Tag: fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 257 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 257 of my daily Food Diary! 🤩

After a couple of weeks off to deal with a lung infection, I am back to my regular workout routine today. 👍

Despite already encountering one small glitch, I am excited.  This morning we have FOG.   With my asthma, that means Dan and Molly are off on their morning walk without me while I stay housebound with the dehumidifier running on high. 😯

When it comes to being pro-active with our own health, sometimes we have to make adjustments.  

Speaking of being proactive, it is 2 1/2 months since I started taking Collagen Supplements. The information that came with these gelcaps stated that it would take a full five months of use before one would see a notable difference.

Collagen supplements from Amazon.

The transformation that I have already experienced, two and a half months in, is definitely notable!

Top to bottom:

My hair is the consistency of hair – unlike the cat fur that I have been sporting for my entire life.

My sight is notably clearer due to..

Increased stability of my sinuses.

My hearing has improved and my vertigo has virtually disappeared due to stability of inner ear, etc.

For the first time in three years my cough is showing significant improvement due to stability of sinuses and airways in my throat and upper lungs.

My hands are not numb, achy, or stiff.  My dexterity shows signs of definite improvement.

My nails are stronger and healthier.

My skin tone has improved significantly.

Increased stability in joints – I can walk (indoors or out)  without tripping, stumbling….

Increased upper body muscle strength (despite not working out).

Reduced muscle pain – especially sitting or lying in place.

My hips, knees, and ankles do not automatically lock when I stand in place. I can move freely or stand in one place   without feeling tense.  🥰

It has been two decades since I realized that most of my wellness issues came from a collagen disorder/deficiency.   It never occurred to me that using a collagen supplement could help me.   I have been told by medical professionals that collagen issues ‘are nothing’.   (Maybe they are  if you do not experience them). 

I honestly do not understand the disconnect between what doctors (here) say and what I know.  I just know that EVERY BODY is different and that mine requires more collagen than I get through my diet or that my body can produce.

It’s about being proactive and accountable,  about knowing our bodies and how to maintain them.  For me that means Collagen Supplements. 😉

Daily Food Diary – Day 257

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) thin slices bacon (150)

(1) 2 egg cheese omelet (260)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1) tomato (22)

Snacks:

(1) c caramel corn (170)

(1/2) c beef broth

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) Dinner salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green onions, radishes, cauliflower, black olives, sunflower seeds, dried fried onions, lemon garlic vinaigrette (328)

(5) oz barbecued pork loin (120)

(1) SVG Apple Crisp (227)

Total calories consumed: 1524

Total calories used: 111

(1) hour food prep/cooking/cleanup: 111

Total net calories: 1413

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1413 = 183 over 👎

Daily Food Diary – Day 117 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is the 117th day since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. ☺️ Today is also federal election day in Canada. 🙄

For the past month, every politician,  newscaster, and everyone with an opinion on social media have been blasting us on  how this is  the most important Canadian election EVER.   It is imperative that we  make the right decision when we decide how to use our  vote or we will suffer the consequences for lifetimes to come! 

In July, I will be turning seventy.  Over the years I have made countless decisions – some more important than others.  I have made great decisions (in my mind) that have ultimately led to heartbreak and regret.   I have made poor decisions (made out of desperation) that led to the most amazing results in my life.  I have occasionally opted out, avoiding making any decision until someone or something made it for me. (That has never been good).

I made one of my most memorable decisions when I was a mere three years old.  I was in my father’s shop where he had been  working.  He had to turn his back for a moment and he issued a stern warning to stay far away from a red-hot rod that he had been welding.   In my defense, I was THREE and it was a very pretty shade of red.  I couldn’t possibly hurt it by picking it up for just a second.  In retrospect, I may not have thought this one through.  There wasn’t really an upside to that decision – other than I could have learned to take decisions more seriously following that incident.  

One of my most recent and one of the best  decisions that I have made, was when I decided to make my health and wellness my top priority.  The results of that decision have all been far better than I could ever have imagined three years ago.  

I have only one regret when it comes to the decision I made to prioritize my health.   I do  regret that I did not do it sooner.   But, I learned that it is never too late to make a good decision.

The decisions we make  regarding our values, our principles, and our priorities matter!   These decisions,  will have consequences – for better or worse, for lifetimes to come.  

Deciding which name to check off on an election ballot? In my opinion, not so much.   We choose our own fate – not a handful of politicians.

Daily Food Diary – Day 117

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7 mg)

(4) thin sliced bacon (173) (739 mg)

(2) scrambled eggs (160) (480 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1/8) tbsp milk (1) (.9 mg)

(1/4) c mushrooms (11) (.8 mg)

(1) green onion (8)

(2) potato patties (240)(420 mg)

(1/2) tomato (11) (3.1)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) c  Tumeric Tea

(24) Salt & Vinegar chips (270) (450 mg)

Supper:

(2) c chicken noodle soup (320) (850 mg)

(2) Baking Powder Biscuits (184) (91.2 mg)

(2) tsp butter (69) (63.3 mg)

(2/3) c French vanilla ice cream (211) (39.6 mg) (19.8 g)

(8) pecans (52)

(1) tbsp chocolate syrup (33) (22.2 mg) (5.9 grams)

Total net calories: 1712

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 1712 = 465 over 👎

Total Processed sugar: 25.7 grams

Processed sugar goal: 25 grams 👎

Total Sodium: 3164.8 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 👎

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

This pic was taken years ago.  Our granddaughter Maddy was helping me put together a spring bouquet for my in-laws grave.  Not surprisingly, Maddy chose an abundance of blossoms that were sunshine yellow! 🌞

Year Two – Week Eight

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2023, Health and Fitness

Before I jump into this week’s ‘Health and Fitness’ update, I wanted to explain why my blog writing – and READING has been so sporadic over the past few months. 

With weeks of being down with the flu before Christmas, and then with a broken arm in January/February, one would think I would have had all kinds of time on my hands.  Which I did… but I also had a big bored dog on my hands who took offence every time I sat down to do anything.   She has been getting better these past couple of weeks. Hopefully, she will only improve going forward. And hopefully, I will have more opportunity to read and write on WordPress.

As for this week’s update…

My health and fitness journey has been a bit rocky these past few weeks.   My fractured arm has healed, but there is still random pain or discomfort when I move or stretch. I understand it will take a while for any tears or tweaks to muscles, tendons, and nerves to heal completely. But… It does get rather frustrating.

That being said, there has been a lot of positive movement – and more than I had anticipated a few weeks ago. 😁

I am back to doing full on, two armed, Zumba most days. I am not as comfortable or capable as I was last fall, but I am excited to be back at it. There are days that I just dance, but even the dance workouts are more intense as time goes on.

I have been getting out and about with Molly as often as possible. I am still going only when Dan or Jen are free to handle Molly’s leash. That is due to treacherous walking conditions, which are quickly improving thanks to our double digit (Celsius) temperatures this week.

At the dog park on Saturday where Molly had a bit of a run with Rocko.

I have also taken on a 21 Day Stretching and Balance Challenge, starting this past Saturday.

Molly makes any horizontal workout a challenge.

Finally, and best of all, I have been doing my strength training six nights a week and I am crushing it! I am going to stick to three pound weights for the next couple of weeks, increasing the reps and sets each week. Then, I will switch back up to five pounders. Yay!!!

That is it for this week’s update. I am anxious and excited about getting back on track and enjoying all the benefits of health and fitness, going forward.

Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Begin Again!

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness
Happy Valentine’s Day

It is Valentine’s Day!  Last night my husband and I celebrated with an awesome supper of steak, lobster, crab, baked potato, asparagus, and mushrooms – all barbecued by my husband Dan (after doing the shopping, cleaning up the yard, and shoveling the snow and ice off of our walks). Today, he went out to run errands and returned with this bouquet of roses.   I am too fortunate to have such a good man in my life. 💞 

Today also marks another special occasion for me. 

One year ago today, I was sitting on my rocking chair, wrapped in a shawl, and feeling miserable.  I was cold, tired, and struggling to breathe through my asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis.  I was seriously overweight.  For days, I had been thinking that I would take it easy for one more day and hope that ‘tomorrow’ I would magically feel well enough to get up and do something to improve my situation.  Finally, one year ago today, I realized that the magic was not going to happen unless I made it happen.   I got off my chair, put in my earbuds, turned on some Buddy Holly, and started to dance.  It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t long until I was wiped out, really struggling to breathe, and my heart was pounding harder than my music.   I had no plan and I had no goals. But… It was a start, the start of my journey to health and fitness.

The next day, I got off my chair and danced again.  It still wasn’t pretty, but I did a bit better and I knew that I was on the right path to regain my health – and my life.

I wasn’t wrong.  This past year has been amazing.  My health has improved, my strength has improved, and my life has improved.  I have discovered and experienced benefits of my fitness journey that I never, ever imagined.

  • Finding my Volley friends Dwight and Jackie, who share this fitness journey with me – every day! Two strangers who have become family to me during these past months.
  • Finding a way to LIVE, and live well, with Asthma, COPD, and Bronchiectasis.
  • Finding peace, and happiness, and hope – despite what happens around me.
  • Finding that I have so much more potential than I ever realized. Finding that I have so much power to create my life, as I wish to live it.
  • Finding how effectively I can use ‘setbacks’ to motivate myself to push forward.
  • Finding that a fitness program is not only for the athletic, or the already strong and healthy, or the young, or those who spend limitless funds on equipment, gym memberships, or designer workout clothes. With free Zumba classes (or Yoga, Pilates, etc.) On You Tube and minimal equipment (dumbbells, resistance bands, yoga balls) one can put together an entertaining and effective workout program – even if one is working with limited workout space.
  • Finding that all one needs to live better is the will and the determination to make it my priority and focus.

 I cannot begin to detail how much, and in how many ways, I have come to appreciate this journey that I am on. I have loved this past year and I am excited and ready to move forward into Year Two. Broken arm and all, I am excited to see where this next year takes me.

Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Eleven Months🎉

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness

Molly and I are both celebrating milestones!    I began my current health and fitness journey on  February 14th, 2022.  This past Friday marked eleven months since I got up, got active, and made a commitment to get healthier, stronger, and fitter.   Coincidentally, our Molly was born on February 16th, 2022 which makes her eleven months old today.  🎂

This has been a productive eleven months for both of us.  Molly came to live with us in April, when she was two months old.   Her first ‘outing’ was a visit to the vet with me and her immediate favourite human, Genie.

Molly’s First Outing

Over the past nine months, Molly has chosen a few more favourite humans – and she has grown! 

Molly and her favourite Dan.
Molly at the dog park with Alec
Molly watching tv with Cason, Lucas, Bacardi & Cornelius – favourite humans and favourite doggos.

Through my health and fitness efforts, I have also grown – in many ways. Fortunately, size wise wasn’t one of them.

Fitness wise, I have definitely grown.  I started out struggling to dance to 60’s tunes for a few minutes each day.  Through determination and perseverance, I was able to follow some beginner dancercise classes on You Tube.

The first classes were a challenge for me and  I had to take more than a few breaks to make it through an entire session.   But quitting was not an option, so I pressed on and graduated to You Tube Zumba classes.

This was the class I did this morning – spot on and NO breaks.

I am also spending a half, to an hour and a half, outside every day – walking Molly, playing fetch, or shoveling snow. And.. I am exercising with light weights (dumbbells) six evenings a week.

Eleven months in, Molly and I are both doing well, working on making the most of the final month of our first year, and happy with our progress.

Molly & Me 💞

That is it for Molly and I today. Take care and have a great day!

Five Weeks To Go 🖐️

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness

Five Weeks to go until I have completed YEAR ONE of my health and fitness program.   The year has not been without its setbacks, but I have stayed committed.    I remind myself daily that to feel better, do better, and be better in the future, I have to take care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally today.  So, I do it!

This past week, I worked out every morning.  It felt really good to get in some relatively intense Zumba workouts.   The days when I opted for some freestyle dancing were fun as well.  It just feels good to move.

I checked in every day with my Volley workout accountability group, as I have been doing for months now (even when I had no voice and not much to say).  We share our struggles, our triumphs, and our triumphs in spite of our struggles!  It  is  more helpful than I could have imagined.  My Volley partners and friends, Dwight and Jackie, are so encouraging, supportive, inspiring, and upbeat!  Volley sharing has consistently become one of my favourite  parts of  my  day.

I have been getting outside more often.  Just getting a bit of fresh air is a bonus at this time of year.   Obviously it is a bigger and better  bonus, fitness wise,  when I can shovel some snow or take Molly for a walk as well.

I have been working on my diet.  Avoiding sweet and salty snacks hasn’t been easy, especially over the holidays, but I have tried to focus on healthy meals.  We have had my full repertoire of salad meals in the past few days.  We also celebrated with our belated New Year’s Eve supper on Friday evening.  That was a bit indulgent but we did share one steak, one baked potato, and one bottle of champagne. 👍

Yesterday, Dan and I took Molly over to the dog park.  She had a great run with half a dozen other dogs, we had a nice visit with their humans, and we were joined by granddaughter Genie.   Once we were all sufficiently chilled, I coaxed Genie over to the house for a  cup of hot tea and we plied her with leftover Christmas chocolates.  🤗

Speaking of Genie, she has been keeping herself occupied while on break from the midway.    This week she, and her fiance Alec, built a full-on sanctuary for their miniature parrots – George and Nova.

They added a sleeping tent and they still have a few exterior trim boards to install, but George and Nova are moved in and enjoying their bigger and better home. 

That is it for this week’s update.  Only five more weeks to go for YEAR ONE and I am pushing hard to make the most of them.  This week I am going to make more of an effort with my evening light weight workouts.  I have been struggling to get back up to speed on them, but I am determined to do it, so it is as good as done.

Take Care and Have A Great Day!💞🌞

Ten Seconds of Molly While Dan Was Vacuuming the Rug.

Six More Weeks To Go

by annemariedemyen, posted in Health and Fitness

I seem to have lost track of a couple of weeks this past year, but I checked my calendar and my math and there remains a mere SIX weeks until I have completed Year One of my Health and Fitness Journey.

It is amazing how the time has flown by and how much has happened in the past ten and a half months. Even though I am still recovering from my pre-Christmas flu, I can’t believe how much my physical, mental, and emotional health has improved.

Despite still being somewhat congested and croupy, I am back to doing physical work outs on a regular basis. Yesterday, I did an amazing You Tube workout and I felt great when it was done.

I also helped Dan shovel the walk that runs beside our house – about 25′ of packed snow and ice and I did a short workout with light weights last night. This morning, I did an Emma Fitness workout.

I am still reading David Goggin’s second book “Never Finished”. It is almost, if not as good, as his first book “Can’t Hurt Me”. I love them both and find them both seriously motivating. In “Never Finished” there is offensive language, but I can live with it. (But then, I worked at some shops where there was a LOT of offensive language used. Some of it may have been used by me on occasion).

That is it for my update this week. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Our front walk that I did by myself. We had freezing rain, followed by snow, followed by a lot of comings and goings that packed it down. Good times! 😊

Weeks  40 & 41 – Third Time’s a Charm!

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2022, Health and Fitness

Just when I thought that I had built up my health and wellness levels as to be bullet-proof, Dan and I went for a third round of the 2022 flu season.  This time we both went down hard, and I am still struggling to get back up.  I have no voice and if a dishrag could feel, I am pretty sure this is what it would feel like.

This flu is brutal – everything a flu can throw at us and then some and it doesn’t spare anyone.  Granddaughter Genie, her fiance Alec, and her brother Rory were all taken down hard these past couple of weeks as well.  

But, everything has an upside and this little episode has been no exception.   December, my famously least favourite month of the year,  managed to arrive with much less todo than  usual.  I caught a few strains of some holiday carol, was pretty much able to ignore that, and let it go.  I tried to find anything unholiday related on television on Sunday night.  There was one non-seasonal Willy Nelson special on, but that turned out to be more depressing than the ubiquitous Christmas specials.  I ended up watching a marathon of ‘King of the Hill’ episodes. 

It never fails to amaze me how there is not one television channel that has not clued into the seasonal angst of so many in December.  I would think now more than ever!

How many people in North America no longer embrace the holidays?

  • People from different countries,  cultures, and religions who have never celebrated Christmas
  • People who have been force fed tales of Christmas Miracles, Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards All for decades and know it is nonsense or at least non-existent in December?
  • People who are beyond dealing with the commercialization of Christmas – and the greed and garbage that it entails from September to January.
  • People who have lost loved ones during the holiday season and walk a field of landmines –   PTSD triggers during December –  EVERY December – every friggin Holly Jolly holiday display, every Christmas Carol, every holiday movie.
  • People who’s families are, or have been, torn asunder for whatever reason. 

It is so ridiculous.   So much is ‘said’ about mental health and well-being these days – but what is actually done to support those who mentally or emotionally struggle through the holidays?   A ‘King of the Hill’ marathon, SERIOUSLY!

Anyway, on a true upside – I have had the time to do some meditating and some You Tube browsing in anticipation of my health comeback. If you are looking for some motivation for the week, I hope this Goggins helps to inspire you!

https://youtu.be/oWGnOsm4iFU

If you are not into Goggins, my Volley friends have made this a ‘Rocky’ Monday to help get me back in fighting form…

https://youtu.be/ERT_7u5L0dc

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

Last but not least… A Prim smile from the archives. 💞🌞

Week 39 – Medicinally Speaking

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2022, Health and Fitness

It has been 39 weeks since I started working out on a regular basis.   I am looking better, feeling better, and doing better than I have been for a long time.  😁

67 Years and counting. 👍

Last week I had my semi-annual appointment with my respiratory specialist.   I have asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis.  I have permanent lung damage from these conditions and from having a fully collapsed lung due to empyema ten years ago.  I use Advair and Spiriva inhalers daily and use a Ventolin rescue inhaler as needed.   Over the years, I have taken oral steroids (Prednisone), antibiotics, and a variety of inhalers – blue and green and orange and purple… Every color in the rainbow.

I have had recurring pneumonia and bronchitis and have been susceptible to every flu and cold bug that made its rounds.  Between the bouts of pneumonia, bronchitis, flu bugs, colds, and asthma attacks… I struggled to ever feel GOOD.  

In  February, I started working out on a daily basis.  I started with half an hour of dancing to hits from the 50’s – 60’s.  As I felt better, I turned to You Tube and started following a channel that posted dance/exercise classes for seniors.   By May, I was doing You Tube Zumba classes every morning.  By July, I was walking our dog 2-4 km  every day  and doing my Zumba lessons.  In September, I started lifting light weights every evening.  I am up to using 5 lb dumbbells now, plus doing Zumba, plus walking the dog (when weather permits).

And I am feeling good!  I am active! I am strong!   I am looking lean(er)  and fit! I am happy!   I have had one ‘bug’ which was come and go for a few days before it went away – with no need for antibiotics, oral steroids, or the like.

So…  Last week I went to see my respiratory specialist.   He checked my lungs, my blood pressure, my heart rate, my oxygen level.  He asked if I was experiencing any shortness of breath, how I was feeling, any current health concerns.  Everything was good!  I told him about my workouts and he said that was good.  😊

Then he renewed my inhaler prescriptions and offered to write me one for an antibiotic.  🤦 WHY? In case I get a lung  infection – bronchitis, pneumonia or the like.    I declined and told him if I needed antibiotics, I would let him know, but I wasn’t anticipating any such need as I am doing great! 

His response was…. “That’s because you are taking your medication”. 

I have been taking ‘my medication’ for thirty years!  My medication may have kept me alive but it sure as hell didn’t make me feel great!   It didn’t make me healthy and strong and fit! 

Every time I have seen this specialist, I have asked for advice on what I could or should be doing to best manage my asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis.  He could try this drug or that.  He could send me to a cardiologist or an ENT.  He could send me for scans or pulmonary function tests.  I would ask about exercise – specific exercises that he could recommend.  He would make a vague comment about any activity being helpful and remind me to take my medication. 

Ultimately, I started working out on my own and I found a workout program that worked for me.    I worked it for nine months – and his response to my phenomenal results was “That’s because you are taking your medication.”   😤🤯🤬

It doesn’t matter to me.  I take my inhalers to control my chronic lung  conditions and I do my workouts because I know that they are giving me the quality of life that I want and deserve.

But what about all the other people out there with asthma, COPD,  bronchiectasis, or other chronic lung conditions?    It is hard to know what will help or hurt when one is already struggling just to breathe.    It is hard to push oneself when one is  handed a simple fix in the guise of a pill or inhaler.   It is scary to get any diagnosis of a chronic incurable disease and to believe that it will only get worse.     It is just wrong that  people  are not hearing what they need and deserve  to hear from their respiratory specialists and that what they are hearing is only half the answer to living with chronic lung conditions.   😢

Molly and Sasha playdate – healthy, happy, and active! 💞

Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Week 38 – Feeling Fine!

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2022, Health and Fitness

It is thirty-eight weeks since I started my health and fitness journey back on February 14th. That was nine months ago yesterday!

Feeling fine!

I have a few things to mention in my weekly update…

1. I am feeling fine, which is really great because I have a semi annual checkup with my respiratory specialist on Friday. He didn’t order any x-rays, scans, or lung function tests so it remains to be seen what he will notice, but in May my blood pressure was on the high side and these days it is holding steady at about 117/71 so I hope that impresses him. 🙂

2. I went to the mall on Sunday and stopped in to see grandson Rory who works at a casual clothing shop. I picked up a pair of fleece lined sweat pants and a pair of light lounging pants. Both were size SMALL and they both fit. YAY!! That would not have been the case in February. 🙄

3. I pumped up my weight workout last night. 5# dumbbells – 4 lifts – 5 reps – 5 sets. Plus 15 wall push-ups. 💪

4. have been nailing my Zumba workouts in the morning and I was trying to walk Molly every couple of days since her surgery. Due to the snow and ice and her uncooperative nature, I had to pull the plug on her walks on Sunday. She is hell bent on going to the dog park and that just cannot happen until next week… 😟 (Have I mentioned that she weighs 90 pounds now?)

5. In lieu of walking, I have been getting outside for some fresh air and snow shoveling. 😏

And finally… I know I have been MIA a lot lately for posting blogs and reading those that I generally follow. I have been keeping busy but mostly Molly has been going through a phase and surgery recovery. High maintenance would be an understatement – and she takes particular issue with me picking up my phone or sitting down at the computer – or sitting ANYWHERE for that matter.

She is usually good when we are eating, when she is eating, or when I am doing my workouts. 💞

That is it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞

Cleanest walks on the block. 😊