Tag: healthy living

Daily Food Diary – Day 57 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am fifty-seven days into my Daily Food Diary.   I have been using the fitness app Lose It! For 10 days now and it gets easier and more useful every day.  I don’t know if I will ever ramp up to the paid version, but will see as time goes on.

These days, I am trying to get more active,  do more deep breathing exercises,  and focused meditation to get my lungs as functional as possible for my hernia repair.  My biggest issue going into this,   is that in recent weeks my asthma is triggered easily and often by any stress.  AND hospitals stress me out.  My surgeon is using general anesthesia to have me as relaxed as possible so I won’t have a coughing fit while he is trying to work on me – but general anesthesia is not the best for someone with my respiratory issues.  So… There is that!  (as my friend Jackie would say 😁)

Yesterday, I did make a little progress in the activity end of things – and I got some fresh air as well.  Dan and I headed down to the walking trails at the south end of the city with Molly.  I took the first shift with Molly’s leash.  That meant crossing the road, climbing over a snowbank, getting across an icy bridge and travelling down a trail  – while holding on to a hundred pound Pyrenees who was excited about being out in the snow, bopping from one side of the trail to the other, and occasionally losing her mind altogether and leaping into the deep snow beside the trail.   Half a kilometre in, I was ready to relinquish the leash to Dan so the rest of our walk was a lot less eventful – at least for me. 

Molly in her element💓

Food Diary – Day 57

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies with milk & sugar (287)

(1) c Vegetable stir fry (72)

(1) oz pork loin (77)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) small peach (51)

(2) c fried rice with lean pork loin and LOTS of vegetables – onions, celery, red pepper, & mushrooms (580)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1/2) bag popcorn (190)

Total calories: 1259

Using the Lose It! app I registered -206 calories for aerobics and walking.  I’m sure, I earned a few more for sharing popcorn with Molly (which is more physically challenging than one would think – but not  in their list of  exercises. 🫤)

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 55 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Another day in the life of my 365 Day Daily Food Diary.   I have 310 days to go and I am starting to see how challenging this could get before I am done.  We have one trip planned and another one that we are hoping to take.  I have my hernia repair coming up.  Spring is coming soon and that will lead to all of the outdoor activities that I love.  Life in general is about to get a lot busier than it was when I set out on this venture.  

As I was reminded this morning, by my friend Dwight Hyde from http://fadedjeansliving.com , regardless of what I am struggling with, ‘I choose‘.   Whether, it is continuing a challenge of my own making, dealing with  chronic health issues, or dealing with situations that are  totally out of my control,  I can always stop and deliberately choose how I go forward.    Knowing that I choose, makes the right choice obvious and it is the first step to being committed to following through with it.

Another 310 days of  tracking  everything I consume and posting it in a blog  is about to get daunting but not undoable!   Every day is another opportunity to choose to move forward – and at this point, there is no going back! 😊

Food Diary – Day 55

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) Crumpets (160)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(1) tsp jam (17)

(2) slices thick sliced bacon (200)

(24) oz water

(1 1/2) c French pea soup (271)

(5) soda crackers (63)

(1) c tea

(2) c vegetable stir fry (144)

(2 1/2) oz lean pork loin(141)

(1) c white rice (242)

(4) air fried chicken flats (170)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) oz fresh coconut (70)

Total calories:  1548

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 52 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

For 52 days now, I have been recording and posting my Daily Food Diary.   Focussing on my diet does not mean that I am neglecting other aspects of my health. 

I am doing my morning aerobics six mornings a week and with our much milder temperatures, I am excited about getting outside and enjoying our fresh air.  With this in mind, I set out with Dan and Molly yesterday  for a walk around our neighborhood.

I don’t know if you can see or relate to  our ice rutted street or the sidewalk across the street, which is buried under two or three feet of ice and snow.  I know you can’t see our sidewalk but Dan does keep it cleared and passable – unlike most residential sidewalks in this area and ALL sidewalks adjacent to  city owned property.

Walking in conditions like this is extremely difficult and dangerous.  Walking in conditions like this while holding onto a Great Pyrenees like Molly is pretty much impossible.

Walking a Great Pyrenees on dry solid ground can be difficult enough.

Fortunately, there are parks in the city with trails that are maintained and we have a large yard that I can access to get some fresh air.    But, walking around our neighborhood again will have to wait until Mother Nature makes our streets and sidewalks passable. 🌞

Food Diary – Day 52

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) crumpets with butter & jam (211)

(2) thin sliced bacon (200)

(24) ounces water

(1/2) grapefruit with sugar (56)

(1) blueberry/oatmeal muffins with butter (190)

(12) ounces carbonated water

(1) tortilla wrap (170)

(12) pcs pepperoni (65)

(4) slices shaved ham (90)

(2) slices back bacon (35)

(1/3) c shredded cheese (120)

(1 1/2) c mushrooms, red onion, red pepper, green olives (35)

Total Calories: 1224

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 49 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

Good Morning! I am a few days late, but this morning I weighed in at 129.7 pounds.  Yay!

Yesterday, I turned a corner with the app Lose It! that I have been working with the past few days.  Two things that I really like –

(1)  The app breaks down my daily calories into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.  Regardless of what I am doing, I always do better if I break it down into smaller parts.  This will help me to not only stick to an overall calorie budget for each day, but will also  help me to make healthier choices throughout the day. 👍

(2) This app helps me to track my activity for the day and see how it affects my available calories.  🤸

I have used a Fitbit activity tracker before, but this is the first time I have used an app that budgets calories for the day, tracks calories consumed and calories used.   I can see this becoming a really useful tool for me.

Note: I haven’t checked it out yet, but Lose It! also tracks the nutritional make up and values of the foods I eat.   That will be very helpful as I continue to work on improving  my diet this year.   Also, while I am starting out with the basic free app, there are benefits to be had with a paid subscription that I will check out down the road.

Food Diary – Day 49 of 365

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) lg pear (133)

(1) Granola bar (160)

(24) oz water

(3) oz DK skinless turkey (160)

(6) Original Triscuits (120)

(1) c tea

(2) sq. dark chocolate (120)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) lg garden salad with pan fried (in olive oil) white chicken (473)

Total Calories: 1169

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 32 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am posting my Food Diary for February 1st.  In reality, today is February 2nd which of course is Groundhog Day!

I am not counting on spring magically bounding into Saskatchewan if some rodent didn’t see his shadow this morning.  Incredibly, on this day three years ago that is exactly what I was counting on.  Counting, hoping, praying, wishing ( THE WORKS)! 🤦

The fact was I was always hoping, praying, and wishing for something that would happen to turn my life around – something that would have me bounding out of bed to do what needed to be done, to take our little Cavalier Kat for long walks, to find myself whole and fit and healthy,  and to be fully embracing and enjoying life as it is meant to be.  The fact is, I was delusional. 😳

But three years ago, Groundhog Day 2022, I had a major epiphany.  I realized that nothing was going to change unless I did.  It took me twelve more days to act on this realization but finally on February 14th, I did act.  I took my first step on my health and fitness journey and the rest is history!

My life isn’t perfect, my commitment to my  health and fitness is not always perfect,  but it is in my hands – and not at the mercy of some rodent who is out and about looking for his shadow today.  🤗

Our precious Kat, who we lost to congenital heart failure in March 2022.

Food Diary  –  Day 32

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) eggo waffles with butter and syrup (411)

(24) oz water

(1) c tea (1)

(27) onion & garlic chips (260)

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) Dbl Arby’s beef with horsey sauce (300)

(1) medium fries with gravy (465)

(1) mozza stick (115)

(1) c tea (1)

Total calories: 1555

A nutritional fail today  but this diary is about reality – and ultimately a commitment to do better.

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 26 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

I have been noting and posting my daily food and liquid intake for twenty six days.  I have found some room for improvement, made some adjustments, and have begun to realize some benefits. 🤗

Obviously, my health and fitness journey is about more than what I eat and drink.  I do aerobics six days a week, typically do strength training Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and I rest on Sunday. 

Yesterday, my rest day included time spent grooming our dog, Molly and time outside enjoying a rousing game of fetch.  It is a bit challenging when you have a hundred pound  Pyrenees who is less than co-operative. 🤦

* My husband Dan helps position and brush Molly.  He also gives the porch a good vacuuming when we are done. 💞
I don’t fetch.

Food Diary – Day 26

(1) c coffee

(3) Thin slices pcs of bacon

(2) Eggs

(1/2) Tomato

(2) Potato patties

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) Apple

(24) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) c pork souvlaki with mushrooms

(1) c cheese ravioli with minimal butter and fresh garlic

(1) sm side salad

(20) oz water

(2) chocolates

(1) c tea

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 24 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Good morning! It’s my 24th day of posting my food diary and I am excited at how well it is going so far!

Anyone who has been following along with me knows that my diet went far off base last fall and I was less than happy with the results of blood tests I had taken in late October.   I agreed with my Nurse Practitioner to make the adjustments that needed to be made, and to go for retesting this week.   I went on Thursday, received some of the results Thursday night and the rest yesterday. 

The only issue with the first set was my HbA1c/Total Hemoglobin (which measures your risk of diabetes).  In Canada, a 5.5 to 5.9 means you are at risk of becoming pre-diabetic.  In October, I rated a 5.6.  This time I had dropped to 5.5.  It’s an improvement, but I still have work to do.

The rest of my tests ALL came back with results in the normal range. 😊

I am thrilled with the results but committed to working at dropping my risk of diabetes and keeping the rest of my levels in the normal range.

While diet is my focus here, I also remain committed to working out, getting fresh air, meditating, sleeping well,  using my Spiriva and Advair inhalers as prescribed, and drinking adequate water and using my Neti Pot daily to keep working to improve my sinus health.

It sounds like a lot and a big commitment of time and effort.  It really isn’t that much of either,  especially compared to the consequences of allowing my health to slide.   

I love reading self help books and two that have helped me immensely on my journey are: Atomic Habits by James Clear  and Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.   These books were life changers for me.  David Goggins made me realize my potential.   James Clear helped me to get organized so I can actually achieve the results that I aim for. 😊

Food Diary – Day 24 of 365

(1) c coffee

(1/2) Grapefruit with sugar

(1) leftover cabbage roll

(24) ounces of water

(1) cup tea

(1) small bowl of caramel corn

(24) oz of water

(12) oz of water

(1) dinner plate of ham, scalloped potatoes, corn, plus a small side salad

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 23 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I’m back – and I will be back for another 342 days.  That’s a bit daunting, but it is getting to be a fairly locked in part of my morning routine – even when my day is anything but routine.

Yesterday morning I was on a mission to get blood tests done, which resulted in my going to the dogpark for the better part of an hour, eating soup for breakfast, and doing my morning workout at 2:30 in the afternoon.  My day, was definitely not routine, but I did get my Daily Food Diary blog posted so yay me! I can get it done.

Speaking of blood tests… I did get some of the results yesterday after.  So far, pretty good! Everything was within healthy limits except for my HbA1c/Total Hemoglobin which was 5.5.  Anything 5.5 to 5.9 is considered ‘risk to become pre-diabetic’.  I consider my 5.5 a fail but my last tests (three months ago) earned me a 5.6 so I have improved.  😊

Speaking of all things medical…  My Nurse Practitioner called yesterday.  She had reviewed the results from my hernia ultrasound and called to strongly advised me to see a surgeon.  After my incident a couple of weeks ago when I landed myself at Emerg, I was quick to agree, so she sent off a referral to a local surgical group.   To be honest, I would agree to anything Lara advised. She is that good!

Speaking of health in general… For the third day in a row, our temps were relatively moderate yesterday so I was able to get outside and enjoy some fresh air.  Also, for the third night in a row, I was able to get through the night without coughing fits.  Post nasal drip is brutal at night, and drinking copious amounts of water during the daytime has done wonders for my sinuses.

This one was taken at our neighborhood dogpark.  The snow is much deeper this year and becoming an issue as the dogs can step over the fence.  (Molly may have done that the other day – and taken a friend with her. 🙄)

Food Diary – Day 23 of 365

(10) oz water

(1) sm bowl of leftover wonton soup

(1) pear

(1/2) c raspberries

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1/2) sm bowl of nuts

(24) oz water

(1/2) small tray of nachos

(12) oz carbonated water

(8) oz water

*** 78 ounces of water !!! 😳

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 19 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It’s a new week and another day of focusing on my health and fitness – and specifically this year nutrition and hydration.  Unfortunately, eating well and living active isn’t everything when it comes to staying fit and healthy.   Sometimes, it takes a bit of medical intervention. 

Visiting the Pasqua Hospital Two Years Ago for a broken arm. 👍

This week, I am not dealing with anything serious.   This morning, we braved the frigid Saskatchewan temps because I had an appointment for an ultrasound of a hernia repair I had done three years ago.   (Fortunately, Dan drove me as the streets are solid ice ruts and it was dark, traffic was relatively heavy, AND it is frigid out there).  On Thursday, I am going for routine blood and urine tests.  

Ultrasounds and routine tests are no big deal – at least not  to normal people.  Unfortunately, I do not fall into that category.  As much as I believe in vaccinations, routine and not so routine tests and  examinations, surgical procedures and medications (as a last resort), I struggle.  A LOT.   I get stressed around doctors, nurses, orderlies, technicians and the like.  I cringe at the sight of medical equipment.  I get nervous entering medical facilities.  

Fun fact… I used to sell construction specialty items to medical facilities.   I sold entrance matting, wall protection, privacy curtains, security grilles, and more.   My position occasionally involved site meetings.   Even meeting in a medical facility to discuss wall protection made me nervous. Go figure!

Obviously, two medical appointments in one week doesn’t make this a great week going in, but I am one down and only one to go.

The ultrasound will hopefully lead to a repair of the repair I had done and the blood tests will show that I am back on track with the improvements I have been working to make to my diet. 🤞😉

Food Diary – Day 19

(1) c coffee

(3) Slices thick sliced bacon

(2) Eggs

(2) Potato patties

(12) oz water

(12) oz water

(1) c tea

(1) sm bowl mixed nuts

(12) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1 1/2) bowls wonton soup ***

(2) chocolates

(12) oz water

(1/2) c air fried in shells Frank’s Red Hot sunflower seeds

*** Other than the wontons that Dan made and frozen and the store bought chicken broth  – I made the wonton soup by myself.  (Broth, wontons, chicken, green onions, sliced carrots, broccoli, sliced mushrooms, baby Bok Choy, garlic, ginger, 1/8 tsp dried hot peppers, soya sauce, sesame oil).

Our dried hot peppers are a mix of peppers from our garden – habanero, ghost, chilli, Carolina Reapers, whatever we have.  We dry them and crush them up in our blender.  Dan crushes them up in our blender! I did it the first time and got a puff of fine powder when I opened the blender.  When my eyes finally cleared and I quit coughing, I decided not to do that again. 🤦

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

For the Love of Trees

by annemariedemyen, posted in nature

There are at least a dozen moments a day when I realize I am so absolutely happy to be retired. My favorite moment is when I walk out the door – any day, any time to enjoy my walk around our neighbourhood with Kat.

My favourite thing about our neighbourhood is the proliferation of trees. Trees do so much to dress up a neighbourhood and make it appear strong and healthy. I never get tired of the trees.

Trees forming an arch over our street🤗
Trees shading the basketball courts and the pool.
A little path between one of the ball diamonds and a row of trees. I can actually walk through there without knocking myself out on a tree branch.
Dan prefers this path – it is a bit roomier.
The city cut down dozens of trees in our little golf course last summer. I have no idea why these two were saved but they do stand out.
One little blackbird sitting in a tree.
A random group of trees we pass.

I have no idea how many trees we have in Regina – definitely thousands (several thousands). When settlers first came here there were zero trees – just flat land with a creek (Wascana Creek) sitting beside a pile of bones. (Which is why Regina was originally named ‘Pile of Bones’). I am not sure why the settlers thought this would be a good place to settle, much less be the capital city of Saskatchewan, but I am grateful that they were industrious enough to start planting the trees we enjoy today.