Tag: chronic health issues

Daily Food Diary – Day 296 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 296 of my Daily Food Diary. 🥳

Yesterday I did not do the  30 minutes of treadmill that was on my workout plan.  There was no real reason for this miss – other than my decision to indulge in a Smirnoff Ice Original with my supper.  As mentioned previously, drinking alcohol is not my strong point.  It took me a couple of hours to finish it and by then I did not think getting on a treadmill would be the best move.  🤦

Yesterday, I also indulged in a couple of the Halloween treats that Dan brought home a few weeks ago.

Talk about shrinkflation!

I’m not sure why it took me so long to break into the Halloween chocolate – or why they even bother making them anymore.  The packaging to chocolate ratio has gotten beyond ridiculous.  Homemade chocolate/peanut butter squares taste exactly the same and I can make a cake pan full without taking down a forest.  Of course, one cannot hand out home  baked goods for Halloween, but we generally end up eating or giving most of our Halloween treats to family anyway.  🤷

I did make some Brazilian Cheese Rolls for supper last night.

I shredded the cheese in our food processor, then just added the rest of the ingredients before mixing well.   I used half a tablespoon of salt – I also could have used less oil and garlic for us but they were ok.  This recipe made 18 full sized rolls, so a bit much for us.

Daily Food Diary – Day 296

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c cinnamon cheerios (200)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Snacks:

(1) peach (58)

(1/3) c dry roast peanuts (102)

(1) mini peanut butter cup (40)

(1) mini Oh Henry bar (69)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) c chilli con carne (380)

(2) Brazilian cheese rolls (249)

(1) Smirnoff Ice Original (114)

Total calories consumed: 1243

Total calories used: 242

(30) min walking (68)

(30) min aerobics (174)

Total net calories: 1001

Net calories goal: 1223 – 1001 = 222 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 295 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 265 of my Daily Food Diary.  Only 70 Days or 10 Weeks to go!  I thought that by being mindful of what I ate each and every day, 2025 would pass by at an overall slower pace.  But here we are, the year is almost over, and the days and weeks are flying by.

I am four nights into using our living room air purifier in our bedroom.  This has proven itself helpful enough for keeping my sinuses and lungs clear at night  that I ordered another air purifier last night – one that will live in our bedroom but that can be easily moved into the kitchen occasionally – if need be. 

Every little thing helps or hurts when it comes to living with chronic health issues.   With my lung issues diet, air quality, stress, sleep, and level of  activity can mean the difference between a really good day or a struggle.   Some things I can control, others I just have to deal with.

The worst thing these days is excess humidity.  We can control that to a point  with our dehumidifier but there’s not a lot I can do outdoors.  If I avoid the outdoors, it means less fresh air and less activity.  🤷

The best thing these days is taking collagen supplements.   They have been a gamechanger for me – strengthening and stabilizing my respiratory system and improving  my health and wellbeing in general.   🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 295

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) Eggo waffles (330)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) tbsp Maple syrup (104)

(2) slices bacon (87)

Snacks:

(12) Doritos (153)

Supper:

(1) serving pepper steak (300)

(1 1/2) c white rice (363)

Total consumed calories: 1407

Total used calories: 315

(30) minutes walking (68)

(30) minutes aerobics (174)

(30) minutes light weights (73)

Total net calories: 1092

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1092 = 137 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 294 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 294 of my Daily Food Diary. 💓

Dan and Molly and I got back from our morning walk a bit ago.   Since we headed out a bit later than usual, the sun had a nice warmth to it.  Unfortunately, the air was heavy and humid and much of the time we were dealing with a cloud of cement dust – the result of some work being done to the pool in the park.   It was a bit hard going, but I made the distance.

When we got home, I fed the squirrels and picked up in the yard. 

Once the critters were fed, I came into the house and Dan and I checked our Amazon for an air purifier that can live in our bedroom.   I think we agreed on what would work best for the space, but he was on his way out so said he would check Canadian Tire to see if he could find something comparable.  👍

Today is Wednesday, so I am about to do my aerobics followed by light weights.

Yesterday morning I did my aerobics but left my treadmill session for later.  Later ended up being after supper once Dan was gone to darts and I was watching Homestead Rescue.  By the time my show was done, it was a toss up between doing my treadmill or cracking open a box of Halloween treats and pouring myself a glass of wine. 

I went with the treadmill with no regrets.  I even went up one level on the speed.   🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 294

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170)

(1) Denver omelet (235)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (238)

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man chicken cutlet TV dinner (520)

(1) extra (ie Dan’s) brownie (121)

Total Consumed Calories: 1286

Total used calories: 317

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min walking (68)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 969

Net calories goal: 1229 – 969  = 250 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 293 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 293 of my Daily Food Diary! 😋

Yesterday was a pretty good day.  I only made one block of the walk I set out on with Dan and Molly.  I could have handled the cold and wind, but the rain was a bit much.   I came home and did my aerobics and weights – plus I did half an hour on the treadmill before supper. 👍

For supper last night, I decided we should indulge in some Taco Time.   One of the most  mind-boggling  things I have found since I began tracking my Daily Food Diary is how many calories there are in such meals.     I knew it was bad, but I had no idea. 🤦

Obviously, last night’s indulgence is a hard one to report on my Daily Food Diary, but it’s all about balance.  Last night, I was balancing out the salad I had for supper on Saturday. 🙄

Last night, for the second night in a row, we put the air purifier from our living room in our bedroom.    I slept really well both nights and with minimal coughing before I fell asleep and after I woke up.    I have to try it for a few days, but we might have to get another one before we get tired of hauling this one back and forth between rooms.

Daily Food Diary – Day 293

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cinnamon Cheerios (200)

(1/4) c 2% milk (28)

Lunch:

(4) air fried chicken wing flats & (4) drummets (440)

(14) Lay’s lightly salted ripple chips (140)

(36) oz water

(8) oz lemon water

Supper:

(1) 12 oz A & W Rootbeer (170)

(1) Small Mexi Fries (265)

(2) hardshell tacos (520)

(1) crisp meat burrito (390)

Total calories consumed: 2155

Total calories used: 329

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min weights (73)

(30) min treadmill (80)

Total net calories: 1826

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1826 = 597 over 👎

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

Sunrise Through the Fog

Daily Food Diary – Day 291 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today it is 291 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  💖

That is commitment people!  I have made some improvements in my diet – not GRAND improvements,  but at least I am mindful of how less than healthy my diet is.

Since I started my health and wellness journey almost four years ago, I have always kept it balanced and sustainable.  My  first year of Daily Workouts seem pretty lame now, but almost four years in I see a world of difference in how I look and feel, and my workouts are in the solid moderate range. 😋

Yesterday, I posted photos of the old and the  modern swinging bridges in Souris, Manitoba.  

Today, I wanted to send along a couple of photos of the 500 year old Mystic Oak Tree that we also visited while we were there.

It took us a couple of tries to find the path that led to the Mystic Tree, but well worth the effort.   The energy surrounding this tree does make for a mystical experience! 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 291

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Harvest Crunch Protein (270)

(1/4) c 2% milk (28)

Snacks:

(9) wine gums (158)

(1) pear (103)

(15) Lay’s Lightly Salted ripple chips (150)

Dinner:

(2) c lettuce (12)

(1/2) c green onions (20)

(1) sm can Flakes of Chicken (210)

(2) tbsp mayo (200)

(12) Doritos (153)

Total consumed calories: 1306

Total used calories: 332

(30) min walking (83)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 974

Net calories goal: 1229 – 974 = 255 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 289 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 289 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

This morning I went for a walk with Dan & Molly.  Since Dan was taking the leash, I didn’t bother switching Molly to her pinch collar.  As usual when Dan takes the leash, she was perfectly well behaved.   No trying to leap into random vehicles, no trying to chase FedEx trucks, not even a yip when she passed barking dogs.   🙄

Yesterday, Dan turned up our forced air furnace.  Since it sits idle, collecting months of dust and dog hair, turning up the furnace is a bit of an ordeal.  He covers the vents and then vacuums each vent for a full cycle before moving on to the next.  We did have ‘experts’ come in a couple of times, but honestly this works just as well in our little house and is less of a hassle (at least Molly wise).

This morning, I cleaned the filters for our air purifiers and we are ready to go.

Yesterday morning, I did my aerobics.  Last night, I did a full thirty minutes on our treadmill.  I had zero incline, but did up the speed to level five for three (three minute) rounds.   Today I am doing aerobics and thirty minutes of light weights and cardio.  I am pumped about upping the weights to eight pounders.   I know I am more than ready. 💪

Still no word on when I will be called in for my hernia surgery, but I am hoping it won’t be until after Christmas.  The surgeon wants me under general anesthesia to do it, so I want to be in the best possible shape. 

Now that the Prednisone is obviously out of my system,  and I am moving forward once again, the last thing I want is another drug induced setback.  😋

Daily Food Diary – Day 289

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(38) lightly frosted mini wheats (278)

(1/4) c 2% milk (28)

Lunch:

(3) oz turkey dark meat (175)

(15) Doritos (140)

Supper:

(1) Reuben – sourdough bun, corned beef, havarti cheese, sauerkraut, hot mustard (658)

Total consumed calories: 1282

Total used calories: 317

(30) min walking (83)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min treadmill (59)

Total net calories: 965

Net calories goal: 1229 – 965 = 264 under 👍

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

My bedside bowl of stones. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 287 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 287 of my Daily Food Diary! 🙂

Today it is three and a half months since I started taking collagen supplements.

Throughout July and August, I noticed multiple benefits – from easing stiff achy hands, stronger longer nails, thicker stronger hair (and a virtual end to hair loss),  improved muscle strength – especially in my hands and upper body, increased stability in my joints,  and best of all increased stability in my sinuses and airways.

At the beginning of September, I saw my respirologist and,  because I was still coughing up an abundance of mucus, he put me on a round of antibiotics and Prednisone.  Neither of which have ever agreed with me – but which at times were deemed a medical necessity.

Throughout September I suffered the loss of a lot of the benefits from the collagen supplements.  It started gradually with broken nails and shedding hairs and went downhill from there. 

Sometime in this demoralizing period I ran across articles that claimed Prednisone can/does inhibit collagen synthesis.   (That makes so much sense considering my history – despite the fact that I had continued to take my collagen supplements.)

I finished this last round of Prednisone on September 13th.   Last week things finally began to turn around.  Again, I noticed the improvements first in my hands, then nails, then hair ….

This morning, I went for a walk with Dan and Molly.  Despite 100 percent humidity, I went the full distance, barely feeling the humidity until the last few blocks. 🥳💓

6 degrees Celsius – 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit

I am so so excited that this setback appears to be behind me!  Hopefully I can avoid any more setbacks (and Prednisone) going forward!  Most of all, I am excited that once again, I feel that I am capable of moving forward, stronger, and healthier! 🎈

Daily Food Diary – Day 287

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(2) pork eggrolls (360)

(4) Gyoza (133)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) c turkey broth (100)

Supper:

(2 1/2) c spaghetti with tomato meat sauce/peppers/onions/mushrooms/garlic (718)

Total consumed calories: 1708

Total used calories: 310

(30) min walking (83)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(15) min treadmill steep incline (52)

Total net calories: 1398

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1398  = 168 over 👎

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 284 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 284 of my Daily Food Diary! 😉

This month (October) I am focusing on how the change of season affects our diet.  So far, I have waffled between summer barbecue, to hearty soups or stews, to light salads, to a full blown Thanksgiving supper.

Today, It is cold and WET!  I am not sure there is a meal that is geared to deal with that.  We had Denver omelets for breakfast.  I am thinking something ‘Light Comfort’ for supper. Whatever that is?

Before the rain started coming down last night, Dan and I did a lot of yard and garden cleanup.  Dan worked at packing  away the patio furniture and gazebo coverings.  I picked the last of the tomatoes and peppers and pulled out the plants. 

A number of the tomato plants had oddly stunted root systems, but deeply rooted or not, I got all of them pulled out and into the green bin.  I am truly impressed with the strength I have!

Out front, the leaves are finally falling but the grass is only getting greener as the rain continues to fall. 🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 284

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Plain paratha (240)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(2) c turkey broth (200)

(6) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (150)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(8) oz dark turkey meat (320)

(1) cabbage roll (117)

(10) asparagus spears (33)

Total consumed calories: 1217

Total used calories: 627

(47) min walking (100)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(2) hours yard/garden cleanup (351)

Total net calories: 627

Net calories goal: 1229 – 627 = 640 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 282 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 282 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

Today is the day after we celebrated our family’s Thanksgiving (which is actually in a few days).

Being retired for five years now, I have gotten pretty comfortable with our quiet little life – generally Dan, our dog Molly, and I.  

Putting together a complete turkey supper for ten people, has become a tad outside my comfort zone – especially with the glitches and such that come with such an endeavour. 

As usual, people stepped up to help bring it all together.  The newlyweds (Genie and Alec) did MORE than their part –  making the salad and then doing the endless dishes and pots and pans after supper. Alec’s Mom, rolled up her sleeves and carved the turkey which Dan and I both appreciated!

Since our house was in order by the end of the evening, I spent this morning over at daughter Jennifer’s  – helping her to get their house tidied up before she heads back to work for the weekend.  🙂

This afternoon, I have kept busy making turkey broth and packaging cabbage rolls for the freezer.

Daily Food Diary Day 282

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(26) lightly frosted shreddies (200)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) c beef stew (184)

(24) oz water

Supper:

(3) oz dark turkey (175)

(1) c mashed potatoes (237)

(10) asparagus spears (33)

(3/4) c corn (105)

(1) Yorkshire pudding (100)

(1/2) c gravy (40)

(1) sour cabbage w/pork and rice roll (197)

(1) PC lemon meringue pie (303)

(3) oz red wine (75)

Total consumed calories: 1679

Total used calories: 608

(5) hours food prep/cooking (555)

(30) min walking (53)

Total net calories: 1071

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1071 = 158 under 👍

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