Tag: counting calories

Daily Food Diary – Day 351 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 351 of my Daily Food Diary and I am still on track for a perfect run of 365 days! 😁

I have plenty of wins to celebrate today!

First and foremost, my hernia surgery is behind me.  I do NOT do hospitals well,  but I was fortunate that Dan plugged through the latest experience with me.  

Second, despite yesterday’s ‘Alberta Clipper’ which apparently is a heavy freezing rain followed by plunging temperatures and a major blizzard – our family (and our vehicles) survived it with no major issue. (Our power didn’t even go out, while that was the norm in much of the city.)

And third..Yay for warm winter outerwear and the new snowblower we got last year.  Dan got our walks, patio, and area behind our garage cleared up in an hour.  (Plus did in front of and behind a couple of our neighbours’ homes.)

For my Daily Food Diary  December Wrap-up Win of the Day  I would have to go with focusing on nutritional values.  This morning,  Dan made me an awesome breakfast of poached eggs, bacon, and potato patties.  An abundance of protein to help me heal from my surgery – easy peasey!

Daily Food Diary – Day 351

Breakfast:

(2) bags iv  fluid

Lunch:

(1/2) lemon lime popsicle (20)

Snacks:

(36) Oz water

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

(15) lightly salted Lays chips (218)

(1) pc puffed wheat cake (130)

Supper:

(1) Big Mac no bun (463)

(1/2) small fries (115)

(4) chicken nuggets (133)

Total consumed calories: 1319

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1319

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1319 = 111 over 👎

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 339 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is the 339th day of my Daily Food Diary! 😁

Recently, I have been noting my daily WINS.  With the full moon finally behind us, it would appear that things are finally starting to line up for me again. 

Yes, I am still booked for surgery on the 17th and NO I am not happy about that, however..

1) Yesterday, I stayed under my daily calorie goal and I did my walk with Dan and Molly, plus my aerobics, plus 30 minutes on the treadmill. 👍

2) This morning, I walked with Dan and Molly – Minus 19° Celsius (- 2.2 F) feels like Minus 26° Celsius (-14.8F)  and I made the full route with very mild breathing trouble.  YAY!

3) I received a text from our DIL Amanda this morning.  They will be here from the 21st to the 24th to celebrate an early Christmas with us.  They stay at a hotel when they are in Regina, but we host their two little dogs for the duration.

Cornelius
Bacarrdi

It was a bit of a doggy free for all when they were younger, but things are calming down as we get past the puppy years – and Molly loves the company.

Dan is gone shopping, which brings me to my Daily Food Diary WIN! 

Dan does virtually all of our shopping.  Since I have become more mindful of what I eat, we have both become more engaged with the shopping process and it has brought about a new level of communication between us.  We discuss  our menu and Dan has educated both of us when it comes to ingredients in prepared foods that we buy.  He has read a LOT of labels and eliminated or changed a number of products that we used to buy.   In the process, he has also become much more mindful of what he eats.    In this way, my Daily Food Diary has become OUR Daily Food Diary WIN.

Daily Food Diary – Day 339

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(1) chicken drumsticks (121)

(10) Lays lightly salted ripple chips (70)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1) 6 Oz ground beef burger on sourdough bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, bacon, & horseradish (785)

(1/2) c brown beans (123)

(1) Almond Roca (70)

Total consumed calories: 1346

Total used calories: 379

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 967

Net calories goal: 1208 – 967= 242 under 👍

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

We dont have this level of snow yet this year but I am modeling the same fashion sense nonetheless 😬

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 334 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 334 of my Daily Food Diary! 🔥 That means eleven full months of keeping and posting my daily diary without one single miss! 👏

Today is December 1st.  To round up this challenge, each day  I am going to note one Food Diary WIN that I celebrated in 2025.

When, I started in January, my main goal was to pinpoint foods that I could no longer tolerate in my diet.   My first win came as a complete surprise! 

Just by being mindful of everything I ate  every day, I soon realized how much mindless snacking I did throughout the day.  Much of what I reached for was high in salt or processed sugar. 

Becoming mindful of every bite I ate, or passed on, had a bigger impact on my life.  I became more present and mindful of my life in general.  

Ultimately, I became more aware of my thoughts, emotions, and the choices I made.

We are in the first deep freeze of our winter season.   I have been making the best of it and scored a couple of wins this weekend…

1) I took out the housecoat Dan gave me for Christmas last year.

Like being wrapped in a warm fluffy cloud!

2) I spent some time reading the book that I have been working on – ‘Let Them’ by Mel Robbins.  I have been struggling to read this book (it is me, not a reflection of the book or the author).  Yesterday, I read an entire chapter and was rewarded by this powerful quote…

“The truth is, your life is your responsibility.”

There was a time when such quotes would have spawned excuses and a never ending round of blame games.    Now, such quotes are a huge win.. a huge empowering win. 🤩

No one owes me the life that I want and no one can hand it to me on a silver platter.   It is up to me to make choices I need to make and to take the steps that I have to take, to build the strong, healthy, fulfilling  life that I want and deserve!

Daily Food Diary –   Day 334

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2.5) scrambled eggs (228)

(2) potato patties (240)

(4) very thin slices bacon (87)

Snacks:

(1) Snickerdoodle (90)

(12) g chipnuts (96)

(1) Oz Frangelico (71)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(2) full bowls won ton soup (450)

Total consumed calories: 1264

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1264

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1264 = 56 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 331 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 331 of my Daily Food Diary! 🥳

This morning, I am just going to jump right into my wins since I posted yesterday.

1) For the forth day in a row, Molly and I  went for our morning walk solo.  Molly was very good,  again.    But, it was COLD!    Despite wearing 2 sets of gloves, my hands were freezing.  When we got back home,  my fingers were stiff and in excruciating pain.   I grabbed a jar of CBD cream and lathered it on.  By the time I had it rubbed in, the pain was easing – and in no time my fingers were as good as new.  CBD cream for the win!

2) Last night was dart night for Dan.  I cleared up the kitchen, did the dishes, massaged my hands and did my nails.   After digging in garden dirt, pulling weeds, and the like all spring/summer/fall,  it felt  good to show my hands some winter love.

Healing hands for the win!

3) Finally, shortly after Thanksgiving we asked our Genie if she and her husband Alec would consider hosting Christmas this year.    It is all rather complicated but with help of Alec’s Mom (who is  the official hostess)  that is now the plan.  

Big win – First  Family Christmas,  with and for, the newly weds.  💞🎄

Daily Food Diary – Day 331

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1/2) c potato (127)

(1 1/2) c Baked vegetables (37)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

Snacks:

(6) Hint of Lime chips (150)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1 1/2) c macaroni & cheese (380)

(2) Harvest weiners (360)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

(1) can A & W rootbeer (170)

Total consumed calories: 1694

Total used calories: 337

(30 min walking (137)

(30) min aerobics 200)

Total net calories: 1357

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1357 = 149 over 👎

That’s it for today.  take care and have a great day! 🤗💓

Daily Food Diary –  Day 329 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 329 of my Daily Food Diary! 😆

This morning we woke up to find our city shrouded in fog.  That seems to be the norm lately, more often that not.   I am not loving the high humidity, as it is one thing that triggers my asthma – and the one thing that I cannot control. 

8 A.M. this morning

Staying indoors does help, but it is 11 AM and the fog is still hanging on. 

Molly is not a happy camper.  Dan’s back went out a couple of days ago.   The pain is  easing off but he is not ready to take Molly for her walk.   It will be on me again, but we won’t get far if this fog does not ease up.

There is nothing sadder than a sad Pyrenees 😔

Other than the fog (and Dan’s back issue) , all is relatively well.   I have a couple of more wins to celebrate…

1) Yesterday, for the second day in a row I put together a passable healthy lunch for myself – raw vegetables, bacon, and crackers.

2) Plus,  I got in two workouts on top of my walk with Molly yesterday – light weights and treadmill

Also, not really a win for me, but definitely something to appreciate… I have spoken to granddaughter Genie.  If Grandpa is still struggling on the weekend, she will be able to detour out of her way and drive Maddy for work.  It is so nice that they are sisters, workmates, and the best of friends!

Genie training Maddy on the first day of her first job. (March 2024) 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 329

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(2) slices thick cut bacon (170)

(2 1/4) c raw vegetables (37)

(2) tbsp Dilly Dip (100)

(14)  crackers (128)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1) c cream of mushroom soup (200)

(1) Pan fried Ham, cheese, and onion wrap (382)

(2/3) maple walnut ice cream with chocolate sauce (303)

Total consumed calories: 1483

Total used calories: 280

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (71)

(30) min light weights (71)

Total net calories: 1203

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1203 = 5 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 327 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 327 of my Daily Food Diary! 😎

I have been trying to be mindful of what I eat (and cook) for almost eleven months now.  I have even been  putting a respectable effort into choosing our menu – especially supper.   Despite all this effort, often – like once a week,  I find out that my  daughter, her daughter, or both of them – made exactly the same thing as us on the same day.   Last week it was Genie.  For supper on Saturday, Dan made Baked French Onion Soup.   After, seeing my blog on Sunday – Genie messaged me to say that she had done likewise for herself and her sister Prim.  So strange – I know Genie makes a lot of homemade soup, but I don’t think either of us make French Onion Soup regularly.  But apparently, when we do..🤔

It is another relatively pleasant day in Southern Saskatchewan – so far!  There is talk of snow but we have dodged it so far. (or at least the snow that comes and stays until spring)

We went for our morning walk.  The  humidity was relatively high (93%) but I still did quite well coughing wise –  a few random coughs, but no coughing fits, so that was good!

Another hand shot today. 

This one is to share my win for yesterday.  I got my wedding rings on.  I haven’t been able to wear them for months –  since I caught my finger on Molly’s chain (leash) when I was walking her.    The swelling in my knuckle refused to go down.   Now it is finally gone. 😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 327

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) 2 egg Denver omelet (235)

(2) potato patties (240)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

Supper:

(3) spring rolls (375)

(3) c chicken stir fry (614)

(12) Oz carbonated water

Total consumed calories: 1573

Total used calories: 137

(30) min walking  (137)

Total net calories: 1436

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1436 = 222 over 👎

That is it for today.  take care and have a great day! 🤗🧡

Daily Food Diary – Day 323 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 323 of my Daily Food Diary.  323 Days in and this is the closest I have come to missing posting my blog.  😳

Our humidity was finally down this morning, so I joined Dan and Molly for a  walk.   We stopped at the dog park for a while so Molly got in a good run with her friends, but set us back a bit.  

We got home and I did some poo cleanup in the yard, fed the squirrels, brought in the mail, and had a bath.  By then, I was just all sorts of off track for the day.

It has been almost five months since I started taking collagen supplements.  I have seen a number of benefits and a few changes in my health/body that I wasn’t expecting.

The weirdest change could be to my hands.  They feel a little better and they are stronger, but they also look different!

They look kind of alien- ish and the color is off  (seriously difficult to take pictures of my own  hands) but my veins (or arteries?) are almost gone.  The left side photos were taken in July.

I have been noticing the change for a few months.  Whatever is going on, my blood pressure and pulse are fine.  🤷‍♀️

Daily Food Diary – Day 323

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/4) c milk (28)

(1) c brown sugar  Shreddies (210)

Lunch:

(2/3) c chicken broth (10)

(3/4) c Hamburger Helper Lasagna (210)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp honey (40)

(10) Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips (200)

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man Chicken Dinner (520)

(1) extra brownie (50)

Total consumed calories: 1360

Total used calories: 174

(30) min aerobics (174)

Total net calories: 1186

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1186 = 22 under 👎

That’s it for today.  TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT DAY! 😊💖

In front of the main branch of our library.  We drove downtown just to see this elephant (a few years ago).   Im not surprised I hadn’t seen it before – it was almost impossible to see it when we were looking for it. 😂

Daily Food Diary – Day 317 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 317 of my Daily Food Diary! 🌞

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! 🌞💞

Regina Floral Conservatory – a few years ago.