🤦‍♀️

3) Dan stopped at the Dollar Store on the way home so I could pick up a  few things for Christmas..

2 plastic containers for baking (because they only had 2 of the size I needed).  Yes they will go to Dan and Amanda’s full of baking and they will never come back.  (Which is why I buy them from the Dollar Store 😂)  Gingerbread girl & boy because we need one new decoration, gift ribbon, and new dish towels.

For my December Round Up of my Daily Food Diary, I have one win today but it was/is a biggie…

I have pretty much eliminated evening snacking.  It was never about being hungry – just mindless munching.  Not only has this helped me to drop 13 pounds this year, but it has also helped me to sleep better.  I am generally out cold from 10:30 until Molly starts booping me with her big cold nose (6:30 ish at this time of year). 

Every morning is a Molly morning!

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Paratha (24)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(2) eggrolls (360)

(2) gyoza (67)

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(2) cabbage rolls (300)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

Total net calories: 1231

Total used calories: 379

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 852

Net calories goal: 1208 – 852 = 357 under 👍

Son Dan & Family

Daily Food Diary – Day 341 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 341 of my Daily Food Diary. 🤗

Today is December 8th – another day closer  to meeting  my goal of maintaining and posting 365 consecutive days of my Daily Food Diary. 

It is also another day to count my Daily Food Diary wins from the past eleven months.   Today’s win is….

All of the love and support that I have received from my WordPress/Jetpack friends, acquaintances, and random visitors this year.  I appreciate all of your  kind words, encouragement, advice, and feedback more than I can express in words alone.  

Dwight, from http://fadedjeansliving.com thank you for taking the time and effort to run ChatGBT through my 2025 blogs and sending me the list of  100 notable wins that were compiled.  That was above and beyond!   Thank you for being my friend and thank you for sharing your technical savy!  💓🤗

For my general real life win of the day today…

Our temperature was a bit milder this morning, so I joined  Dan and Molly for our morning walk.  For whatever reason, Dan and I both struggled to breathe.   The last couple of blocks took some self-talk  on my part.  I just kept repeating “one step closer to stronger, healthier lungs”.   EVERY STEP!  Dan and I both made the distance, so persistence for the win ! 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 341

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(2) slices bacon (87)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1) sm tomato (11)

Snacks:

(1) Oz Amaretto (110)

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(2) eggrolls (360)

(2) tsp plum sauce (12)

(2) chicken stripe (240)

(1 1/2) Oz rifles (74)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)

(4) gyoza (133)

(2) tsp gyoza dipping sauce (133)

Total consumed calories: 1489

Total used calories: 242

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1247

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1247 = 38 over 👎

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

I miss my December PEACE sign but that was back a couple of years ago – when I was still chunky and Molly was still in her wood eating phase.

Daily Food Diary – Day 338 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 338 of my Daily Food Diary. 👍

Recently, I have been trying to recognize and appreciate the wins in my daily life.  I was anticipating my annual December funk and thought this would help me to keep my emotions and stress in check.  It was going fairly well, too.

And now..it isn’t. 

For ten months I have been waiting for a hernia repair.  This morning surgical booking called with a date.

December 17th .... not a good date for me historically and four years to the day since my last hernia surgery (which failed).

I am going to have to ramp up the wins if I am going to get through this without having a massive asthma attack heading into the operating room.

Anyway,  back to the wins… this morning I did an aerobics workout that I had never done before.

Apparently the one and only video on YouTube Tube that cannot be shared but worth looking for if you need a good workout! 😊

My December Daily Food Diary roundup win for today is a timely one…

While I started this Food Diary to improve my physical wellness, I learned how much my diet could improve (or destroy) my mental and emotional wellbeing.   That being said,  I am looking forward to a heaping helping of comfort food for supper.

Daily Food Diary – Day 338

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(2) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(2/3) c maple walnut ice cream (198)

(2) tbsp chocolate sauce (105)

(1/8) c planters dry roasted peanuts (162)

Supper:

(1) Garden salad (367)

(2) Chicken drumsticks (242)

(1) Rootbeer (170)

Total consumed calories: 1640

Total used calories: 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1569

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1569 = 360 over

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great rest of your day! 💞💖

Daily Food Diary – Day 337 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 337 of my Daily Food Diary!🤗

Today I started my day with a BIG win! 🙌 I got up at 6:30 this morning  to go pick up our Maddy and drive her to school for band practice.  It was already fairly light out, thanks to the full moon shining bright above a thin cloud cover.  And it is always a  win to  see our Maddy – even before dawn! It was an even bigger win to back into our garage on the first try when I got home!

The picture of positivity! 😉

Today is another day to count the wins I have accumulated over the past eleven months.

The win I chose to appreciate today was  my ability  to use James Clear’s book “Atomic Habits” to make effective changes to stay on track with my Daily Food Diary and to make gradual improvements to my general diet.

By stacking my new habit of  posting my Daily Food Diet between my existing morning habits, I have managed to post 337 days in a row without missing a beat! 

And, by keeping a cruet of olive oil in a handy location beside our stove, I have successfully eliminated the habit of reaching for the butter dish every time I pan fry.

Other helpful habits, big and small,  have been made along the way, but you get the idea!

A book I would absolutely recommend for anyone working to make positive changes in their life.

Daily Food Diary – Day 337

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) Taco salad (899)

(8) Oz water

Snacks:

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

(15) Lays lightl salted ripple chips (218)

(2) mini chocolate treats (80)

Total consumed calories: 1513

Total used calories:  377

(30) min walking (137)

(42) min aerobics (240)

Total net calories: 1136

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1136 = 72 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary –  Day 335 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

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 332 0f 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 332 of my Daily Food Diary. 😚

This morning, Facebook sent me a ‘memory’ of the last Christmas tree we had.   That was FOUR years ago.  That was not a memorable Christmas Season, nor was it a memorable Christmas tree – at least not in a good way.

The tree was perfect, in every sparkly way – until we realized it came complete with a family of shrews.  A big family – and they were indestructible, cocky, bizarre little creatures.  They lived with us for months before the last of them moved out in the spring.

Good times… 🤦‍♀️

I am so glad that life has turned around and that we are at a place where I can count my wins each and every day!

#1 – Our first REAL snow of the season. I declined to walk Molly solo this morning, but I did go outside with her to clean our walks and paths around our patios.
#2 – I did laundry, including the living room blankets.  A win for me because it didn’t bother my lungs AT ALL to spend time in our basement.  (Dan has been doing the laundry because it had gotten to be such a struggle for me.) 😊
#3 – A win for Molly – Dan had to run over to a friend’s,  so he took Molly to meet Tucker, their young Labradoodle. 😁

#4 – Yesterday, I finally hit the trifecta – a walk with Molly, time on the treadmill, and a session with light weights and cardio. 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 332

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) paratha (240)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1) Harvest hot dog (160)

(10) Lays lightly salted chips (1=5)

(1/2) Oz onion dip (20)

Supper:

(2) servings nachos with ground turkey, red pepper, jalapeños, olives, green onions, shredded habanero cheese. Salsa (865)

Total consumed calories: 1587

Total used calories: 280

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (71)

(30) min light weights (71)

Total net calories: 1307

Net calories goal: 1208  – 1307 = 99 over

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