Tag: #lots of love

Daily Food Diary – Day 282 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 282 of my Daily Food Diary! 💝

Today is the day after we celebrated our family’s Thanksgiving (which is actually in a few days).

Being retired for five years now, I have gotten pretty comfortable with our quiet little life – generally Dan, our dog Molly, and I.  

Putting together a complete turkey supper for ten people, has become a tad outside my comfort zone – especially with the glitches and such that come with such an endeavour. 

As usual, people stepped up to help bring it all together.  The newlyweds (Genie and Alec) did MORE than their part –  making the salad and then doing the endless dishes and pots and pans after supper. Alec’s Mom, rolled up her sleeves and carved the turkey which Dan and I both appreciated!

Since our house was in order by the end of the evening, I spent this morning over at daughter Jennifer’s  – helping her to get their house tidied up before she heads back to work for the weekend.  🙂

This afternoon, I have kept busy making turkey broth and packaging cabbage rolls for the freezer.

Daily Food Diary Day 282

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(26) lightly frosted shreddies (200)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(1) c beef stew (184)

(24) oz water

Supper:

(3) oz dark turkey (175)

(1) c mashed potatoes (237)

(10) asparagus spears (33)

(3/4) c corn (105)

(1) Yorkshire pudding (100)

(1/2) c gravy (40)

(1) sour cabbage w/pork and rice roll (197)

(1) PC lemon meringue pie (303)

(3) oz red wine (75)

Total consumed calories: 1679

Total used calories: 608

(5) hours food prep/cooking (555)

(30) min walking (53)

Total net calories: 1071

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1071 = 158 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 281 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 281 of my Daily Food Diary! 🥳

Monday (October 13th) is our Canadian Thanksgiving.  Being the overachievers that we are, we are celebrating today! (Ok, some of us work this weekend so this just works better for our family.)  🙄

Dan and I started the day off early this morning with a walk for Molly.  I stopped enroute at Dollarama for a few things  that I needed.  Dan has already been back there plus he has made a trip to Superstore because I forgot we would need asparagus and corn yesterday when he did the last minute shopping. 🤦

I have the lemon meringue and pumpkin pies made, the turkey is stuffed and cooking, the ham is cooked and sliced, and Dan is in the process of making cabbage rolls.

Not picture perfect – but made with love! (Which is the most important ingredient)

I still have lots of food prep and setting up to go, plus my aerobics and treadmill – so best get back to work! 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 281

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1 3/4) c Cheerios (249)

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

Lunch:

(2) potato patties (240)

(1) tomato (22)

(3) slices back bacon (52)

Snacks:

(1) c hot lemon water

(1/2) c beef broth (16)

Supper:

(4 1/2) oz baked ham (163)

(1 1/2) c potato au gratin (300)

(3/4) c corn (105)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) side salad (253)

Total consumed calories: 1465

Total used calories: 302

(30) min walking (53)

(30) min aerobics (176)

(30) min light weights (73)

Total net calories: 1163

Net calories goal: 1229 – 1163 = 66 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 197 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today I am celebrating posting Day 197 of my Daily Food Diary. 👍

But yesterday, we were celebrating Alec & our granddaughter Genevieve becoming Mr. & Mrs. Alec Morrow.

I do not possess the words to do their day justice but it was the perfect execution of the vision they had for their fairytale wedding. 

With only their closest family and friends gathered in a modest venue at a local restaurant, everything was a reflection of the happy couple.  Without imposing on anyone,  they made everyone a willing participant  in their celebration – friends and family alike with – with none moreso than  Grandpa Dan,  who proudly escorted the fairy princess down the aisle. 

The wedding ceremony itself was incredible.   The genuine love, joy, and excitement of the happy couple, and those of us honored to share in it,  was nothing short of magical.

The happy couple 💞 (Despite being as young as they look, Genie and Alec have been the HAPPIEST of couples for EIGHT years)

Mr. & Mrs. Alec Morrow / Genie with her sisters Maddy, Prim, and (her now official)  sister Rebecca /  Genie’s mother Jennifer with fiance Tanner

Yesterday, our precious granddaughter and her kind, considerate, and caring young husband did more than share their  wedding day with us.  They shared their love with all of us.  And they reminded us (as they always do)  that in the best of times, and in the worst of times, there will always be  ‘Angels Among Us’. 💞

Daily Food Diary – Day 197

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(2) oz.  ham (57)

(2) green onions (16)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tsp olive (40)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) Taco Salad (520)

(1) Dark chocolate cake (472)

Total net calories: 1298

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1298 = 70 over 👎

* Highlighted items contain significant collagen or significant contribute to the production of collagen

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 184 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 184 Days since I began keeping and posting my Daily Food Diary. 

It is 3 years and 4 months since I began living my Health and Fitness Lifestyle.  

It can be difficult, and honestly scary (terrifying),  to  begin the journey from being an exhausted, sickly,  weak, overweight, aging, couch potato to being a  healthy, happy, fit, strong, and  active senior. 

When you have multiple chronic lung issues , constantly struggle to breathe and your heart pounds every time you shuffle from your rocking chair to your snack cupboard, it is easy to imagine a heart attack if you attempt anything more strenuous than putting on your socks.

When you are born with collagen issues  and have failed at every effort to build any muscle or develop any coordination, failure is no longer a possibility – it is a probability.

Somehow, when you combine your two biggest fears – dying or failing (which has become an ultimate death sentence) – you can succeed. 🙄

When I began it wasn’t easy.  But, I did something I had never tried before.  I began where I was – at a point where I was comfortable. 

The first day of living my Health and Fitness Lifestyle I danced (shuffled around)  to one Buddy Holly song.  Five minutes tops.  And I built on that, gradually – until now I am doing aerobics six mornings a week, walking our dog Molly daily (weather permitting), and doing light weights and cardio three afternoons a week.   Plus I can, and I am, living a relatively active life – off the rocking chair and out of the snack cabinet. 

Exercise supports collagen synthesis – even for someone who has genetic collagen issues or anyone whose  collagen production has decreased due to aging.

Anyone who suffers from joint pain can  struggle to keep  active and fit.  This article by the Arthritis Foundation might help you to get started on your own fitness journey,  with the help of collagen supplements and/or  adding more foods that contain collagen, or support the natural production of collagen,  to your daily diet.

Can Collagen Supplements Help Arthritis? https://share.google/ILbq9yniGJb0a8JGu

We took a break on our walk this morning to allow Molly a short run at the off leash dogpark.

Daily Food Diary – Day 184

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) eggs (160)

(2) tsp butter (69)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(1) oz marble cheese (113)

(1) serving homemade hash browns (80)

(2) tbsp bacon bits (60)

(60) oz water

Supper:

(5) oz barbecued pork chop (241)

(1/2) pkg ramen noodles (220)

(1) corn on the cob (90)

(3) tsp butter (103)

(1) serving rhubarb torte (286)

Total net calories: 1291

Net calorie goal: 1229 – 1291 = 62 over 👎

With our temperatures soaring yesterday afternoon, daughter Jen took Maddy and Prim to Regina Beach to cool off . 
Thank you Maddy for the cheeky photo of Prim!

Daily Food Diary – Day 174 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 174 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary.  I am excited that I have gotten this far without missing a day.  I am equally excited and totally grateful for everyone who is still stopping by regularly to check on my progress and lend your support.  Thank you!  🤗💞

Yesterday, I returned to my scaled back  strength training.  Considering how hard it was for me to conquer those five pound weight exercises when I was trying to move up in weights, I was pretty impressed at how well I did.  I did two sets, of ten exercises and I was easily able to maintain control and ensure I did not stress my hernia. 

This morning, I was sitting here feeling pretty good about myself  and I heard my Mother say “I told you so!”.

My Mother, still mothering months before she passed away in 2013.

Yes, my Mother passed away twelve years ago, but she was pretty relentless – especially when it came to passing on her wisdom and advice and reminding us of both when we failed to follow either and ultimately  suffered the consequences. 

Now that I likewise try to pass on my own advice and wisdom to younger generations, I get it.  But, I digress.

When my Mother was still with us, I went through several challenging times.  Instead of the pity and outrage I wanted, my Mother would say “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!” Being the younger generation at the time, I would think “Just kill me already.”

Now I get it.  All of those challenges that I fought, resented, and stumbled through did ultimately make me stronger.   They gave me the experience and the coping skills to handle whatever life hands me now – with faith, dignity, and respect – for my Mother and for myself. 

Today I can honestly say “You were, Mom – you were right!” 🙄

Daily Food Diary – Day 174

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) Pear (103) (1 SVG)

Lunch:

(1) serving homemade Hamburger Helper (205) (1 SVG)

Snack:

(1) PC Butterscotch Pudding Cake (153)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1) Large Dinner salad – romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green onion, cauliflower, red pepper, sunflower seeds, dried fried onions (150) (5 SVG)

(3) oz BBQ pork tenderloin (90)

(2) tbsp Vidalia Onion salad dressing (100)

(1) PC Butterscotch Pudding Cake (153)

Total net calories: 853

Net calories goal: 1238 – 853 = 385 under 👍

Fruits & vegetables: 7 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 servings 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 173 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 173 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary. 

It is also 4 months since I was placed on the Waiting List for repair of my epigastric hernia.    I was told by my surgeon’s receptionist that it would probably be about  eight weeks to get a surgery date confirmed.  😐

The wait doesn’t bother me.  In the meantime, I have been working to improve my respiratory health so things will go as well as possible when I am dealing with the anesthesia.  

My hernia is generally painless.  When it does get pushed out, I can usually deal with it.  There was one painful situation that sent me to the hospital emergency room for assistance, but I have been careful since that experience so have avoided a return visit.

The only issue I do have, is that I decided to put a pause on exercising using weights until after I have my surgery.   Lifting, and holding, even seven to ten pound weights, was one thing that was almost guaranteed to bother my hernia…and it was only for a few weeks.

Obviously, the wait could be indefinite at this point and in the meantime I am losing upper body strength. 🙄

So, I have decided to (cautiously) step back to my five pound weights and restart my afternoon strength building workouts.  Wish me luck! 🤞

Daily Food Diary – Day 173

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(3) sl bacon (130)

(2) eggs (160)

(2) potato patties (240)

(1/2) tomato (11) (1 SVG)

Snacks:

(1) peach (58) (1 SVG)

(1/6) c dry roast peanuts (162)

(1/6) c mixed nuts (108)

(1) c licorice tea

(36) oz water

Supper:

(4) vegetable spring rolls (500) (2 SVG)

(4) shrimp nests (210) (1 SVG)

(3) riblets (49)

(2) pc’s buttermilk chicken (84)

(5) Gyoza (225)

(1) tbsp Gyoza dipping sauce (15)

(1) tbsp plum sauce (35)

(1) tbsp shrimp sauce (20)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (80)

(1) PC Butterscotch Pudding Cake (153)

Total net calories: 2243

Net calories goal: 1238 – 2243 = 1005 over 👎

Fruits & vegetables: 5 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 servings 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 169 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 169 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary.

It is 35 years since I was diagnosed with asthma and 5 years since I was diagnosed with COPD and bronchiectasis. This year, I was diagnosed with chronic sinus issues.

It is 3 years  since I began proactively living the health and wellness lifestyle which inspired my Daily Food Diary.

Living with chronic respiratory issues is not easy.  Struggling to breathe, day in and day out, is nerve wracking and exhausting.  Coughing day in and day out is frustrating to  me and annoying to anyone fortunate enough to be around me.  Having a severe coughing fit (which I tend to have several times a day) is concerning for me and anyone around me.  Whether I will choke to death or drown in my own mucus is up for debate, but it never sounds good.

With chronic respiratory health issues there are countless things that can make matters worse – extreme cold or heat, sitting or laying down,  humidity, air pollution, allergies, stress, poor diet choices….

There are also things that can make chronic respiratory disease manageable – medication, lung clearing tools and techniques, stress management, air purifiers, aerobics, walking, being generally active, healthy diet choices….

For the past few days, I have been dealing with more of the ‘making matters worse’ and less of the ‘making matters manageable’. 

My lungs, and my body in general,  are not happy.   But, we are back in our home environment, and working to get back into our regular routine.  It isn’t easy.

Yesterday we walked Molly and I did my aerobics.  I cleared my lungs a few times and used my rescue inhaler more frequently.  I mostly ate better – avoiding sugar and eating vegetables.  I spent time outside, sweeping the patio, watering plants, feeding squirrels, and helping Dan put the patio furniture in the gazebo.

It wasn’t easy, but I was constantly inspired by my friend Jackie’s motto.   Whenever things got difficult, I reminded myself  “We Do Hard Things”. 

Life isn’t easy.  It isn’t meant to be.  But if we can do the hard things, we can handle the challenges.   😊💪

We’ve got this! 👍

Daily Food Diary – Day 169

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Shreddies (200)

(1/4) c milk (28)

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Lunch:

(2) BBQ chicken drumsticks (220)

(1/2) c cauliflower (14) (1 SVG)

(1) carrot (25) (1 SVG)

(3) radishes (16) (1/2 SVG)

(1) tbsp Dilly Dip (80)

(12) BBQ potato chips (135)

Snacks:

(32) oz water

(1) Mott’s Clamato Caesar (168) (1 SVG)

Supper:

(5) oz rib steak (350)

(1/2) c mushrooms (22)

(1/5) c red onions (13)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(3/4) c potato salad (330)

(1) side salad – lettuce, green Onions, radishes, black olives, sunflower seeds, French salad dressing, dried fried onions (210) (2 SVG)

Total net calories: 1578

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1578 = 356 over 👎

Fruits & vegetables: 5 1/2 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 167 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 167 Days since I started posting my Daily Food Diary.  

Yesterday was NOT my best effort when it came to maintaining a healthy diet.  My last few days haven’t been a great effort. But, like everything else in life, I got to decide and I decided to ‘take a break’ rather than make health and wellness my top priority.

I can’t say it was a great decision.   Travelling for a number of hours is hard on my lungs.  I  do not move enough to keep my lungs clear.  Traveling through forest fire smoke, to an  area  enveloped in  forest fire smoke  for a few days,  was not good.  Being negligent  about clearing my lungs, doing my aerobics,  and managing my diet was on me.  But… I stayed accountable and I  take responsibility for the consequences of the decisions I made.

I cannot change the decisions I made, but I can and will get back on track.  And… I will  be prepared to make better choices the next time we go away.  There are some things I cannot control (like forest fire smoke).   I can eat better, do my aerobics and lung clearing, and plan stops for moving around during our trips – even if that means having to do occasional  walkthroughs at malls or big box stores, to avoid smoke or inclement weather.

Despite everything, we had a good week, quality time with family, and we are back home happy for the memories we made.

First time on a trampoline – just standing up was a win.
And first time on a zipline.
Molly wallowing in the attention of Lucas and friend Emily. 
Dan and Amanda’s deck.  The gazebo holds a huge round gas firepit, next is the lounging area, and the bottom area is the dining area.  The original deck, to the side of the house, houses the hot tub, barbecue, smoker, and flat grille.  

Everything at Dan and Amanda’s is designed to keep their family active and to entertain visitors.  The kids have their zipline and trampoline, a geodesic climbing structure, and a wooden playhouse with a slide leading down to their sandbox.  Their above ground pool needs to be replaced this year.  Dan and Amanda  are in the process  of designing an addition to their deck to build  in the new pool. 

As much as it is all pretty impressive, nothing is designed to impress.  Everything indoors and out is built to be functional (and fun).  

Daily Food Diary – Day 167

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Cheerios (147)

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

(1/2) slice home cured & smoked bacon  (42)

Lunch:

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

(1) tbsp Horsey sauce (60)

(1/2) Arby’s crinkle cut fries (265)

(1) Arby’s gravy (35)

Snacks:

(60) oz water

(1) waffle sundae w/ chocolate sauce (450)

(1/4) c mixed nuts (180)

(25) lightly salted ripple chips (270)

Total Net Calories: 1680

Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1680 = 442 over 👎

Total fruits & vegetables: 0 servings

Fruit and vegetable goal: 7 servings

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

I had expected more noticeable growth to our plants when we got back – but they are all alive and the flowers, tomatoes, and peppers are blooming. 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 164 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is Day 164 of my Daily Food Diary today.  👍

We are on Day 5 of our time with son Dan and family.  We have been too busy visiting today to wrap my head around my regular routine, but better late than never on posting my Daily Diary.

I haven’t done as well with my morning aerobics. This is the second day in a row that is a miss.  

Since I’m already this late, I am just going to wrap this up and take Molly for a walk  and get a bit of exercise. 

Looks like she is ready to go!

Daily Food Diary – Day 164

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios. (147)

(1/4) c milk (28)

Lunch:

(4) oz beef burger (243)

(12) lightly salted chips (62)

(24) oz water

Supper:

(1) bowl Wonton Soup (71)

(1/2) c vegetable fried rice (250)

(1) c beef & broccoli (264)

(1/2) c sesame chicken (200)

*** Vegetables in supper (2 SVG)

Total net calories: 1507

Net Calorie Goal: 1238 – 1507 = 269 over

Total fruits and vegetables: 2 servings

Fruits and vegetable goal: 7 servings

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 163 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

This is the 163rd Day of posting my Daily Food Diary.   It is also our 4th day of being away from home.

Traveling and spending time with family makes for a nice break from being home.  It also makes managing one’s diet a little more challenging. 

Since travel day, which was pretty bad,  I have been managing fairly well.  The only problem has been with water.   We have spent time here at son Dan’s before, but this time I cannot handle their water. 🤦 Last night,  I figured it out.    Fortunately, we had a two gallon jug of filtered water from home in the Jeep.   I switched to that and  all is good.

This morning Dan & son Dan are gone to a golf tournament.  I got Lucas off to school 0n time.   Cason made his own breakfast, ate, and got himself dressed for the day. 👍

I’d say the day is going smoothly so far – except for the three problem children. 🙄

Cornelius (L) and Bacardi (R)
And Molly!

Molly and Bacardi love to get each other going, and this morning they were  wound up from the get go.  Cornelius isn’t up for the shenanigans so he contributes to the chaos by yipping and yapping at the other two until they turn on him.   They are all on a break at the moment – but it is only  for the moment. 🤫

Granddaughter Gabby, is getting ready for work so I should run downstairs, get dressed, and be ready to workout when she leaves. So far so good! I haven’t been walking due to smoke and rain, but I am getting my morning aerobics done.  All or something!

Gabby! 💕

Daily Food Diary – Day 163

Breakfast

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Honey Nut Cheerios (147)

(1/4) c  2% milk (28)

Lunch:

(3) sm. Riblets (100)

(1/2) c macaroni salad (80)

(1) c raw vegetables (18) (2 SVG)

(24) oz water

Supper:

(2) gin & tonic (220)

(4) oz ground beef burger  – no bun (243)

(1/8) c marble cheese (57)

(1/2) c brown beans (300) (1 SVG)

(1/4) c macaroni salad (80)

(1) c raw vegetables (18) (2 SVG)

(12) oz water

Total net calories: 1327

Net calories goal: 1238 – 1327 = 89 over 👎

Fruits & vegetables:  5 servings

Fruits & vegetables goal: 7 servings 👎

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