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 dayof 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! 🥰🤗
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! 🤗🧡
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. 😂
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! 🌞💞
That is 50 Days until the end of my DailyFood Diary Challenge.
In 2026, I am going to switch over to a 365 Day Daily Activity Challenge.
I have been getting back on track doing my regular workouts – walking with Dan and Molly in the morning, and doing my aerobics, light weights, and treadmill.
Yesterday morning, I walked the full route with Dan and Molly. After lunch I did a light weight workout – three sets of eight exercises using eight pound weights with dancing before and after each set. After a short rest, I hopped on the treadmill.
I know that if I am going to make the most of my Activity Challenge in 2026, I am going to have to break out of my comfort zone and kick up my activity level.
Yesterday on the treadmill, I felt it was an ideal time to start pushing my limits. I felt great, the 80’s tunes were rocking, it was time.
I had been strolling along at speed Level 3 on the treadmill. A couple of minutes in, I had kicked it up to a Level 5. Still feeling good and a bit cocky, I pushed it up to a Level 6.
Level 6 is the turning point from Slow Levels to Fat Burn. Specifically – 3.5 km per hour to 40 miles an hour.
I was clinging to the handrails for dear life, running for my life, and wondering how I was going to slow this beast down. I had my left foot up when I made the dubious decision to set it down on the side rail. And the right foot hit the 40 mile an hour treadmill. Well…
That was less than elegant and more than a little painful. Fortunately (or not), I was still holding onto the handrails. I got off in one piece – but with a few new stretch marks. 🙄
I know that I have to keep pushing through my comfort zone – but I can’t see myself ever hitting Performance Level. Maybe by 2027. 🤗
Daily Food Diary – Day 315
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Cheerios (200)
(1/4) c 2% milk (28)
Lunch:
(3) PC’s roast chicken (319)
(1) cheese biscuit (129)
(1/3) c gravy (24)
Snacks:
(1) tbsp honey (40)
(1) snickerdoodle (90)
(1) Belgium Chocolate cookie (120)
Supper:
(1) homemade chicken quesadilla (464)
(1) 315 mil Pepsi (150)
Total consumed calories: 1565
Total used calories: 282
(30) min walking (137)
(30) min light weights (73)
(30) min treadmill (73)
Total net calories: 1283
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1283 = 75 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞😊
Today we woke up to the first notable snowfall of the season.
With plus 9 degree C temperatures expected Monday, this snow won’t last, but the air was crisp and clean when we walked Molly earlier.
Fortunately, Dan took the leash while Molly bopped around, zigging and zagging to sniff out anything buried under the fresh snow. I followed behind, grateful to stay vertical on the snowy sidewalks and icy streets.
Tonight we are celebrating the arrival of winter with a pot of ground beef, vegetable, & barley soup.
Other than that, we don’t have any major plans today. I have a list of small chores to get done around the house, some aerobics and and a weight session to do, and possibly a batch of cheese biscuits and/or snickerdoodles to get in the oven. ☺️
Daily Food Diary – Day 311
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) c grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
(2) crumpets (160)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
Snacks:
(2) black licorice Twizzlers (45)
(1) tbsp honey (40)
(14) lightly salted chips (130)
(1) oz chip dip (40)
Supper:
(9) air fried chicken wing flats (364)
(1 1/2) oz riblets (74)
(6) onion rings (150)
(3) cheese sticks (190)
(8) tater tots (124)
(1) tbsp Frank’s Louisiana Hot Sauce
(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)
(2/3) c Maple walnut ice cream (198)
(2) Belgium Chocolate cookies (107)
Total consumed calories: 1806
Total used calories: 210
(30) min walking (137)
(30) min treadmill (73)
Total net calories: 1596
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1596 = 388 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
310 days, since I have been maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary. Every day, for 310 days, of being mindful of everything that I consume – and virtually 310 days of thinking that I could and should be doing better.
But today I realized how different things would feel if I had a Daily Food Diary from last year to use as a comparison. 😳
1. I do not drink enough water – but I drink a lot more than I drank in the past.
2. I still drink an occasional soda. I have probably averaged one each month this year. Last year… Probably at least 4 each week.
3. I still have a snack most days – depending on what I have for breakfast. I used to mindlessly snack from morning to night.
4. A snack used to often be regular or seasoned potato chips – now virtually all of our chips are lightly salted – as is our bacon, broth, and anything that we season as we cook.
5. I used to snack in the evening – especially when Dan was out. Industrial sized snacks – a bag of popcorn, toffee by the handful, big bowls of icecream with unlimited toppings, cookies, the occasional cake…. Now, I do not snack in the evenings.
Setting myself up for Dart Night (pre Food Diary) 🙄
6. I used to eat at least a couple of FULL servings every night, cooked with butter, seasoned with lots of salt, unlimited cheese.. Now my meals are generally one reasonable serving cooked in olive oil – light on the salt and cheese.
7. Take out or eat out used to be a regular thing – Chinese, KFC, Taco Time, Arby’s, steak & lobster on special occasions. Now we have take out, Arby’s, Taco Time, or DQ once every couple of weeks – maybe!
There are more changes that I/we have made in the past year. Being mindful of what I eat, has influenced what we eat and what Dan buys (since he does the shopping in our house).
Improvements can, and may eventually, be made to our daily diet. But today I’m feeling pretty good about how far we have come! 😊
Daily Food Diary – Day 310
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) crumpets (160)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)
Lunch:
(2) chicken drumsticks (152)
(2/3) scalloped potatoes (150)
Snacks:
(3) mini chocolate treats (120)
(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(1 1/2) c Herb & Butter Sidekicks (240)
(3) sticks souvlaki (345)
(1) c broccoli & cauliflower (55)
(1) tsp butter (34)
Total consumed calories: 1382
Total used calories: 183
(30) min treadmill (73)
(1) hr food prep/cooking/cleanup (110)
Total net calories: 1199
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1199 = 9 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💓😊
Yesterday in my blog, I wrote about my yeast allergy and how it has affected my health.
I was born with three health issues – asthma (which I was diagnosed with in my thirties), allergies (I have been officially diagnosed with environmental allergies but have yet to be tested and officially diagnosed with food allergies), and a collagen disorder/deficiency.
Of the three health issues – the collagen issue has been the most detrimental when it comes to my quality of life. For the first fifty some years of my life, I struggled with head to toe issues that affected me physically and emotionally. The most difficult part being that I had absolutely no idea why I struggled so much – just that I did!
Finally, in my fifties, my grandson was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome – Type 3 (a genetic mutation that affects the collagen in one’s body. I started searching reputable health sites on the internet and I discovered information regarding not only the prevalence and importance of collagen in our bodies – but that the information described me and my long standing health issues perfectly. During the past twenty years, others in my immediate and extended family have likewise been diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos 3 and/or with relative collagen issues.
Doctors that I have seen have brushed me off EVERY time I have brought up the subject. My respiratory therapist acknowledged the possibility that EDS could be affecting my respiratory system and my optometrist explained how it does affect my eyes.
Just having a solid lead as to the root of so many of my health issues has helped me immensely. For the first time ever, I understand my body. I have been able to make lifestyle changes that have helped me to live better.
This year, I began taking collagen supplements to see if they could possibly be of any benefit – particularly to my muscles and joints. While I had found a lot of information on collagen and Ehlers Danlos – I did not find much suggesting collagen supplements would be beneficial.
In the first two months, I noticed positive results to my nails, hair, skin, muscles, and joints. I was starting to notice an improvement to my sinuses. Then I saw my respirologist who put me on a course of antibiotics and 50mg Prednisone per day for ten days. (In a follow up visit, blood tests and X-rays indicated a possible minor infection/inflammation – which my respirologist said was nothing but that I had extra prescriptions on file if I required them. For an infection that I didn’t really have in the first place ?)
Within a few days of starting the antibiotics and Prednisone, I noticed that I was losing the benefits that I had been getting from the collagen supplements. My nails were breaking, my hair was thinning and falling, I was feeling like a dishrag and struggling to exercise with 5 pound weights.
I went back to the medical sites on the internet and found evidence that Prednisone inhibits the synthesis of collagen. The same Prednisone that doctors had been prescribing to me regularly (up to six times a year) for decades.
I continued to take the Collagen Supplements and once again (as the effects from the Prednisone wore off) began to see positive results. Except, that four months in, not only am I seeing an improvement to my nails, hair, skin, muscles, and joints, sinuses – I am feeling a notable improvement to the airways throughout my respiratory system. Despite, having recent issues with a flare up of environmental allergies, I can breathe easily. I can lay down or recline back in my chair without feeling like my airways are collapsing and that I am smothering. And I have upped my weights to eight pounders because the five pounders just weren’t cutting it. 👍
These are the Collagen Supplements that I have been using. (From Amazon Canada)
Once again, my point being that it is up to us to be proactive when it comes to our health. It is nothing against medical professionals – they save lives. But – we each live in our own body, day in and day out. And when it comes to resolving chronic health issues that matters – especially as we age.
Daily Food Diary – Day 306
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) potato patties (240)
(2) eggs (160)
(2) slices thick cut bacon (170)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(1) tomato (22)
Snacks:
(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)
(1) tbsp local raw honey (40)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2) c fried rice w/rice, pork, red onion, mushrooms, celery, red pepper, soya sauce, olive oil, butter (237)
(2) egg rolls (377)
(1) tsp plum sauce (12)
Total consumed calories: 1362
Total used calories: 110
(1) hr food prep/cooking/cleanup (110)
Total net calories: 1252
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1252 = 44 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💝🤗
Wood carving for sale in Deadwood, South Dakota – it probably would have come home with me if our grandbabies were still small enough to ride it…
For the past few weeks, I have been struggling to eat as well, or to eat less poorly, than I would hope to be doing at this point.
From early September when I went through my latest round of antibiotics and Prednisone to the last few days when my allergies have been out of control, it seems that there is always one thing or another. My appetite is up, but my inclination to prepare nutritious meals or snacks is way down. 🙄
I am too close to finishing this 365 day Challenge to stop now, so I persist.
Unfortunately….
Persistence is not enough. One must decide whether to persist as a sufferer or persist as a warrior. – author unknown
I thought of this quote earlier this morning when I took Molly for her morning walk. It was just Molly and I and it didn’t start off well. I was feeling pretty rough and Molly wasn’t feeling particularly co-operative.
At first, I was hesitant to commit. I walked her around our block. I reluctantly, decided to keep going past our house and try for another block…and another. Finally I reached a point where I either turned back or pushed out of my comfort zone and went the distance.
We went the distance!
Either way, it would have been a win. Either way, it would have been a walk and some fresh air. But with a change of attitude, we went the distance and that felt pretty empowering today!
Now, I just have to warrior up in the kitchen and get my diet on track. 😊
Daily Food Diary – Day 303
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(3) Eggo Waffles (270)
(2) tsp butter (68)
(2) tbsp Maple syrup (104)
(3) sl. Bacon (130)
Snacks:
(48) oz water
(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)
(1/4) hickory almonds (180)
(6) mini chocolate treats (240)
Supper:
(1) bowl Campbell’s chicken noodle soup (120)
(1) sourdough bun (190)
(2) slices havarti cheese (160)
(2) tsp butter (68)
Total consumed calories: 1600
Total used calories: 0
Total net calories: 1600
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1600 = 392 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ❤️😊
Today is Day 301 of my Daily Food Diary! That is 43 WEEKS without a single miss. 🙌
Today, I am feeling a solid improvement in how I am feeling! I am four months into using Collagen Supplements and they are doing wonders for me. My strength has improved, my endurance has improved, and best of all – my breathing has significantly improved. I can breathe without feeling like my sinuses and respiratory airways are collapsing and I can even lay flat on my back without feeling like I am smothering!
My only respiratory issues these days are obviously caused by allergies. Since we started running an air purifier in our bedroom at night, I am good there. In the daytime, my eyes are burning, my nose is runny, and I am still coughing.
The third Honeywell air purifier we have bought and I am happy with all of them.
We have our best air purifier running in the living room so I’m not sure what my problem is. I have taken Claritin (which doesn’t work for me) and some ‘natural’ antihistamines which just seem to make me sleepy. 😴
Yesterday, I got some black licorice to see if that would help. I know it is something that is not good to eat regularly or in excess, but it also helps to control allergies, so we will see.
Daily Food Diary – Day 301
Breakfast:
2) c coffee (4)
(1/4 c milk (28)
(1) c cinnamon cheerios (200)
Snacks:
(2) black licorice Twizzlers (45)
(1/8) c mixed nuts (90)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(2) servings c nachos – Hint of Lime tortilla chips with seasoned ground beef, peppers, green onions, black olives, shredded cheese, and salsa (865)
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) PC Chocolate cake (300)
Total consumed calories: 1530
Total used calories: 501
(30) min walking (68)
(30) min aerobics (244)
(1) hr housecleaning (134)
(30) min food prep/cooking (55)
Total net calories: 1029
Net calories goal: 1208 – 1029 = 179 under 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞☺️
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 