Tag: healthy living

Daily Food Diary – Day 354 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 354 of my Daily Food Diary! 🌺

Yesterday after I posted my blog, I hit a setback of sorts on my way to recovery.   I did get the livingroom floor done, decorations up, and some general tidying up done before I crashed.  My surgical wound was swollen and ITCHY and I was just exhausted.  Fortunately, today I am back on track and I feel just FINE!

So,  for today’s wins:

1) I feel FINE!

2) Dan, Amanda, and family are on the road and the roads are in relatively good shape today.  (Much better than usual these days!)  We are looking forward to seeing them and their pups.

Bacardii & Cornelius

3) We have sunshine today! Once again,  Dan and Molly walked without me due to the cold and the poor walking conditions which I am not quite ready to tackle – but it is uplifting to see the sunshine, nonetheless!

My Daily Food Diary roundup WIN for the day…

Balance – Balancing calories, protein, cholesterol (saturated fats), and collagen was a challenge for sure – but it  is something that I have, and continue to, work on!

Air fried chicken wings – high in collagen, protein and calories – relatively low in fat. 🤷‍♀️

Daily Food Diary – Day 354

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(2) Harvest hotdogs (320)

(8) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (200)

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

Supper:

(1 1/2) c stirfry with beefsteak, vegetables, and udon noodles  (714)

Total consumed calories: 1835

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1835

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1835 = 627 over 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great Sunday! 🤨💞

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 352 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is the 352nd day of my Daily Food diary! 💪

Today I have four really cool Daily wins to report!

First off, granddaughter Genie messaged her Mom (Jen) and I about how her Christmas Eve supper meal plan is coming together!

It is so heartwarming that our newlyweds are so enthusiastic about hosting their first Christmas.  The first of many no doubt! 💞

Second & Third wins of the day!  Getting a call from son Dan last night asking how my recovery was going.  We had a long fun chat about everything from soup to nuts – the nuts being in our annual Christmas bake-off which has been meeting with limited success for both of us this year. 😂 And,  this morning Dan’s wife Amanda has been texting about their pre- Christmas visit (and my limited standing in our family).  Apparently, being the MATRIARCH doesn’t guarantee the over reaching authority it once did. 🤣🤣🤣

Life is an adventure with Amanda & Dan 💞

Forth, last, and not at all least – Daughter Jen stopped by last night to deliver a tortierre (ground pork pie) for our supper tonight.  We had a nice short chat as her fiancé was waiting in the truck for her.

Jennifer & Tanner 💞

My win for my Daily Food Diary is a mega win today.  As part of my overall fitness lifestyle, being mindful of whatI consume and making small adjustments as I see fit has proven to have so many benefits – not the least of which has been:

1) Improving my confidence,  which made my recent hospital visit so much easier than it would have been otherwise.

2) Improving my physical strength and fitness level,  so that my recovery is coming along better than I anticipated.

3) Improving my overall wellbeing,  so that my discomfort is minimal!  All of the painkillers and most of the anti-inflammatory drugs that the surgeon prescribed will go back to the pharmacy for disposal.

Daily Food Diary – Day 352

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) poached eggs (114)

(2) potato patties (240)

(3) pc bacon (130)

Snacks:

(48) Oz water

(1) pc Christmas cake (240)

(1/2) c caramel corn (85)

(1) butter tart (100)

Supper:

(1) Hungry Man Chicken Cutlet Dinner (520)

Total consumed calories: 1431

Total used calories: 0

Total net calories: 1431

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1431 = 223 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 347 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 347 of my Daily Food Diary! 🤩

Yesterday, I had a great win! While I was making my mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies, my sister Lorraine called to discuss how to make … our mother’s Whipped Shortbread Cookies. 😂

There is nothing like having a random meeting of the minds with a sister to make a good day great.

A bonus win came from perusing my James Clear motivational email of the week,  and coming across this gem..

“Do not merely think that you are going to become great; think that you are great now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way at some future time; begin now.  Do not think that you will act in a great way when you reach a different enviornment; act in a great way where you are now.  Do not think that you will begin to act in a great way when you begin to deal with great things; begin to act in a great way with small things.”

– Wallace Wattles from ‘The Science of Being Great’

It is so easy to feel insignificant and victimized in this day and age.  I just love empowering quotes.  We only get one life, anything that helps us live it in a proactive, productive way is a huge win! 

My ‘December Wrap Up’  Daily Food Diary win for the day has become a proactive part of my life this year..

Learning to notice and appreciate the wins in my ‘day to day’ life.

Yesterday, sister Lorraine and I were discussing our chronic health issues and how the smallest glitch can kick off a downward spiral and how the smallest win can turn it around.   

That is typical of life in general.  Notice the wins in life and there are more wins to notice every day.   😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 347

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Supper:

(1) caesar salad (250)

(9) hot chicken wings flats (383)

(1) lemon tart (175)

Total consumed calories: 1269

Total used calories: 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1098

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1098 = 111 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 342 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Daily Food Diary – Day 342

Today is Day 342 of my Daily Food Diary! 😁

Today I started the day off with a few wins…

1) I went for a morning walk with Dan & Molly.  100 % humidity and I made the full route!

2) Dan remembered that I had to go for blood tests today in preparation for my pre-surgery appointment on Friday (which I may or may not remember).  He also drove me to the blood clinic, so double win! The streets are icy, the traffic is heavy,  and no people can’t drive. 🤦‍♀️

3) Dan stopped at the Dollar Store on the way home so I could pick up a  few things for Christmas..

2 plastic containers for baking (because they only had 2 of the size I needed).  Yes they will go to Dan and Amanda’s full of baking and they will never come back.  (Which is why I buy them from the Dollar Store 😂)  Gingerbread girl & boy because we need one new decoration, gift ribbon, and new dish towels.

For my December Round Up of my Daily Food Diary, I have one win today but it was/is a biggie…

I have pretty much eliminated evening snacking.  It was never about being hungry – just mindless munching.  Not only has this helped me to drop 13 pounds this year, but it has also helped me to sleep better.  I am generally out cold from 10:30 until Molly starts booping me with her big cold nose (6:30 ish at this time of year). 

Every morning is a Molly morning!

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Paratha (24)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(2) eggrolls (360)

(2) gyoza (67)

(36) Oz water

Supper:

(12) Oz carbonated water

(2) cabbage rolls (300)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (107)

Total net calories: 1231

Total used calories: 379

(30) min aerobics (171)

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 852

Net calories goal: 1208 – 852 = 357 under 👍

Son Dan & Family

Daily Food Diary – Day 338 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 338 of my Daily Food Diary. 👍

Recently, I have been trying to recognize and appreciate the wins in my daily life.  I was anticipating my annual December funk and thought this would help me to keep my emotions and stress in check.  It was going fairly well, too.

And now..it isn’t. 

For ten months I have been waiting for a hernia repair.  This morning surgical booking called with a date.

December 17th .... not a good date for me historically and four years to the day since my last hernia surgery (which failed).

I am going to have to ramp up the wins if I am going to get through this without having a massive asthma attack heading into the operating room.

Anyway,  back to the wins… this morning I did an aerobics workout that I had never done before.

Apparently the one and only video on YouTube Tube that cannot be shared but worth looking for if you need a good workout! 😊

My December Daily Food Diary roundup win for today is a timely one…

While I started this Food Diary to improve my physical wellness, I learned how much my diet could improve (or destroy) my mental and emotional wellbeing.   That being said,  I am looking forward to a heaping helping of comfort food for supper.

Daily Food Diary – Day 338

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(1) plain paratha (240)

(2) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Snacks:

(2/3) c maple walnut ice cream (198)

(2) tbsp chocolate sauce (105)

(1/8) c planters dry roasted peanuts (162)

Supper:

(1) Garden salad (367)

(2) Chicken drumsticks (242)

(1) Rootbeer (170)

Total consumed calories: 1640

Total used calories: 71

(30) min treadmill (71)

Total net calories: 1569

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1569 = 360 over

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great rest of your day! 💞💖

Daily Food Diary – Day 336 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 336 of my Daily Food Diary! 💥

I am three days into my Food Diary recap.  As I have mentioned regularly, this challenge was never about losing weight, however in February I decided to up my effort by counting calories.  This led to 3 distinct wins!

1) I did lose  a total of 12 pounds in 2025

2) Terry from http://radicallyretired.com, a friend that I have made here on Jetpack introduced me to Lose It! an app that has been very educational and extremely helpful in maintaining my Daily Food Diary.

3) Counting calories was far more interesting and educational that I thought it would be.   

I thought I had a pretty good handle on portion control (I didn’t). I was comparing the portions I ate versus those that others ate – like my 220 lb husband, who until recently worked 13 hour, 24/7 shifts in a steel pipe plant.  🤦‍♀️

I also thought I had foods figured out calorie wise..

Salad was good… until I put salad dressing, sesame seeds, or cheese on it.

Nuts are good for you – until you look at the calories in them! (Salt and saturated fats add to the mayhem)

Sugar has tons of calories..not really, but sugar seriously ramps up my appetite so leads to a revolving door of calories

Chicken is low in calories – unless like me you like the dark meat skin on. That is where they hide the calories but that is also where the collagen is – so I have to balance that one.

Anyway, counting calories takes time but I would definitely recommend it, especially if one is trying to lose weight.

I am super late posting today.  I didn’t forget to post, we were just out and about so I did not have time to post …walking Molly, running errands, doing a bit of shopping, having lunch at The Canadian Brewpub – which was win Number 1 today.  Neither of us had brew but Dan’s chicken wings looked delicious and my taco salad was amazing.

Paying our annual house insurance was painful, but I did score a new fridge calendar for win Number 2.

Daily Food Diary – Day 336

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Denver wrap (537)

Snacks:

(1/8) c peanuts (162)

Supper:

(1) Manwich bun (811)

(8) lightly salted lays chips (116)

(1/2) Oz chip dip (20)

Total consumed calories: 1648

Less calories used: 337

(30) min. walking (137)

(35) min aerobics (200)

Net total calories: 1311

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1311 = 103 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 332 0f 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 332 of my Daily Food Diary. 😚

This morning, Facebook sent me a ‘memory’ of the last Christmas tree we had.   That was FOUR years ago.  That was not a memorable Christmas Season, nor was it a memorable Christmas tree – at least not in a good way.

The tree was perfect, in every sparkly way – until we realized it came complete with a family of shrews.  A big family – and they were indestructible, cocky, bizarre little creatures.  They lived with us for months before the last of them moved out in the spring.

Good times… 🤦‍♀️

I am so glad that life has turned around and that we are at a place where I can count my wins each and every day!

#1 – Our first REAL snow of the season. I declined to walk Molly solo this morning, but I did go outside with her to clean our walks and paths around our patios.
#2 – I did laundry, including the living room blankets.  A win for me because it didn’t bother my lungs AT ALL to spend time in our basement.  (Dan has been doing the laundry because it had gotten to be such a struggle for me.) 😊
#3 – A win for Molly – Dan had to run over to a friend’s,  so he took Molly to meet Tucker, their young Labradoodle. 😁

#4 – Yesterday, I finally hit the trifecta – a walk with Molly, time on the treadmill, and a session with light weights and cardio. 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 332

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) paratha (240)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1) Harvest hot dog (160)

(10) Lays lightly salted chips (1=5)

(1/2) Oz onion dip (20)

Supper:

(2) servings nachos with ground turkey, red pepper, jalapeños, olives, green onions, shredded habanero cheese. Salsa (865)

Total consumed calories: 1587

Total used calories: 280

(30) min walking (137)

(30) min treadmill (71)

(30) min light weights (71)

Total net calories: 1307

Net calories goal: 1208  – 1307 = 99 over

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

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👍