Tag: healthy living

Daily Food Diary – Day 120 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 120 days since I started my Daily Food Diary.

Looking at the results of my calorie counting and sodium and processed sugar tracking yesterday, it doesn’t look good for my progress in this exercise.   But, results do not always tell the entire story.

Last night, I was planning a supper that would have had me meet my nutritional goals for the day.  But plans change.

At lunchtime yesterday, Granddaughter Prim texted to ask if she and her sister Maddy could come for supper.   We went from a supper for two to a ham and scalloped potato family meal – and I hit the ham hard.

Prim and Maddy

We always enjoy time spent with any of our grandkids.  Last night,  we had three big wins to celebrate as well!

1) Maddy who has been struggling with her math,  got the results of her latest math test since starting to work with a tutor  (a retired math teacher who Genie introduced her to) … 48 out of 50!  Big win for Maddy!!

2) Prim and I started talking about obesity and restaurant food.  It might seem like a  strange subject for a thirteen year old, but she instigated it.   That led to her checking out nutritional information for one of her favourite restaurants and comparing a Veggie Burger and a Deep Fried Chicken Burger.  The clear winner (nutritionally)  – Deep Fried Chicken Burger had lower calories, sodium, and processed sugar.  We both learned something new – which is always a win.  And it was a big win for Prim because she learned that, especially when it comes to food – better choices are not always that obvious.

3) The girls’ sister Genie dropped by for a short visit and to drive the girls home after supper.

Left, Genie last June.  Right, Genie last night.

Genie has struggled with health issues since she was born – partly genetic, partly due to being born prematurely.   The last couple of years have been particularly difficult for her.  Since giving up yeast and starting to feel so much better,  I have been trying to convince Genie to try that as well.  In the past few months, she decided it was worth trying.  The proof is on her face! Her bloating is gone, she is feeling much better, and she is so much happier.  It wasn’t all about the yeast, but it was a big win for Genie – and one that encouraged her to adopt other positive changes.

It is always good to see the grandkids.  It is even better when we see them learning  how much power they possess – to deal with the challenges that life hands them and to earn the wins that life has to offer .  🌹

Daily Food Diary – Day 118

Breakfast:

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

(1/4) c milk (31) (28.7 mg) (3.1 grams)

(1) c Raisin Bran Crunch (190) (210 mg) (20 grams)

Snacks:

(44) oz water

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) oz BBQ corn nuts (124) (277 mg)

(1) oz Spicy dill pickles (170) (221 mg)

(1) oz smoked almonds (310) (90 mg)

Supper:

(2/3) c scallop potatoes (15) (620 mg)

(1/2) c corn (62) (10.9 mg)

(1) tsp butter (34) (31.7)

(6) oz old fashion ham (238) (1497 mg)

(1) side salad (90) (115 mg)

Total net calories:  1290

Net calorie goal: 1247 – 1290 = 43 over 👎

Total Processed Sugar: 30.9 grams

Processed sugar goal: < 25 👎

Total Sodium: 3106 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 107 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 107 Days since I started tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary.  I have learned a lot about my consumption habits and have made a few necessary changes. 🙂

This month my focus has been on processed sugar and sodium. 

Becoming aware of where to find processed sugar in the foods that I eat, has helped me to eliminate the bulk of it.  

Some things, like the matrimonial squares and candy coated Easter eggs, were obviously an issue.    Things like premade pie crust or back bacon have been  more surprising.  It is only one gram here, one gram there… but it adds up,  if you are unaware of it.   

The thing with processed sugar, beyond the many unhealthy things it does to our bodies,  are the things it does to our relationship with food as a whole.  While sugar ramps up our energy in the short term, our appetite comes back with a vengeance and particularly our craving  for MORE processed sugar. 

I have known forever how processed sugar affects my daily diet.   Since keeping this daily diary, it has been interesting to see how MUCH processed sugar affects my daily diet.  This is particularly true if I start my day with sugar packed cereals, store bought muffins  or breakfast bars, pancakes or  waffles with syrup, or the like.   That opens my entire day to bad food choices.

Since starting my Daily Food Diary, I have been relatively shocked by how much sodium I ingest.  I knew there was a LOT of sodium in things like potato chips, condiments,  oriental sauces, canned gravy, bacon, ham, and more.  There have been surprises –  like the high sodium content in Paratha and back bacon!

I am gradually making changes to how I manage my sodium intake.  Cooked vegetables get (salted butter) and pepper – no added salt.  Eggs, raw vegetables, soups or stews, etc.  get a pinch of salt that I can control – NOT straight out of the shaker or grinder hits that I cannot.   Pan frying is done with olive oil rather than buttered salt.   My husband, who does our shopping, has been bringing home  low sodium or lightly salted options. It all helps!

With sodium it is a process, but one that is progressing with the help of my Daily Food Diary.    The changes I have made are  slight and gradual – but that will help me to make them sustainable in the long run. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 107

Breakfast:

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

(2) slices back bacon (35) (500 mg) (1 g)

(2) eggs (160) (140 mg)

(5) asparagus spears (16) (10.5 mg)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

(1/4)  c red bell peppers (13) (1.5 mg)

(1/8) tsp salt (291 mg)

Snacks:

(1) c licorice tea

(48) oz water

(20) Doritos (255) (382 mg)

(1/2) c sunflower seeds w/shell (265) (225 mg)

Supper:

(4) oz roast beef (219) (61.2 mg)

(6) tbsp beef gravy (30) (480 mg)

(15) tater tots (233) (333 mg)

(15) asparagus spears (49) (31.5 mg)

(1) tsp butter (34) (31.7 mg)

Total net calories: 1216

Net calorie goal: 1259 – 1216 = 43 under 👍

Total Processed sugar:  1 gram

Processed sugar goal: < 25 grams 👍

Total Sodium:   2492.1 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 101 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 101 days since I began my 365 Day Daily Food Diary. 

This month I have been tracking the sodium and processed sugar that I consume each  day.   Eleven days in, I should know better than to assume that I have any idea how much sodium or processed sugar there is in something BEFORE I decide to eat it. 

Unfortunately, once again I have proven that I obviously do not know better  yet  – and my assumptions continue to be my diet downfall.   Today’s fail…. 1135 mg of sodium in ONE Paratha! That is almost half a teaspoon of salt in one 7″ flat bread.  (2300 mg/ teaspoon) How is that even possible?   I need to start reading the complete Nutritional Value Label on foods before I eat – anything.   🤦

I made one good decision yesterday.  I chose a really good aerobic workout yesterday morning.  It was a full 42 minutes long and it was intense.  Fortunately, Dan came home with groceries when I was at the halfway point so I had to take a break to help him put them away.    😋

Daily Food Diary – Day 101

Breakfast:

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

(2) eggs (160) (140 mg)

(1 1/2) oz ham (54) (46.8 mg)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1) potato patty (120) (210 mg)

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice tea

(58) oz water

Supper:

(2) c chilli with ground beef & beans (524) (600 mg)

(1) plain paratha (240) (1135mg) (2)

(1/2) Dill pickle (4) (324 mg) (.5 g)

(2) oz shredded cheese (208) (416mg)

Total net calories: 1078

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1078 = 192 under 👍

Total Sodium: 2876.5 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 – 2300 mg 😕

Total Processed Sugar:  2.5 grams

Processed Sugar Goal: < 25 grams 👍

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

Flowers Dan bought me yesterday to celebrate completing 100 DAYS of my 365 Day Daily Food Diary. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 95 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today marks  95 Days since I began this Food Diary. 

Today is also my husband’s birthday AND his sister Joan’s birthday.   I find it rather fascinating that, not only do they share the same birthdate (other than a four year  difference), but they have sibling cousins who also share the same birthday (also not the same year) on April 12th. 

Speaking of coincidences,  a few days ago I posted a link to a You Tube video highlighting Buddhist wisdom.  It was one of those things I share on here, knowing that our granddaughter Genie follows my blog.  If it was on here, I thought she would see it,  check it out, and probably find it interesting and unique. 

Yesterday, Genie stopped by to lend me a book that she had recently read.   We shared a  cup of tea, a good visit and my giant bag of mini candy coated chocolate Easter eggs.  She is looking and doing great.

Genie’s book – based on Buddhist wisdom

I don’t have a solid grasp on how evolution works, but I was always amazed at how my three children seemed to naturally possess knowledge and skills that I struggled to learn.  I am even more amazed by how emotionally mature, intelligent and strong, our grandchildren are.   All of them – from the time they were tots.  Is that coincidence or evolution?

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

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

(1) egg (80) (220 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil (40 mg)

(1) sausage patty (190) (430 mg) (1 g)

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice Tea

(44) oz water

Supper:

(1/2) pkg ramen noodles (190) (600 mg) (1 g)

(1) c broccoli w/salt & pepper (60) (291 mg)

(3) tsp butter (103) (95 mg)

(3) oz pork chop (236)

(1) dry gin martini (180)

(2) garlic stuffed olives (32) (620 mg)

Total Net Calories: 1147

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1147 = 122 under 👍

Total Sodium: 2706 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 😳

Total Processed sugar: 2 grams

Processed sugar goal: 25 grams  👍

🍸I spent a fair amount of time choosing an alcoholic beverage last night, looking for the least processed sugar.  Apparently, 2 oz of  dry gin has zero sugar, 1 oz of vermouth contains only natural sugar.  A martini seemed an excellent choice this month, until my lips and knees went numb and I remembered that 3 oz of alcohol is way more than I typically indulge in – during  any week much less one day.

🫒 The garlic stuffed olives were simply a bad decision.

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 93 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 93 days since I began posting my Daily Food Diary.   Diet is only one aspect of the health and wellness lifestyle that I am working to adopt.

Any healthy lifestyle includes diet, activity, fresh air, sleep, and stress management.  When one is working to manage chronic health issues, every one of these is crucial.

Since my less than memorable appointment with the surgeon who is going to do my hernia repair, stress management has been something I have been focussing  on.   The wait time for hernia surgeries runs about 8 weeks, but  it has been six weeks since my appointment, so it is time to get serious about this. My stress levels are better than they have ever been, but there are two major issues to deal with here – my discomfort with anything medical and the fact that stress triggers my asthma.  🤦

Several months ago, I bought myself  soft sleep headphones.  Normally, I go to bed listening to guided sleep meditations or soothing music.  Lately, I have been checking out more direct anti anxiety videos on You Tube.

I have been listening to this one for the past couple of nights.   To be honest, I had to listen to it sitting on my yoga ball yesterday, because it sounded interesting AND I would never have known  listening to it in bed.  I put on my headphones, turn on any form of meditation – guided, music, or nature sounds – and I am out cold. 😴

If you should  decide to listen to it, I suggest avoiding driving while you do so. 

One other thing…I may be partial to this video because the final words of advice reminded me so much of my father.  Whether it was something he deliberately did, or just who he was, my father lived by a personal code that saw him through every challenging situation in his life.   Regardless of anything or anyone else, my father was a man of strength, dignity, integrity, and peace.  💞

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

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

(2) eggs (160) (440 mg)

(2) oz ham (110) (640 mg) (2 g)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

(5) asparagus spears (16)  (10.5 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil  (40)

Snacks:

(34) oz water

(1) c Cinnamon Tea

(14) multigrain crackers (140) (110 mg)

(6) mini Easter eggs (85) (10 mg) (14 grams)

Supper:

Chicken Salad:

(7) oz skinless chicken thighs w/ salt free seasoning (228) (175mg)

(1) c lettuce (6)

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

(2) radishes (3) (7 mg)

(5) slices cucumber (4) (.7 mg)

(1/4) c green onion (10)

(1) tbsp sunflower seeds (50) (34.6 mg)

(3) tbsp crispy fried onions (60) (90 mg)

(2) tbsp PC Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing (100) (210 mg) (6 grams)

(2) scoops Vanilla Ice Cream (183) (33.2 mg) (14.1 g)

(1) tbsp PC Caramel Syrup (70) (55 mg) (8 g)

(1) tbsp PC Chocolate syrup (33) (22.2 mg) (5.9 g)

(5) pecan halves (33)

Total Net Calories: 1251

Daily calorie goal: 1269 – 1251 = 18 under👍

Total Sodium: 1848.7 mg 👍

Daily goal sodium: 1509 to 2300 mg

Total Processed Sugar:  50 grams 🤦

Daily goal processed sugar: 25 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 91 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 91 Days since I began my Daily Food Diary.  That is a full 13 weeks! 🙌  As I had hoped, I have become more mindful of what I consume on a daily basis and I have made a few adjustments along the way.

This month, I have decided to become more mindful of my sodium (a major component in table salt, MSG, and baking soda) and processed sugar consumption.

Processed sugar and excessive sodium consumption is not (typically) good for anyone.    For someone like me, with multiple chronic lung conditions,  too much of either is particularly bad.

A major issue with lung conditions, such as asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, or bronchiolitis is MUCUS – the quantity of it and the viscosity of it.  Diet affects both.

Some foods, like dairy products, increase the production of mucus.  Other components of our diet dehydrate and thicken said  mucus.   Such mucus dehydrating items include caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, sodium, and sugar.   Drinking an adequate amount of water helps to counter these issues but only to a point.

Fortunately, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks have never been an issue for me.  I enjoy my carbonated water – but I can live without it.  Sodium and  processed sugar are  more of a challenge.   Thus my April focus.

Yesterday, I kicked the month off with one of our fairly frequent,  favourite suppers – just to see what I am starting with. The sugar content wasn’t bad – the sodium was off the charts. 🙄

I did search out a healthier snack to go with my afternoon tea.  I can see switching  these crackers for my all too typical potato chips.

Kirkland Crackers from Costco
The chips in our pantry range from 240 to 360 mg of sodium per serving. (And +/- 260 calories)

Food Diary – Day 91

Breakfast:

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

(2) eggs (160)   (440 mg)

(1) tsp olive oil (79)

(2) sl back bacon (35) (500 mg) (1 gr)

(5) PC asparagus (16) (10.5 mg)

(1/4) c green onions (10)

Snacks:

(1) Green tea

(14) Multi Grain Crackers  (140) (110 mg)

(36) oz water

Supper:

(3) Riblets  (36) (116 mg)

(4) spring rolls (180) (440 mg) (3 gr)

(9) Tempura shrimp (350) (460 mg) 

(2) PC buttermilk chicken breast (250) (430 mg)

(4) Gyoza (170) (400) (2gr)

(1) tbsp seafood sauce (12) (110 mg) (2 gr)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (80) (110 mg) (.5 gr)

(1) tbsp Gyoza sauce (15)  (365 mg) (2 gr)

(1) tbsp Plum sauce (18) (15) (4)

Total Net Calories: 1372

Daily Goal: 1269 calories

Total Sodium:  3511.2 mg 😳

Daily goal: 1500 to 2300 mg

Total Sugar:  14.5 grams

Daily goal:  25 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 85 of 365

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

It is 85 days since I began keeping and posting my Daily Food Diary.  My intention was to track everything I consume in a day, become more mindful of what I consume, and gradually make some improvements as  to what I consume. 

So far I believe I am getting as much out of the exercise as I thought I would.  I am also getting more support and encouragement from my regular followers than I expected.  For this, I am so grateful! 🤗

Reading what I consume every day can’t be that exciting for anyone.  For me, the real magic happens when I decide what not to eat or bake or buy, knowing that I am going to have to write it in my diary and post it for any and all to see.  

This week I decided to work harder to meet my daily calorie goal of 1269 calories a day. On Monday, I posted that would be my focus for this week and so far so good.  Monday and Tuesday, I was substantially under my goal.

Last night was Dan’s dart night.  We eat early on dart night, so we decided to make supper easy by indulging in some take out.  That used up most of my calories for the day. 🤦

After Dan left, I had 88 calories left to fill my “600 Pound Life” and “911” marathon evening – my biggest snack event of the week, which I often fill by sharing a bag of popcorn with Molly.  Last night, determined to stay on track, I indulged in RAW BROCCOLI drizzled with salad dressing.   

Raw broccoli will never replace hot buttery popcorn, but last night it was broccoli for the win and I stayed under my calorie goal for the day – just barely.   How exciting is that? 👍

Daily Food Diary:

BREAKFAST:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(3) crumpets (240) (6)

(2) tsp butter (68) (.1)

(2) tsp raspberry jam (33) (.1)

Snacks:

(1) c Cinnamon tea

(25) Classic Potato chips (160) (2)

(36) oz water

(1/2) c raw broccoli (15) (1.3)

(1/2) tbsp Kraft Sweet Onion Dressing (12)

Supper:

(1) Big Mac – no bun (463) (25)

(1) sm fries (230) (3)

(7) McNuggets (233) (18.7)

Total Calories: 1456

Less 126 calories 30 min.  aerobics

Less 90 calories 40 min. walking

Net Calories: 1240

Net Calories goal: 1269 – 1240 = 29 calories under

Total Protein: 56.5 grams

Daily Protein Goal: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 84 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 84 days (11 Weeks) since I started my Daily Food Diary.   It is incredible how quickly the weeks go by.

When I started this diary, we were heading into a brutal winter.  We have left that behind as we now head into spring.  Yesterday, we had our back door open so we could let the fresh air in and Molly could come and go on her own. 

Spring is easily my favourite season of the year! It is the promise of summer – without the bugs.  It is ultimately great grass and trees, flowers, and sunshine! What is not to love?

Spring Dogs.. 😳

Daily Food Diary – Day 84

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1) c Raisin Bran Crunch (190) (3)

(1/4) c milk (31) (2)

Lunch:

(1) Granola Bar (160) (3)

(12) oz water

Snack:

(1) c licorice tea

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

Chef Salad…

(2) c Romaine Lettuce (12) (.9)

(2) Radishes (3) (.1)

(10) slices cucumber (10) (.4)

(1/2) tomato (11) (.5)

(1/4) c green onions (10) (1)

(3) oz baked ham (140) (14)

(1/3) c shredded cheese (137) (8.4)

(2) hard boiled eggs (156) (14.1)

(1 1/2) tsp sunflower seeds (135) (4.5)

(3) tbsp Peppercorn Ranch dressing (165)

(2) tbsp French’s dry fried onions (200) (8)

Total Calories: 1362

Less 126 calories for 30 minutes aerobics

Net Calories: 1236

Daily Net Calorie Goal:  1269 – 1236 = under 33

Total Protein: 60.2 grams

Daily Protein Goal:  46 to 58.5 grams

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

Happy Belated Birthday to Madison, who turned 15 years old the day BEFORE her sister Prim turned 13. 🤦🎂
 Grandma and Grandpa have ALWAYS known this because Mom went to the hospital as soon as we finished celebrating your second birthday. 🙄🎂

It is impossible to believe our little girls have grown up so fast! We love you both and we are so proud of both of you!

Daily Food Diary – Day 77 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 77 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.  That is 11 Weeks! By the time I knock off another 41 weeks, I might be addicted to this morning exercise and being mindful of what I consume on a regular basis.

Another thing I could easily become addicted to is getting out walking with Dan and Molly. 

Yesterday we ventured down to Waterfall Park.  Our temps were still well in the chilly range, there was yet another fresh layer of snow, and I was walking on an iffy ankle and a slightly wobbly knee.  But… The only hard part is taking the first step (after I put on my sweater, ski pants, boots, jacket, and gloves 🙄).

Once we got to the park, it was all good.  I took Molly’s lead and we made out fairly well.  My knee and ankle felt fine and we even ventured down an unfamiliar path.  It was not as groomed as our regular ones and there was a steep drop off of both sides – one side leading down to the creek.  Molly and I managed to both stay upright.    Dan caught sight of three dogs and a group of kids approaching, so he took Molly’s lead.  It was all good – until Molly’s collar came apart for some reason.   Dan was able to hold onto her while I got the collar back together.  It is a heavy duty pinch collar, with steel links that are almost impossible to take apart and to replace.  Apparently, it just takes the perfect move to slip it apart!  I lucked out getting it back together.

This shot was from a couple of days ago but shows Molly in her element.

The rest of the walk was uneventful. When we got home, Dan brought Molly in and made our tea.  I spent a few minutes shoveling our front walks before I joined them.  At the end of the day, my left knee was fine, my right ankle was fine – and my left foot had a weird kink in it.  It is still bothering me a bit this morning, but I am sure I can walk that off when we head out today.  🙂

Food Diary – Day 77

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(1/2) Grapefruit (41) (.8)

(1) tsp sugar (16)

(1) Granola Bar (160) (3)

Lunch:

(24) oz water

(1/2) Beef burrito (308) (15)

Snacks:

(1) c Lemon Ginger tea

(25) Lay’s Classic chips (160) (2)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) lg. Taco Salad (520) (16)

(6) Hint of Lime chips (150) (2)

Total Calories: 1357

Total Protein: 39.1 grams

Daily Protein Goal: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily food Diary – Day 73 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 73 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary.   As much as I could lose a few more pounds, this exercise is more about eating well than it is about restricting calories.

I went into this with three chronic lung conditions – asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis.  Proper nutrition is only part of my routine to keep these issues in check.  I exercise, I see a respiratory specialist and a respiratory therapist regularly, I use inhalers,  and antibiotics with oral steroids for flare-ups, and I get regular vaccines. 👍

I also went into this exercise with a failed epigastric hernia repair from three years ago.  On February 24th, I went to see a surgeon about having this repaired. 

My hernia is bothersome on occasion and a bit dangerous to ignore,  so it has to be done.  Heading out for my appointment, I was fine.  Dan was driving, we were going to the Pasqua Hospital (a few blocks from home),  the repair I had done last time was laparoscopic surgery done under local anaesthetic. No big deal!

Except, due to delays in traffic, parking issues, and a mix-up at the hospital, we were cutting it close timewise for my appointment.  My stress ramped up, my stress triggered my asthma, and I walked into the surgeon’s office having an uncontrollable coughing fit.

The appointment went as well as possible, but the surgeon decided that he was putting me under anesthesia for the procedure. (It is difficult to do this kind of thing when someone is coughing their lungs out).

I came home upset, demoralized, and annoyed that I try so hard to manage my lung issues and I had failed,  again, big time!  

After a short pity part, I pulled it together.  I got on with my respiratory management routine and soldiered on.

Then, I went for a CT scan that the surgeon had ordered.  On top of a couple of other issues, the scan showed that I now have a NEW lung issue – bronchiolitis.  Seriously!

Cue another pity party, cue another comeback – this time more intense and determined than ever.  Not just to make my lungs stronger but to destroy the stress and anxiety issues that I have battled with forever.

So.. more exercise – more focused and intense,  I switched up my bedtime meditation for Goggins inspirational podcasts/videos, I got an herbal brew  from our local health food store.  I am getting outside for more fresh air and exercise!  👍

And our weather tanked.  More cold, more wind, more wet snow.   Not good for my lungs.   Another pity party… 🤦

Yesterday, I had it together!  I decided to stay indoors and do a serious house cleaning & laundry including bedding.

And our power went out – for hours.  I decided to forgo the pity party.  I messaged my sister Elaine and we chatted back and forth for the duration, exchanging  meal plans and shopping wins (and losses 😂).

It was a good chat and it was good for the soul – much better than another pity party.  🙂

Food Diary:

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (.3)

(2) eggs (180) (14)

(3) slices back bacon (52) (2)

(2) potato patties (240) (2)

Snack:

(24) oz water

(2) oz Dill Pickle peanuts (324) (14.2)

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) Burrito –

     (1) Tortilla wrap (170) (5)

     (4) Oz ground beef (280) (19)

     (1) c mixed veggies – onion, red pepper, black olives, mushrooms, oriental cabbage (68) (2.4)

     (1) Tbsp taco sauce

     (2) Oz shredded cheddar (114) (7)

(1) PC matrimonial cake (139) (1)

Total calories: 1600

Total Protein: 76.9 grams

Protein goal per day: 46- 58 grams

Notes:

  1. I am fairly certain that Molly, our picky Pyrenees, would not be caught dead eating a dill pickle – but if I have Dill Pickle Peanuts, Molly has Dill Pickle Peanuts.
  2. Dan and I made supper together last night, and yes he shredded oriental cabbage for the burritos. (The celery I took out didn’t make the cut… 🙄) Once the cabbage was cooked with the rest of the  burrito filling,  there was no trace of it.   (I trust the nutrients remained? 🤔)

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