Tag: great Pyrenees

Daily Food Diary – Day 353 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 353 of my Daily Food Diary! 🧨

Christmas is finally starting to come together at our house.  I have some Christmas baking done. We have  most of the cleaning done.  And we have all of the presents bought –  including Genie’s Chritmas Eve/birthday present.   Tonight, I will break open a bit of Christmas cheer and get them wrapped.

A bit of Christmas decor – I like to keep it subtle.

My wins for today include:

1) Feeling fine and healing nicely!

2) Sleeping well every night since the surgery. 

3) Staying indoors to wash the living room floor this morning while Dan took Molly  for a very frigid walk through the snow and over the ice this morning!

Molly seemed to take offense at that last win? I was sure they would both be grateful not to have to wait for me to keep up with them. 😕

My Daily Food Diary win for the day…

Getting better at planning meals to work for the day that I (and/or  Dan) are facing. 

  • Serving up a nutritious  breakfast on Dan’s golf days
  • Including more protein on days when I am doing weight workouts or when one of us is in healing mode
  • Planning healthy, nutritious, but light suppers on hot summer days (avoiding those “I’m not hungry NOW but I’ll snarf down a family size bag of chips LATER”  scenerios)
  • Being extra mindful to avoid  ANY yeast, sugar, palm oil or the like if I have outings or appointments booked for the next day

Daily Food Diary – Day 353

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(1) c caramel corn (170)

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1/4) tortierre (400)

(1) c mashed potatoes (113)

(1/2) c creamed corn (70)

(5) olives (38)

Total consumed calories: 1608

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1608

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1608 = 400 over 👎

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

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 328 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 328 of my Daily Food Diary. 😄

Despite snow storm warnings for the past week, any such weather seems to have missed Saskatchewan.  It is cool this morning but dry.   While there are plenty of dried leaves that have finally fallen, most of the grass around here is still suspiciously green.   I swear our seasons are shifting  later each year.   We are still mid autumn – and come June it will still be winter.  🤔

I am still enjoying that break between our Canadian Thanksgiving and full on  Christmas Season.  But,  I do have two wins to celebrate today.

1) Yesterday, I broke away from my less than impressive typical lunch and made myself a full on (small) salad.   I should generally make more of an effort when it comes to lunches, but it is too easy to grab a handful of chips and/or a couple of cookies.  But, yesterday I did it.   I made myself something relatively nutritious so I will take the win.

2) This morning, I took Molly for a walk by myself.  That alone is win worthy, but today on our walk I coughed twice.  A couple of coughs each time to clear my lungs/throat and we moved on.  I know it doesn’t sound that impressive, but for me,  walking our dog alone without multiple coughing fits is a massive double win for me!

Molly sharing the win.  (She did contribute to the win by being an especially good girl this morning. 💞)

Daily Food Diary – Day 328

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c brown sugar Shreddies (210)

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

Lunch:

(1) small salad – romaine lettuce, green onions, radishes, cauliflower, ham, cheese, peppercorn ranch dressing, fried dried onions (393)

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(2) large sour cabbage rolls (360)

(12) Oz carbonated water

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

Total consumed calories: 1083

Total used calories: 337

(35) min aerobics (200)

(30) min walking (137)

Total net calories: 746

Net calorie goal: 1208-746 = 462 under 🤔

That’s it for today.  take care and have a great day! 💞🥳

August 2018

Daily Food Diary – Day 324 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 324 of my Daily Food Diary. 🧨

Another 3 months and I will have been on my Health and Wellness Journey for FOUR.   years.  It has taken some effort, some determination, some commitment, some encouragement, some motivation,  and a LOT of inspiration.

It has become my lifestyle now, but I still struggle to stay on track.   At this point,  it has gotten easy to decide that good is good enough.  I can compare myself now to where I was four years ago or to where others are at today and decide “Yea, I’m good”.

But,  I want to be better.  I want to know how good I can get.  I want to know I did my best to reach my full potential.  Good enough isn’t going to get me there.

So, today I am really grateful for my friend Jackie – for the inspiration she is and has been been for the past four years.  For the inspiration she was for me this morning.

Jackie has been having a great week, she has been unusually busy (even for her!) And she has been knocking it out of the park every day – at home, at work, working out, everywhere.  This morning she was talking about one specific incident that she referred to as her win this week. 

I thought, that is what I need.  I need to start noting my wins and I need to start pushing myself to have more wins.  Bigger WINS.   Because good isn’t good enough. 

Dan & I brushed Molly head to toe for well over an hour on Tuesday.   We took out a pile of hair as big as she is, sand, leaves, twigs, and more.  We could have stopped a dozen times or let her decide good  was good enough – but we went for the win! And I’m sure she has been grateful since.  She knows she looks good, we know she feels better. 💯

Our WIN this week – mine and Dan’s and Molly’s.  

Daily Food Diary – Day 324

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c cinnamon cheerios (200)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1/2) c broth (16)

(8) Hint of Lime chips (200)

Snacks:

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

(15) g chipnuts (96)

Supper:

(1) c mashed potatoes (237)

(1) c green beans (44)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(6) Oz pork cutlets (360)

(1/2 c gravy (40)

Total consumed calories: 1387

Total used calories: 210

(30)  min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1177

Total calories goal: 1208 – 1177 = 31 under👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 307 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 307 of my Daily Food Diary. 🌟

For the past couple of weeks, I have been struggling with environmental allergies.   This week, I finally decided that I am better off dealing with the consequences of the allergies than the side effects of the anti histamines I have tried.

This week’s ‘alternative medicine’.

Quercetin: long-term relief, mast cell stabilizer, anti-inflammatory, reduces release of histamines

Face mask: moisturize, reduces effect of watering eyes and runny nose

Cucumber: (not shown) peel and slice, place on eyes to reduce burning

Two Sisters Lip balm: Beef Tallow lip balm used to sooth dry, cracked lips caused by constantly wiping nose with tissues

Local Raw Honey: helps build immunity to seasonal allergies, soothes throat and cough caused by post nasal drip, antioxidant

H20 : Keep hydrated, flush out allergens and histamines.

Aerobika: device used to clear mucus in lungs due to post nasal drip aggravating bronchiectasis

Black licorice: a health risk if consumed in quantity or for an extended period of time – check warnings!  Contains glycyrrhizin which is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

I am feeling better so far.  Yesterday, I took Molly for another solo walk.  Getting out in  the fresh air helps and she gets easier to handle all the time.  I’m not sure if I am getting stronger or if she is just getting better. 🤷

In the afternoon, I was able to do my aerobics and treadmill.   I am happy with how much easier the treadmill sessions are getting for me.  I keep upping the speed, but still able to finish the session!

Today,  I am going to do another treadmill session and a light weight/cardio session.  I’m still using the right pound weights but happy to be crushing them!

Daily Food Diary – Day 307

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) enchilada (194)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(12) oz 7 up (140)

(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

Supper:

(1) Arby’s Dbl roast beef no bun (200)

(2) tbsp horsey sauce (120)

(1) Gravy (35)

(1) sm crinkle cut fries (390)

(2) cheese sticks (220)

Total consumed calories: 1569

Total used calories: (358)

(30) min walking (104)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(30) min treadmill (80)

Total net calories: 1211

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1211 = 3 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 303 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 303 of my Daily Food Diary. 💝

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! ❤️😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 299 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 299 of my Daily Food Diary. 💗

In keeping with my monthly focus of planning meals that reflect our October change of seasons, I served up a summery garden salad for last night.  It has been back and forth between light meals for warm days and hearty comfort foods to get us through the first snow of the season.  That is October in Saskatchewan!

Today is Monday.  Starting a new workout week, I was excited to come across a motivating quote while browsing social media this morning.

I do not work out to be better than anyone else.  I WORK OUT TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE.

That is the truth – and it has been my strongest motivation since I first read David Goggins’ “Can’t Hurt Me”.  The human body is amazing – and the potential for how amazing it can become is fascinating.

But the ongoing quest to find my true potential can be frustrating at times.   I can have a bad night, I can experience setbacks, I can get cocky and try to walk our dog Molly without her pinch collar….. 

Feeling my full potential this morning, that’s  the direction my day took!    By the time we got to the park, I had to take a break at a bench in the kids playground.   By the time we got to the other side of the park, I had to hand her over to Dan.  By the time we got home, I felt like I had wrestled a steer and lost the rodeo.

Someday, I will be the best I can be (I am not there yet).   I hope that by the time I do get there, I will be able to manhandle Molly without a pinch collar.  That would be incredible! 

Daily Food Diary – Day 299

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) slices low salt thin slice bacon (135)

(2) potato patties (240)

(2) egg cheese omelet (260)

(1) medium tomato (22)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(16) oz cherry tea

(2) pieces chocolate cake (600)

Supper:

(1) chicken salad: lettuce, tomato, cucumber, cauliflower, green onion, green olives, chicken breast, sesame seeds, dried fried onion, peppercorn ranch salad dressing (473)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total consumed calories: 1731

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1731

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1731 = 523 over 👎

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

Fun times in Deadwood, ND – Spring 2024 with daughter Jen.  Getting up there was less than half the battle.  The real challenge was getting back down. 🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 297 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 297 of 365

Today is Day 297 of my Daily Food Diary! 🤗

Today is a day that I have been waiting six months for.  Today is the day, I post  my Daily Food Diary for my sister Lorraine!

You were right, Lorraine.  It was the socks!

I lost the socks this morning and I weighed in at 119.8 pounds !  I have not  broken 120 pounds in the past two decades.  But I have done it now.  The last 4.8 pounds to my goal will be easy peasy!

Speaking of socks…

One size does NOT fit all!

Should you be in the market for a good pair of winter socks, these are not built to fit anyone our size – unless paired with a solid pair of suspenders or pinned to shoulder pads – either way, they are still awkward.

Speaking of siblings, yesterday was my brother Pete’s 80th birthday.   Jen and I saw him and his wife at my sister Jeanne’s 80th  birthday get together last May.    They are all (Pete, his wife Janice, and Jeanne)  looking great and doing really well.

As the youngest in my family, I have always looked up to, admired, and tried to catch up to my older siblings.   I never imagined that I would still be trying at this point!  But here we are!

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tablespoon jam (50)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(1/3) c hickory smoked almonds (186)

Supper:

(4) small battered fish fillets (520)

(2) tbsp tartar sauce (80)

(1) c air fried potatoes (250)

(1) c home made coleslaw (208)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total consumed calories: 1604

Total used calories: 492

(30) min walking (68)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(1 1/2) hrs cooking/cleaning (177)

(30) min light weights (73)

Total net calories: 1112

Net calories goal: 1223 – 1112 = 111 under 👎

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

Butterfly House at the University of Alberta Botanic Gardens

Daily Food Diary – Day 288 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 288 of my Daily Food Diary! 🥳

I  have a few things happening these days..

1) My food focus this month is on changing from our light summer barbecue diet to a heartier diet of winter comfort foods.   Last night, I used one of the pork tenderloins that we had bought to barbecue and serve on salad.   However, I roasted it in our small convection oven and served it with home fries, gravy, and steamed broccoli.  Very seasonal.  🙂

2) This morning, I walked Molly solo…

Molly

For the first few blocks all went well.  Molly was excellent – the image of those large mellow dogs that one sees out and about or in random photos on social media posts.

Anyway, Molly is just walking along, while I am scanning the vicinity for any potential issues. 

I catch a slight glimpse of a vehicle coming up behind us.   I glance down to Molly, just as it rolls to a stop beside us.  Molly lunges in front of me and attempts to catapult herself  through an open  window.  I am desperately holding her by her pinch collar and trying to drag her away from the vehicle.  When I finally, glance up I see daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Maddy  laughing and reaching out to her.  

I didn’t get that photo. 🤦

3)  Recently I went back to doing light weights three times a week. Since I am  waiting to have surgery to repair my epigastric hernia, I have been cautious – using only five pound weights.   Taking collagen supplements has increased my upper body strength to the point that I have  decided it was time to move back up to  eight pound weights.  Considering how long it had originally taken me to work my way up to five pounders (before collagen supplements), it seems amazing that they just aren’t doing it for me anymore. 💪😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 288

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) Eggo waffles (330)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) tbsp Maple syrup (104)

(2) PC bacon (87)

Snacks:

(1) c turkey broth (100)

(3/4) c Maple walnut ice cream (225)

(1) tbsp chocolate sauce (52)

(1) tbsp caramel sauce (52)

(1/8) c chopped walnuts (100)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(4) oz pork tenderloin (120)

(1 1/2) cup air fried French fries (173)

(1/4) c gravy (69)

(1) c broccoli (55)

(1) tsp butter (34)

Total consumed calories: 1573

Total used calories: 332

(30) min walking (83)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min light weights (73)

Total net calories: 1241

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1241 = 12 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 262 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 262 of my Daily Food Diary! 😁

There is not a lot happening in our little corner of the world this morning. 

We started the day with a nice walk around the neighborhood with Molly.

I didn’t really leave the yard dressed like this nor did I really want to slap somebody 🤦 – but this was a great photo of Molly.

Molly walked particularly well this morning  despite crossing paths with several other dogs, including her old friend Ripple.

Molly & Ripple back in their dogpark days.

I am not anticipating anything happening for the rest of the day, but I am about to do my aerobic workout and then will buckle down to some Saturday cleaning.  🤷

Daily Food Diary – Day 262

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1/2) grapefruit (39)

(1/2) tsp sugar (8)

Lunch:

(1) sourdough bun (259)

(4) oz roast beef (251)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) tbsp horseradish (14)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) oz riblets (99)

(6) Gyoza (200)

(3) egg rolls (440)

(1) PC Buttermilk chicken (120)

(6) tempura shrimp (210)

(1) tbsp Gyoza sauce (15)

(1) tbsp seafood sauce (12)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)

(1) tbsp plum sauce (35)

Total calories consumed: 1809

Total calories used: 548

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

(30) min. Walking (53)

(20) min. Treadmill (35)

(30) min. Light weights (73)

(30) min garden/yard (88)

(30) min. Cooking (56)

(30) min. Cleaning (67)

Total net calories: 1261

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1261 = 32 over 👍

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