Tag: positivity

February 14th – Day 43 & 44  of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Wishing everyone a day of Love, Peace, and Happiness. 💞

Dan got me the roses, I got him the chocolates and the desk calendar.  Molly has not been forgotten!  Dan is off to Cowtown to pick up a treat for her and hopefully some collagen chews.

I love the color of those roses! They are so pretty.   Neither of us NEEDS the chocolates, but they are nice to have. 🙂

Hopefully the desk calendar will  help Dan and I decide what to have for suppers, going forward.   I know how fortunate we are to have such a decision to make – but somehow it is typically our most difficult decision of the day!

Today is also the FORTH ANNIVERSARY of the day I began my Health and Fitness Journey!

It has been a rough, winding, amazing journey so far.

During these past four years I have struggled through countless setbacks and celebrated even more unimaginable  benefits.

The most unexpected SETBACK was getting knocked to the ground by our Pyrenees puppy and breaking my left arm.   It was the first (and only)  bone I have  broken in seventy years and I may be the only sibling of the six of us who has broken a bone. 

AND.. four years ago, who would have ever IMAGINED that we would lose our precious little Cavalier Kat – and welcome our amazing (slightly clutsy)  Great Pyrenees Molly into our lives in the first place?

The most awesome BENEFIT that I have experienced so far has been realizing how much  potential grows as we do!  Physically, mentally, emotionally,  and spiritually I am so much stronger than I was four years ago.   And, I possess so much more potential than I dreamed possible four years ago!

As far as I have come in the past four years, I cannot imagine what lies ahead for me!

The sky is the Limit!

That is it for today.  Take care and have a great day! 🤗💞

January 14th – Day 13 of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness, Uncategorized

Today it is four weeks since I had my hernia repair done.  Incision discomfort has been minor, even in the early days.  Now the incision is barely visible much less notable.

My respiratory issues that were aggravated during the procedure are gradually improving.  I have been increasingly active –  doing my daily aerobic and treadmill workouts (increasing duaration and intensity), getting fresh air, getting adequate sleep.   And, as usual.. staying on top of my typical health routines – inhalers, lung clearing, sinus flush, deep breathing, vitamins (B12, D3, Lutein) and collagen supplements.

I am truly fortunate to be retired and have the time I needed for this recovery.   I am also truly fortunate to have a caring husband  who has been with me and been  an active participant in my recovery.

And of course,  the best in all of this is that my surgery, long anticipated, is now BEHIND ME! My hernia repair has been done successfully and no doubt permanently, AND I am ready to go out shopping for some real jeans and fitted dress pants. 👖

My ray of sunshine for the day. 🌞

Today, it is one month until I complete the first four years of my Health and Wellness Journey!

I am ready to move forward.  Success and setbacks will both be a part of this journey.  Chronic lung issues will play a part in how far I will go and how I will get there.   But,  I  move forward with hope,  faith, excitement and  anticipation. 😉

I choose to believe in magic wherever I go!

January 12th – Day 11 of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

A  short and late post for today.  Yesterday I was quite sedentary, by my standards.  

Today, I have been struggling with severe  congestion since I got up.  (It’s a process🤦‍♀️) But,  I have been relatively active all day, so hopefully that will help relieve the congestion.

This morning I followed my basic morning routine before Dan and I got down to some serious kitchen cleaning.  Dan moved the stove so we could clean under and around it.   Then, I pulled everything out of a couple of cupboards and drawers, washed them down, tossed out an assortment of  containers, jars, etc.  and finally replaced everything in a more orderly fashion.

There are more items we could easily live without,  but even if we have no use for them,  you never know when somone else  might need  ice cube trays, coffee filters, lunch containers…

Dan vacuumed and took out the garbage, while I finished up the kitchen.  Then he was off to run an errand.

I had a light lunch, trimmed my nails, had a real bath (the first in four weeks since I was allowed only showers following my surgery), did my hair, and completed an aerobic workout.

Dan brought home DQ burgers, chicken strips, fries and onion rings for an early supper.   As soon as that settles, I will hit our treadmill for thirty minutes. 🙂

Yesterday, I completed my first flowerish effort.

Things may not looking great for my 2026 Daily Activity Journal so far, but I am just getting started! I have eleven and a half months to make this my best year ever! 👍

January 7th – Day 6 of My 2026 Daily Activity Journal

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2026, Health and Fitness

Today is a new day and a new opportunity to step up to transcend my previous limitations!

Yesterday went well.  I did my morning aerobics.  I put more focus and effort into each movement.  I felt it for sure,  but I also felt a greater  sense of accomplishment when I was done. 

I met my weekly goal by getting out and about with a visit to Northgate Mall.  Dan drove me and joined me for lunch at the food court.  I had an amazing Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Pork Salad from  Hung’s Happy Kitchen. 

After lunch, Dan left to get gas while I checked out the mall and a few of the shops.  I stopped at the Dollar Store to visit  their Christmas/Valentine/Easter displays.  I did a tour of Fabricland (which was the busiest outlet in the mall).  I checked out the Safeway Store, where there seemed to be more clerks than customers.  And for old time sake, I checked out the kiddie rides.  Twenty years ago, Rory would have loved that dozer!

It is unfortunate how many shops in this mall have closed down.  The place is half deserted.  I’m not sure why.  There are three other major malls in the city that seem to thrive despite the arrival of bigbox stores.

Northgate has a special place in my heart.  I was living across the street from it when I met Dan.  We worked together for eight months before our first date.  We went to a movie.  I chose the movie.  “The English Patient”. 🤦‍♀️ 

Surprisingly, we had a second date.  He came shopping with me to Northgate Safeway.  As a single mother of  three teenagers, working eighty hours a week, grocery shopping was a major event.  When my bill rang up at $250.00 (1997),   Dan asked me how long it had been since I had gone shopping.  

Two weeks later (right on schedule) we were back.  That time the bill rang in at $300.00.  Dan told me I couldn’t be in charge of grocery shopping anymore. 🤣

Dan has been doing our shopping ever since.  He buys in bulk, he checks fliers, and instore sales. He compares brands and price per unit.  He examines eggs and meat, fresh vegetables and fruit.  He reads labels.  He is, no doubt, the better shopper. 

Back to yesterday… Dan returned to pick me up forty five minutes after he left to get gas.  We came home, had tea, and I did a light weight workout. 

Neither of us were hungry for supper, so we skipped that and went straight to our evening wind down. 

Dan watched verious televisoon programs and I took out the new crochet book that I got last week.

As far as flower patterns go, it leaves something to be desired, but it has a LOT of extremely helpful information for beginners or for someone (like me) who hasn’t crocheted for decades.

Winter evenings are problematic for me.  I am not much into television.  Playing mindless, repetitive games on my phone or the computer gets old fast.  And doom scrolling does nothing for my mental or/and emotional well being. 

I am looking forward to challenging my creative skills and talents! And crocheted flowers beats no flowers during our long Saskatchewan winter.

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 319 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 319 of my Daily Food Diary. 😁

I missed my  walk with Dan and Molly this morning.  That was partly because I was making bacon for our Sunday Brunch.  Mostly, it was our 100% humidity.  Molly was anxious to get on with it and I knew waiting was not going to make it any better.  The fog is here to stay today.

I did do a more thorough than usual kitchen clean up after we ate.  I have an ivy plant from Jen hanging in our kitchen window.  I finally gave it a trim the other day. 

This was an old picture.  It got WAY more out of control after that.  The window was obliterated.
After the trim. 🤭

Now that we actually have light coming in through the window, it is worth a bit more elbow grease to keep the kitchen shining. 🙄

There isn’t a lot more planned for today.  I want to do some reading and clock some time on the treadmill. 

Later, Dan will probably watch the Grey Cup game since the Saskatchewan  Roughriders are playing.   🏈

Daily Food Diary – Day 319

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(2) Eggo waffles (180)

(2) tsp butter (68)

(2) tsp maple syrup (104)

Snacks:

(10) Hint of Lime tortilla chips (250)

(3) tsp salsa (12)

(2) Black licorice twizzlers (45)

(60) Oz water

(1) gin & tonic (130)

Supper:

(1) Homemade nachos (865)

Total consumed calories: 1656

Total used calories: 311

(30) minutes (174)

(30) minutes walking (137)

Total net calories: 1345

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1345 = 137 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary –  Day 318 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 318 of my Daily Food Diary.   318 DAYS without a single miss! 🤩

Today, I am celebrating another non-scale victory.  This morning, I checked my blood pressure – 100/65.  I also checked my blood oxygen 95% and pulse 74 btm.  My scale fluctuates a few pounds every day, but today I weighed in at 122.6 pounds (normal for my 5′-1″).  All in all, not bad for my current age 70 yrs and 4 months. 😁

Yesterday, I received my latest Amazon order: 

Collagen drops for Molly (the jury is still out as to how they are helping her, but they obviously aren’t hurting and she seems to scratch less than she did)

A case for my new phone – It’s a teal wallet type that holds my bank cards, health card, driver’s license and the like.  It works for me – better than anything I could find here.  

And… pink earmuffs to keep my ears comfy, cozy on our Molly walks.

No, I did not know they would be that big and fluffy.   Also NO,  I will not care when it is 40 below and I am out plodding through the snow with Molly and Dan.

Daily Food Diary – Day 318

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(23) brown sugar shreddies (210)

(1/4) c 2% milk

Snacks:

(1) apple (95)

(1/4) c Planters dry roast peanuts (324)

(14) low salt chips (130)

(1) snickerdoodle (90)

(48) Oz water

Supper:

(1) sourdough bun (190)

(2) top butter (68)

(3) Oz mini steaks (200)

(1/8) c mushrooms (5)

(1/4) c onions (15)

(1) c airfield French fries (115)

(2) Belgium chocolate cookies (95)

Total consumed calories: 1579

Total used calories: 210

(30) minutes walking (137)

(30) minutes treadmill (73)

Total net calories: 1369

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1369 = 161 over 👎

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

For our grandson Logan who turns four years old today.  We have never met him, but we think of him and his brother, Dominic every day. 💝

Daily Food Diary – Day 310 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 310 of my Daily Food Diary! 💓

310 days, since I have been maintaining and posting my Daily Food Diary.   Every day,  for 310 days,  of being mindful of everything that I consume – and virtually 310 days of thinking that I could and should be doing better. 

But today I realized how different things would feel if I had a Daily Food Diary from  last year to use as a comparison. 😳

1. I do not drink enough water – but I drink a lot more than I drank in the past.

2. I still drink an occasional soda.  I have probably averaged one each month this year. Last year… Probably at least 4 each week.

3. I still have a snack most days – depending on what I have for breakfast. I used to mindlessly snack from morning to night.

4. A snack used to often be regular or seasoned  potato chips – now virtually all of our chips are lightly salted – as is our bacon, broth, and anything that we season as we cook.

5. I used to snack in the evening – especially when Dan was out.  Industrial sized snacks – a bag of popcorn, toffee by the handful, big bowls of icecream with unlimited toppings, cookies, the occasional cake…. Now,  I do not snack in the evenings.

Setting myself up for Dart Night (pre Food Diary) 🙄

6. I used to eat at least a couple of FULL servings every night, cooked with butter, seasoned with lots of salt, unlimited cheese.. Now my meals are generally one reasonable serving cooked in olive oil – light on the salt and cheese.

7. Take out or eat out used to be a regular thing – Chinese, KFC, Taco Time, Arby’s, steak & lobster on special occasions.  Now we have take out, Arby’s, Taco Time, or DQ once every couple of weeks – maybe!

There are more changes that I/we have made in the past year.   Being mindful of what I eat, has influenced what we eat and what Dan buys (since he does the shopping in our house).

Improvements can,  and may eventually,  be made to our daily diet.  But today I’m feeling pretty good about how far we have come! 😊

Daily Food Diary – Day 310

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(2) crumpets (160)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(1) tbsp raspberry jam (50)

Lunch:

(2) chicken drumsticks (152)

(2/3) scalloped potatoes (150)

Snacks:

(3) mini chocolate treats (120)

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(1 1/2) c Herb & Butter Sidekicks (240)

(3) sticks souvlaki (345)

(1) c broccoli & cauliflower (55)

(1) tsp butter (34)

Total consumed calories: 1382

Total used calories: 183

(30) min treadmill (73)

(1) hr food prep/cooking/cleanup (110)

Total net calories: 1199

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1199 = 9 under 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 307 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 307 of my Daily Food Diary. 🌟

For the past couple of weeks, I have been struggling with environmental allergies.   This week, I finally decided that I am better off dealing with the consequences of the allergies than the side effects of the anti histamines I have tried.

This week’s ‘alternative medicine’.

Quercetin: long-term relief, mast cell stabilizer, anti-inflammatory, reduces release of histamines

Face mask: moisturize, reduces effect of watering eyes and runny nose

Cucumber: (not shown) peel and slice, place on eyes to reduce burning

Two Sisters Lip balm: Beef Tallow lip balm used to sooth dry, cracked lips caused by constantly wiping nose with tissues

Local Raw Honey: helps build immunity to seasonal allergies, soothes throat and cough caused by post nasal drip, antioxidant

H20 : Keep hydrated, flush out allergens and histamines.

Aerobika: device used to clear mucus in lungs due to post nasal drip aggravating bronchiectasis

Black licorice: a health risk if consumed in quantity or for an extended period of time – check warnings!  Contains glycyrrhizin which is anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

I am feeling better so far.  Yesterday, I took Molly for another solo walk.  Getting out in  the fresh air helps and she gets easier to handle all the time.  I’m not sure if I am getting stronger or if she is just getting better. 🤷

In the afternoon, I was able to do my aerobics and treadmill.   I am happy with how much easier the treadmill sessions are getting for me.  I keep upping the speed, but still able to finish the session!

Today,  I am going to do another treadmill session and a light weight/cardio session.  I’m still using the right pound weights but happy to be crushing them!

Daily Food Diary – Day 307

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) granola bar (160)

Lunch:

(1) enchilada (194)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(12) oz 7 up (140)

(3) black licorice Twizzlers (68)

(1) tbsp raw local honey (40)

Supper:

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

(2) tbsp horsey sauce (120)

(1) Gravy (35)

(1) sm crinkle cut fries (390)

(2) cheese sticks (220)

Total consumed calories: 1569

Total used calories: (358)

(30) min walking (104)

(30) min aerobics (174)

(30) min treadmill (80)

Total net calories: 1211

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1211 = 3 over 👎

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 305 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Today is Day 305 of my Daily Food Diary.  Sixty more days and I will have successfully completed one full year of mindful eating via tracking and posting everything I consume- one day at a time.  🤗

This challenge has been less about losing weight than anything.  It has been about eating better – cutting back on salt and  sugar, increasing more natural and less processed foods and identifying foods that have been causing digestive issues for as long as I could remember.

For decades, I dealt with bloating, severe abdominal cramps, chronic diarrhea, heartburn, and oddly enough hiccups.

Doctors sent me for ultrasounds, cat scans, blood tests, and a surgery for an epigastric hernia.  I was given prescription strength medication for excess stomach acid.

At one point, I suggested an allergy test for yeast.  Despite the fact that my daughter had tested positive for a yeast allergy I was told that there was no such thing.  I was sent for a blood test for celiac disease, because it was probably a gluten intolerance.  It wasn’t.

Finally, I took it upon myself to eliminate yeast from my diet.   Amazingly, to everyone but me, my digestive issues disappeared with the yeast in my diet.  

I have no idea why doctors are so averse to allergy testing in this province – or why we have virtually no allergy specialists.

I do know that being allergic to yeast is a thing.  A bad thing.   And I know it is a thing that other people are still struggling with and still being misled about.  When my granddaughter met with a potential family physician recently she told him about her digestive issues and her family history of yeast allergy.  She was told there is no such thing.  🤦  Fortunately, she does know better.

Sometimes it’s not that obvious.

It’s not just that yeast is an allergen, it is also used as an additive to foods where no one would expect it to be found – from prepared meat sauce to powdered egg whites (plus anything made using such products).  

And being a fungus, yeast is a relative to many other fungi that can cause issues – mold, mildew, mushrooms, foods that are susceptible to mold and mildew, anything that is pickled or fermented…

Plus anyone who is allergic to yeast is also sensitive to any form of  processed or natural sugar,  which yeast feeds on.

It is complicated and one of the reasons  I have ultimately become proactive about my health.   Every body is different.  Even if multiple doctors cannot diagnose an issue it does not mean that there isn’t one – or that it cannot be dealt with.  

Daily Food Diary – Day 305

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2)

(1) c Jordans Morning Crisp cereal (333)

(1/4)  c milk (28)

Snacks:

(1/4) c peanuts (162)

(1/4) c corn nuts (132)

(3) Black Licorice Twizzlers (68)

(3) mini chocolate treats (100)

(48) oz water

Supper:

(3) c garden salad (190)

(2) tbsp French Dressing (146)

(3) oz pork tenderloin (206)

Total consumed calories: 1367

Total used calories: 174

(30) min aerobics (174)

Total net calories: 1193

Net calories goal: 1208 – 1193 = 16 under 👍

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