Tag: healthy living

Daily Food Diary – Day 286 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 286 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

Seventy Days left of  2025 and so far I haven’t missed a single day of keeping up and posting my Daily Food Diary!

No matter what, I have not missed a single day!  That is more than I can say for the rest of my daily routine. 

Having chronic health issues, there is the potential for multiple wins, if one is willing to make health a priority.  Unfortunately, there is also the risk of unavoidable setbacks.

Having been diagnosed with asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD – weather, seasonal allergies, environmental pollution, and more can trigger flare ups.  Flare ups also make one more susceptible to infection, which is routinely treated with antibiotics and Prednisone  – both of which have detrimental effects on my health.  

In early September I went through my latest  setback complete with a round of antibiotics and prednisone.  I am finally seeing the last of these effects wearing off and feeling ready to get back on track.  👍

Last night we had a visit from our Granddaughter Genie.  Over tea – and a last minute supper of Oriental appetizers, we had a chat about investment strategies.  A topic Genie had expressed interest in recently.   We talked about everything from stocks and bonds to mutual funds – but mostly we discussed the different tax saving accounts available to keep them in.    Not  a particularly exciting topic,  but important for a young couple starting out – looking to buy their first home, start a family,  save for major expenses, and ultimately plan for  retirement.   

I’m no financial expert, but  I do have an idea of what is available, where to find more information, and who to go to for the level of advice that I cannot provide.  

Fresh from the wedding and ready to plan for the responsibilities of their life together.

The great thing about helping Genie and Alec with anything like this is knowing that they will pass anything they learn down to their younger siblings,  when the time comes. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 286

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c cinnamon oatmeal crunch Cheerios (200)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(2) c turkey broth (200)

(2 1/2) oz turkey (115)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(1) c licorice tea

(12) oz 7up (140)

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

Dinner:

(1) egg roll (189)

(2) Gyoza (67)

(2) tempura shrimp (70)

(2) shrimp nests (52)

(1) PC Buttermilk chicken (120)

(1) tsp Gyoza sauce (5)

(1) tsp plum sauce (12)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (50)

Total consumed calories: 1467

Total used calories: 138

(30) min walking (83)

(30) min cooking (56)

Total net calories: 1329

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1329 = 99 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 279 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 279 of my Daily Food Diary! 😍

This morning Dan and I started the day with a walk for Molly.  It was the roughest one I have had for a while – and sadly the result of my own doing.

Last night, while the stew was cooking I decided that Happy Hour was in order.  For some reason, a Rye (whiskey) and Pepsi sounded good.  Finishing off the can of Pepsi after that seemed even better. 🤦

While the yeast used  in fermenting any alcohol is a problem for me, the sugar in any soda mix is a much bigger one.  Pepsi contains 41 grams of sugar in one 355ml can.  That is huge.  Too much for anyone and way too much for anyone with bronchiectasis.

So this morning while I was trying to keep up to Dan and Molly (while they deliberately took it slow for my sake), I struggled.  Trying to do anything when one is fighting to breathe through an abundance of  thick sticky mucus is never easy. 

I don’t remember when I last had a Rye and Pepsi, but I won’t be having another one any time soon.

Fortunately, having had a hot lemon water since I got back home, I am now feeling much better. 

Today is an aerobics and treadmill day. By the time I complete those, I will be back on track.  This afternoon I plan to get some housework done in preparation for our Thanksgiving  supper on Thursday. 

While Molly prepares in her own way.

Daily Food Diary – Day 279

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) Chicken burger (no bun) (120)

(1) sl provalone (70)

(1) tomato (22)

(25) barbecue chips (130)

Snacks:

(36) oz water

(1) Rye & Pepsi (125)

(6) oz Pepsi (75)

Supper:

(4) c Beef, gnocchi, & vegetable stew (736)

Total consumed calories: 1455

Total used calories: 360

(40) min aerobics (234)

(30) min light weights (73)

(30) min walk (53)

Total net calories: 1095

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1095 = 135 under 👎

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

Husband Dan got up before me this morning to catch this amazing sunrise. 💞🤗

Daily Food Diary – Day 276 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 276 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

It is three years and eight months since I started my general Health and Fitness Journey – diet, exercise, stress management…

Since I began this journey, I have noticed a number of benefits due to my new lifestyle.  Most, if not all, creep up so gradually that I do not recognize them until one day – poof! I look at the scale and realize I have lost forty pounds, I try on pants that I have not been able to squeeze into for years and they are a perfect fit.  I go to take out a bag of garbage and there is no struggle getting it to the bin out back or lifting it high enough to toss it in…

This morning,  I came across such a benefit that had crept up on me…

The cabinet where I stockpile my OTC medications.

I went to get my vitamins (B12, Lutein, D3) to fill my weekly pill dispenser and I  realized that my cabinet had little else in it.

Over the past few years, I have done away with the giant bottle of Aspirin, the huge bottle of Tums, the cough syrup,  the Imodium, the cortisone creams,  and more.  To be honest, other than the Claritin and my three vitamins, I don’t remember when I used anything in this cabinet. 

Not only this cabinet, but my purse as well, used to look like a well stocked drug store.  😳

I still have my inhalers for asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD.   I have a bottle of CBD drops and CBD cream (which I seldom use) and I have my Collagen Supplement (which is not going anywhere, anytime soon).

Today it is time to celebrate another win. 🎊

Daily Food Diary – Day 276

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(2) potato patties (240)

(2) tomatoes (44)

(1) chocolate brownie (121)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1/2) c beef broth (15)

Supper:

(1) sourdough bun (190)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) oz ham (89)

(1) slice havarti cheese (110)

(3) sliced white onion (32)

(15) Barbecue chips (156)

Total consumed calories: 1242

Total used calories: 243

(30) min walking (53)

(30) min food prep (56)

(1) hour cleaning (135)

Total net calories: 999

Net calories goal: 1229 – 999  = 230 under

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 275 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 275 of my Daily Food Diary – and poof another ten days of 2025 have passed – just like that! 🫰

Yesterday was another somewhat productive day.  It was warm enough to get outside and clean the interior of the Jeep.  It is pretty much all leather,  so climbing around with a spray bottle of leather cleaner,  a wet cloth, and a dry cloth was more doable than the vacuuming extravaganza on Wednesday.

The reward for my efforts was a supper out at Fin’s Fish and Chips.   Their food is hearty, healthy, yeast and palm oil free – and delicious.  🤩

Today is cool and raining off and on.  We got in our morning walk with Molly. 

Which was obviously exhausting…

Dan is off shopping.  I am juggling my morning routine with getting our house in order.  The days have been going by so quickly that I haven’t done a good solid cleaning for a bit and it is beginning to show. 🙄

I still have my aerobics and weights to do, but at least the porch is clean.  But first.. it is time to tackle the kitchen.

Daily Food Diary – Day 275

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(1/2) serving Smoked beans (196)

(1) Harvest all beef hot dog (160)

(6) Hint of Lime chips (150)

(48) oz water

(12) oz lemon water

Supper:

(1) Sprite (140)

(2) PC’s  Fin City battered pickerel (500)

(1/2) c coleslaw (104)

(1) c home fries (331)

(1/4) c gravy (25)

(1) tbsp tartar sauce (40)

Total consumed calories: 2007

Total used calories: 422

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

(1) hr clean Jeep interior (135)

(30) min. Treadmill (59)

(30) min walking (53)

Total net calories: 1585

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1585 = 356 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 273 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is my  273rd consecutive day of posting my Daily Food Diary! 🎀

For some reason it is getting harder to post in the morning these days, but I am getting it done. 🙂

I get up early enough to see the sun rise…and to see weird alien clouds across the street.

Today is shaping up to be another relatively quiet day.  I have my aerobics and light weights to do, a bit of touching up around the house, and I will hopefully get the Jeep cleaned today. 

My big excitement will be venturing over to granddaughter Maddy’s school tonight to pick her up after her band retreat.  It’s only a few blocks from here so the only real challenge will be dealing with the other parents and grandparents who will be doing likewise.   I cannot imagine how this school has such huge band events.   It is nuts just dropping her off at a regular early morning band practice.

Maddy and I went to see a friend of hers who was involved in a band/choir event at his school a few months ago.  There were about fifty people there including the performers.  And there are way more students attending his school. 😧

Anyway, I have things to do so I should get on with it.

Daily Food Diary – Day 273

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) crumpets (240)

(2) tsp butter 68)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

Lunch:

(1/2) c beef broth (15)

(10) low salt ripple chips (75)

(1/2) PC Chocolate Coconut Brownies (60)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) lg dinner salad – lettuce, spinach, radishes, cauliflower, green onions, dried fried onions, sesame seeds, salad dressing (256)

(2) chicken drumsticks (401)

(1) PC Chocolate Amaretto cheesecake (257)

Total consumed calories: 1641

Total used calories: 489

(30) min walking (53)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min treadmill (59)

(1) hour housework (202

Total net calories: 1152

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1152 = 78 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 272 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is Day 272 of my Daily Food Diary! 💖

This is also September 30th – mere hours away from October.   It is beautiful out now, with a bit of wind, and forecast to reach 29 degrees Celsius (84 F).  👍

Dan went golfing a few days ago.  The lack of leaves on the fairway was amazing for this time of year!

I am having a good if somewhat muddled day, but I have been for a walk with Dan and Molly.  I have done my aerobics. I am ready to start some laundry as soon as I am done my blog.  And the plan is to clean the inside of the Jeep and do thirty minutes on the treadmill before supper.

My plan yesterday, was to do my treadmill but I tweaked my back walking Molly in the morning.  After Dan rubbed it with CBD cream, I felt so much better I fell asleep at 8 pm and basically slept through the night.   At some point I got off my recliner and went to bed. 🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 272

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1/2) c beef broth  (15)

Snacks:

(6) hint of lime tortilla chips (150)

(1) PC puffed wheat cake (226)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(2) servings pork fried rice (894)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total consumed calories: 1447

Total used calories: 445

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min light weights (73)

(30) min walk (53)

(30) min food prep & cooking (56)

(30) min yard and garden (88)

Total net calories: 1002

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1002 = 227 under 👍

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

A bit of color in Regent Park, but most of the leaves are still on the trees in the city as well! 🤩

Daily Food Diary – Day 269 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 269 of my Daily Food Diary. 💝

Yesterday was a pretty good day in the life of.  I did forget to do my weights after my aerobics and never did get back to them but that is okay.  I will do them today, as well as my aerobics and treadmill.

I made the second of two cheesecakes I had planned to make this week.  The first one was Blueberry, this one Amaretto, chocolate, and Skorr Bits.

We haven’t tasted it yet, but it looks doable.

Granddaughter Genie dropped by after work to pick up some baking.  As usual, we enjoyed the visit and Molly was besides herself.

Today, I am making a large roaster of Smoked Beans to be divided between Jen & girls, Genie & Alec, and us.

It must be fall, I am enjoying my kitchen time. ☺️

Daily Food Diary – Day 269

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c milk

Lunch:

(1/2) c chicken broth (5)

(1) c Apple crisp (227)

Supper:

(1 1/2) servings nachos w/minced turkey (870)

Total consumed calories: 1279

Total used calories: 287

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

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

Total net calories: 992

Net calories goal: 1229 – 992 = 237 under

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 261 of 365 Days

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today it is 261 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. 💓

Today it is also my sister Elaine’s BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Elaine! 🎈

Speaking of birthday cake… I love cake, I love icing, and I especially love the icing on commercially made cakes. 👍

Unfortunately, I (as well as my daughter and her daughters) cannot eat yeast and commercially baked anything these days is made with powdered egg whites – which are made with yeast. 

That is just one of the allergy/ intolerances discoveries that I have made recently. 

A few weeks ago, I ate something that should have been perfectly fine.  I immediately got seriously bloated and started experiencing violent abdominal cramps.  🙄

I checked the ingredients and the only thing that was slightly questionable was that the product contained palm oil.  I decided to keep that in mind.

A couple of days later, daughter Jen messaged  me that she was violently ill.  She sent me the nutritional label/ingredient list for what she had just eaten…and it noted  palm oil.

I have been fine since, but Jen has been checking anything she eats for palm oil (she has several severe food allergies so she is generally extra careful). 

She has not been feeling well for some time and been experiencing allergy type issues – but she couldn’t pinpoint the issue.

This morning she messaged me that she happened to notice that the margarine that she has been using for cooking and baking has palm oil in it now. 

No doubt, palm oil is becoming as ubiquitous as yeast!

That is the issue I have with a number of professionals – business administrators, doctors, investment counsellors, chefs apparently… They find one thing that works and that becomes the norm for the entire industry  – until it turns out that the norm doesn’t work all that well. (At least for some  of their customers) 🤦

In the meantime  buyer beware, be mindful, be alert…

Daily Food Diary – Day 261

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) paratha (240)

(1) tbsp jam (50)

(1) tbsp peanut butter (105)

Lunch:

(1 1/2) oz ham (43)

(1) tomato (22)

(12) Doritos (153)

Snacks:

(1) vodka Caesar (168)

(48) oz water

(12) oz lemon water

Supper:

(11) chicken air fried wing flats (468)

(2) tbsp Frank’s Honey Garlic sauce (80)

(1) Serving Caesar Salad (250)

(1) c Apple crisp (227)

Total calories consumed: 1808

Total calories used: 439

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min walking (53)

(30) min garden/yardwork (88)

(30) min housework (67)

(30) min food prep/cooking (56)

Total net calories: 1369

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1369 = 139 over

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 259 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 259 of my Daily Food Diary.  That is a full 37 WEEKS! 😊💞 I remember celebrating my first week in.  I thought that was a major accomplishment at the time. 😂

I found a photo of my high school year book entry recently.  (I have no idea why it is black and white.  I am pretty sure color was a thing in 1973. 🤦)

Two things of note here: 

It is funny how much I thought I knew when I graduated.  😂 I was so naive and clueless but I thought I knew myself and everything about the world around me.

And… I still have no idea where I am going or  where I will end up  (or what places this adventure will take me along the way).  I do however, totally believe that I am on the right path. 👍

At seventy years old, I do not know everything, but I have stopped talking to plastic cows – so there is that!

I am feeling great this morning but Molly and Dan went walking without me due to another foggy morning.  I will be doing my aerobics, weights, and treadmill – indoors, with the dehumidifier doing its magic.

Daily Food Diary – Day 259

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(4) slices shaved turkey (60)

(1) medium tomato (22)

(12) Lightly salted Lay’s chips (160)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(1/2) c chicken broth (10)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) sm. Taco Time Mexi Fries (265)

(1)Taco Time Crisp Meat Burrito (428)

(2) Taco Time Hard Shell Tacos (520)

(1) 355 ml can RootBeer (170)

Total Calories consumed: 2028

Total calories used: 363

(30) min. Walk (53)

(30) min. Aerobics (176)

(1) hour house cleaning (135)

Total net calories: 1665

Net Calorie Goal: 1229 – 1665 = 435 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 255 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 255 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

Yesterday and today our weather has been WARM and WET.  I think we have gotten more rain in these two days than we have had all summer.  And the humidity is through the roof!

Things are looking green and clean around here, but I can’t imagine that this is what the farmers need right now.

I am taking one final (regular) workout day off  today but I am excited about getting back into my routine on Monday.  It will be fun to see what I can do on our ‘new to us’ treadmill, now that my lung infection is cleared up.

Today, I will proceed with my fall cleaning and do a bit of baking.

Dan picked up a nice bag of apples yesterday, so I am going to make a double batch of Apple Crisp to split with Jen and Genie.   They are both excited and it will save everyone here from reading about Dan and I eating one piece of Apple Crisp a day for the next month. 😊

The flower pots are some of the ones that Dan bought this week to use on the new plant rack he is making next summer,  using  a  repurposed pool ladder. 

Daily Food Diary – Day 255

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

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

Lunch:

(12) Doritos (153)

(2) oz shaved turkey (60)

(1) small tomato (22)

Snacks:

(1/3) c mixed nuts (216)

(1/2) c beef broth (5)

Supper:

(1 1/2) servings nachos (975)

Total calories consumed: 1608

Total calories used: 360

(30) min. cooking (56)

(1 1/2) hour house cleaning (202)

(30) min. pet care (103)

Total net calories: 1248

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1248 = 18 over 👎

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

A younger Genie at Wascana Park