It was a busy day yesterday and today isn’t much better. I am checking in late, but better late than never. It still counts!
Saturday is my serious house clean of the week. After I got my aerobic workout done, I scrubbed down the kitchen, vacuumed, and moved furniture to do a thorough sweeping of the living room and the kitchen. I also washed clothes and bedding, and we gave Molly a thorough brushing. And, I fed the squirrels TWICE.
I also did a bit of garden/yard work. A BIG bit. I watered EVERYTHING, fertilized the flowers and vegetables, and sprayed the tomatoes cucumbers, and peppers. My ailing tomato plant is still alive, but hanging by a thread. Most of the tomatoes are suddenly thriving, but the San Marzano are still fighting the rust fungus.
By suppertime, I was ready for something simple supper.
It wasn’t our most colorful meal but there was yellow corn, white mashed potatoes, and dark brown brownies (which probably doesn’t count as a healthy colour).
Daily Food Diary – Day 214
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) plain paratha (240)
(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)
(1) tbsp jam (90)
Snacks:
(60) oz water
Supper:
(1) Hungry Man Fried Chicken (520)
(1) Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookie (50)
Total Net Calories: 793
Net calorie goal: 1222 – 793 = 429 under
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💗 😊
A touch of colour for Mom & Dad’s graves when we go to Gravelbourg. Always red carnations for Dad and yellow flowers for Mom.
It is 213 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. 😊🌹
I have completed SEVEN of the twelve months that I set out to post. Every month I choose a different focus and for August I planned to do likewise.
Choosing a new focus is always a challenge and this month (August) has been the most difficult. I drew a blank for the past week, I settled on making this a month to focus on weekly meal planning. But our summers are notoriously short and meal planning is just too September Greige for me to get excited about.
So… I chose to go with COLOURFUL foods for August. While our garden is struggling this year, we do have a variety of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, rhubarb, and several herbs to provide color (and healthy goodness) to our meals. Of course, we also have access to all of the fresh colorful foods available at our supermarkets and local Farmer’s Market.
To kick the month off, I sourced out this short article which offers information on why a colorful diet is beneficial, plus the specific nutrients relative to each basic food color.
Today is also August 1st, which means this is my last diary entry focussed on foods that contain collagen or significantly contribute to the production or use of collagen in our bodies.
I know that I have genetic collagen issues. I also know that lack of collagen becomes an issue for everyone as we age – and I AGED this month. I celebrated my 70th birthday a few days ago. While I have considered it in the past, this month I decided the time had come to start taking collagen supplements.
I went with these capsules from Amazon. I liked the variety of collagen they provide.
Sometimes I avoid trying something like collagen supplements, because I am afraid I will be disappointed in the results and I don’t want to deal with that! In this case, I am sorry that I waited so long.
The supplements that I chose came with a notice that it can take 5 months of 6 gelcaps a day, to notice much difference. In one month – the chronic pain and stiffness in my hands has eased considerably, my nails are stronger and healthier than they have been in decades, and I am shedding far less hair.
I cannot tell what the collagen is doing for my internal issues (which is my real goal), but I believe the airways in my sinuses, throat, and lungs are improving. It is difficult to tell because our weather and frequent smokey spells cause breathing issues – and I have been taking antihistamines and a natural lung clearing tonic.
While taking collagen supplements seems to be beneficial so far, it is still important to keep on top of my diet to ensure that I am getting the nutrients required for my body to effectively utilize collagen. For that, I require adequate protein, vitamin C, zinc, copper, and amino acids. And of course – adequate exercise, rest, and stress management.
When it comes to one’s health, it is never a matter of just taking a pill (or six pills a day). At least not for me. If I don’t work – the pills don’t either. 😕
And of course, eliminating the foods that are detrimental to my system is as important as taking the foods that are beneficial. In that regard, I am happy to announce that with my birthday and our anniversary behind me – my cake is finally GONE.
But it was really good while it lasted! 😊
And in other monthly wrap up news, I may or may not have packed on 5 pounds this month. It’s a good thing I am taking up running – and that we are out of cake. 🤦
Daily Food Diary – Day 212
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) Egg Denver omelet with ham & green onion, shredded marble cheese, & Salsa (363)
(1) cheese tortilla wrap (170)
Snack:
(48) oz water
(4) oz lemon water
(1) piece Caramel Toffee cake (1050)
Supper:
(3) battered & fried haddock filets (435)
(6) oz fries (230)
(1/2) c gravy (50)
(1/2) c coleslaw (104)
(12) oz 7 up (140)
Total net calories: 2289
Net calorie goal: 1222 – 2289 = 1067 over
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significantly contribute to the production of collagen
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊💕
Yesterday was my birthday. It was a great day. I appreciated all of the well wishes from friends and family. I appreciated the calls from son Dan and daughter Jennifer. And we all appreciated the visit from the newly weds (Genie & Alec) – especially MOLLY!
I love the cardandthe flowers. The sourdough buns are pretty good. (Toasted & buttered with ham & cheese omelets to fill). Grandpa and I might have to check out the farmers market ourselves soon!
My Daily Food Diary entry for the day looks pretty brutal, but it was my 70th Birthday and we did go to Montana’s for (a very early) supper followed by Birthday Cake later in the evening.
Takeaway from this entry.. my total calories for the day were BAD And my food choices were not the most nutritionally sound. While I ate what I wanted… I could have done worse. Dan and I both had water with our meal. We generally pass on soda or alcoholic beverages. I gave Dan part of my (Ribfest) entree. The one I chose had 4 breaded hot wings. Dan ordered a smaller entree and took the yeast hit. And when we had cake, we both passed on the ice cream.
This cake does not require ice cream!
Today we are both back on track. We started our day with coffee before taking Molly on a good trek around the neighborhood. And, we had a relatively light meal for our Sunday brunch.
Our air is finally clear and our humidity is down. I am breathing somewhat easier. so I am thinking of going for a jog around our neighbourhood to kick off my 70’s tomorrow morning. I’ll let you know how that plays out. 👍
Today is Day 206 of my Daily Food Diary. Today is also my 70th birthday!
Dan went to get my birthday cake yesterday and bought me TWO birthday cards. My sister Elaine also sent me a card to mark the occasion. She makes all of her own greeting cards and they are always amazing.
“It’s not how old we are in life. It’s how bold we are in life.” 🙌Best cake EVER. I love salted caramel and in cake form it is over the top.
Dan and I are going to Montana’s for supper. We just had an amazing steak a couple of days ago and I have been craving ribs so RIBS it is!
Neither Dan or I could think of any present that I could want or need. Then I decided that I would like to go to Gravelbourg next week to put new flowers on my parents and grandparents graves and repaint the letters on my Uncle Herman’s gravestone. My Dad worked as a stonemason in his younger years so he carved the gravestone himself. Uncle Herman passed away from leukemia when he was only twenty-five. His passing left a profound mark on my Dad throughout his life.
Anyway, I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate my 70th birthday by showing my appreciation for my parents and ancestors. I would not have been blessed with the years I have had, were it not for them. 🌹
Daily Food Diary– Day 206
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) c Cheerios (147)
(2) oz 2% milk
Lunch:
(2) eggs (160)
(1) tsp olive oil (40)
(1 1/2) oz ham (67)
(2) green onions (16)
(2) almond flour chocolate chip cookies (100)
(10) Raspberries (10)
(60) oz water
Supper:
(1) lg. Dinner salad (356)
(4) oz tenderloin (120)
Total net calories: 799
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 799 = 529 under 👍
* I wasn’t starving myself yesterday. I did my aerobics and my cardio/weights yesterday, so that brought my net calories down. Also, my pulled muscle was pretty uncomfortable after all that deep breathing at my lung function test yesterday morning so I just wasn’t hungry.
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significantly contribute to the production of collagen
That is a full 29 weeks since I became mindful of my daily diet. The real story is what does not appear in my diary – everything I reach for, then walk away from or each time I pivot and go with a healthier choice, rather than my first choice.
I have done temporary Food Diaries in the past (for medical reasons) and I found them to be an annoying inconvenience – and not particularly useful to anyone. For two or three days, I could easily deprive myself of anything that might seem questionable to a doctor or nutritionist. Which of course would defeat the purpose…
Now, I appreciate having this constant nudge to eat mindfully and (relatively) responsibly.
It is bizarre how seldom it is that we seriously consider what we consume. In that regard, I think we are far more aware of how we nourish our pets and our plants than our own bodies. (Maybe it’s just me. 😔)
This is a supermarket orchid that Dan bought me. The instruction card said it should bloom once a year. I have replanted it in a specific orchid potting mix, I water it sparingly, and I feed it a mixture of ground eggshells and dried banana peels. It has been blooming for three years. Every set of blossoms get bigger, last longer, and are replaced by a new set as soon as they fall.
In retrospect, it seems beyond bizarre that I have been more conscientious about nurturing a plant than my own body. (Even if it is a cool plant. 🤔)
Daily Food Diary – Day 203
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) Grapefruit (39)
(1 1/2) c sugar (24)
(1) c Shreddies (200)
Lunch:
(2) oz Rotisserie chicken (100)
(8) Lay’s BBQ potato chips (75)
Snacks:
(1) Coffee Crisp Ice Cream cone (280)
(1) Almond flour/dark chocolate chip cookie (50)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(1) Chef Salad – lettuce, green onions, radishes, cucumber, tomato, olives, ham, boiled eggs, shredded cheese, sunflower seeds, dried fried onions, Black Peppercorn Ranch salad dressing (500)
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) Almond flour/dark chocolate chip cookie (50)
Total net calories: 1146
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1146 = 83 under
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞
It is Day 202 of my Daily Food Diary. 202 Days without a single miss! 🙌
There is nothing earth shaking happening in my life today, but a few things of note…
First… Molly and I had another win yesterday! Dan was golfing and we had a repairman come to check out our water heater. When I saw him pull up in his van, I called Molly and put on her leash so I could ensure control while he was here. She’s never been aggressive – but she is big and she can show attitude.
No attitude yesterday.. Molly sat beside me quiet and well mannered! 👍
Second… Yesterday, despite humidity of 100% I had a Molly walk, did my morning aerobics, did weights and cardio and met my Net Calorie Goal. Today we got up to a Smoke Risk of 11 (Very Bad) and humidity of 94%. The smoke risk has dropped to a 7, which is still too high for my lungs to handle especially with the humidity. No walk today. 😢
Third… It has been 18 days since I started taking collagen supplements. My hands are definitely less crampy and painful than they have been for decades. I don’t know what other benefits I may see in the months to come, but I do know that when it comes to supplements, vitamins, and medications – they don’t work unless I do. So, I am doing the best I can to get the most I can out of these collagen supplements – weather permitting.
Daily Food Diary – Day 202
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) tortilla wrap (170)
(2) eggs (160)
(1) tsp olive oil (40)
(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (114)
(2) oz. Piller’s shaved ham (57)
(2) green onions (16)
Snacks:
(1) Pear (103)
Supper:
(6) oz water rotisserie chicken DK meat (300)
(2/3) c potato salad (358)
(15) BBQ potato chips (103)
Total net calories: 1179
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1179 = 49 under 👍
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ☺️❤️
It is 201 Days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. It is two years since I eliminated yeast from diet and started taking a serious look at improving my diet in general. And, it is three and a half years since I started living a healthier and more active lifestyle.
One would think, I would have it all down to a science by now, but looking at my Food Diary entry from yesterday – obviously NOT.
What is truly ironic, is that yesterday I was messaging back and forth with my sister Lorraine and we were discussing our health issues, our eating habits, and our frustration with North American attitudes towards diet in general. Every day is a celebration – and every celebration needs an overindulgence of poor food choices and alcohol fueled fun. (At least I dodged the alcohol fueled fun. 🙂)
Fortunately, another Monday has come around and it is a new opportunity to dial back on the calories and amp up on the exercise. I’ve been one of the 35% of Canadians living with obesity, and I am not going back there!
We started our Monday with a walk with Molly. Dan and I both struggled with the 100% humidity – as well as with trying to keep Molly out of the burr laden weeds along one stretch of roadway.
We managed to walk a respectable distance – and brought Molly home ready for a nice quiet nap. 👍
Being Monday, I still have my aerobics to do this morning, weights this afternoon, and chicken salad is on the menu for supper. 😊
Daily Food Diary – Day 201
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(2) potato Patties (240)
(2) eggs (160)
(1/4) c shredded marble cheese (114)
(5) asparagus spears (16)
(1) tsp butter (34)
(3) slices bacon (130)
Snacks:
(25) No Name Barbecue Chips (270)
(48) oz water
Supper:
(7) oz New York Strip Steak (546)
(1 1/2) c white rice (363)
(1/2) c red pepper (23)
(1/4) c red onion (15)
(1/2) c celery (8)
(1/2) c mushrooms (22)
(2) tsp butter (69)
(2) tbsp soya sauce (30)
(1) c broccoli (30)
(1/2) c cauliflower (14)
Total net calories: 2086
Net calories goal: 1229 – 2086 = 857 over 👎
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊💞
It is 196 Days since I began my Daily Food Diary. That is a full 28 WEEKS without one miss!
My biggest (Food Diary) news from yesterday is that I finally drank that Root Beer yesterday. I’m pretty sure that was my second soda since I started this challenge back on January 1st. (Not counting a couple of Tonic Waters used as mix with Gin).
Anyway, I did have a root beer yesterday and did so quite deliberately. Any amount of sugar isn’t good for me as it thickens the mucus in my lungs and makes it difficult to cough to clear them. However, this afternoon we are having a family event so no coughing would be a good thing. It wasn’t a moment of weakness – just a natural cough suppressant for one day. 😊
This morning, Dan and I walked Molly – together. No smoke, no golf! 👍 We stopped at the storm channel to check out Momma Duck just sitting on a rock. Her ducklings are probably at an age to get into all kinds of trouble and make all kinds of noise while doing so. I think Momma just needed some alone time.
We had enough of a walk that Molly needed a rest when we got home. Or maybe she is just exhausted from producing hair. I cannot imagine why she is not bald. I spend half my time sweeping up and dusting away dog hair – and we have already brushed her twice this week. (Filling the garbage can with hair and destroying the porch carpet in the process! 😯)
Daily Food Diary – Day 196
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1) Plain paratha (240)
(1) tbsp peanut butter (90)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
Lunch:
(3) PC chicken wings (2) drumettes & (1) flat (264)
(10) potato chips (52)
Snacks:
(48) oz water
(355) ml Root Beer (170)
Supper:
(1) Dinner salad (190)
(3) sticks pork souvlaki (240)
(2) tbsp peppercorn ranch dressing (70)
(2) tbsp dried fried onions (67)
(2) tbsp sesame sesame (33)
(1) serving rhubarb cheesecake (260)
Total net calories: 1438
Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1438 = 209 over
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen
The merry little Marigolds are blooming for granddaughter Genie today 🤗
It is 195 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary. It is 3 years and 5 months since I started living my Health and Fitness lifestyle.
In these past few years, I have changed –
The changes didn’t happen in three and a half years. They happened moment by moment, step by step, choice by choice.
The changes that happened aren’t all obvious. I am physically stronger and have energy and stamina. I can do things that I couldn’t have imagined three and a half years ago.
The changes are not all physical. I am mentally sharper and emotionally stronger. I can celebrate with joy and I can manage difficult situations with determination, perseverance, and faith.
My life has changed, my attitude has changed, my beliefs have changed. Early in my transformation I realized that “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. I learned to grow through adversity, pain, setbacks, and challenges.
Lately, I have learned to grow through positive experiences. Shopping, walking Molly, doing much of the garden myself this spring, countless little wins that I have celebrated recently, have increased my confidence, my personal sense of security, my hope for the future (for MY future).
I can do it! 💪
It is 11 DAYS until I turn 70 YEARS OLD. I am ready for the seventies (regardless of what they bring). ☺️
Daily Food Diary – Day 195
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2 grapefruit (39)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
(2) eggs (160)
(1) tsp olive oil (40)
(3) slices back bacon (100)
(2) potato patties (240)
Snacks:
(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)
(60) oz water
Supper:
(2) c chilli (452)
(1/4) c marble cheese (120)
(1) serving rhubarb cheesecake (120)
Total net calories: 1274
Net calories goal: 1229 – 1274 = 46 over
* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! ☺️💖
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 