Today is Sunday and my husband Dan is out picking up a few groceries. Yesterday, he did likewise. Yesterday, we even went through the fliers together before he went. I showed him that one store had bags of Halloween Candy on sale. One brand contained Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, Oh Henry’s, plus three types of candy that I wouldn’t eat, even if it was leftover. So.. relatively safe. Right?
He came home with three bags of Halloween candy – all the same – all with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups…..
Basically, I will have one full bag of Peanut Butter Cups and Oh Henry Bars if we get our typical handful of Trick and Treaters…
But it gets better. He hid them so I would not be sneaking any before Halloween (to save them for any possible Trick or Treaters). Great idea, EXCEPT…
He hid them behind a bag of potato chips. 😳
There was another bag of chips on this side of the Doritos, but still…
Between Thanksgiving and Halloween, this could be a rough month for my Daily Food Diary.
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😃💗
Oh, oh..Now look what he bought me while I was sitting here picking on him. Thank you, Dear… For ALWAYS doing the shopping and for always thinking of me and for buying me chocolate and flowers. 💞🤗
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! 💗😊
Our Monsoon Season has finally passed! I have no idea how much rain we received but it was A LOT and we missed the worst of it in our neighborhood.
Not only did we get an abundance of rain, but we also had thunder and lightning for the duration. Now that the sun has come out and the heat has been turned up, we can watch our grass grow and see our garden reverting to jungle status.
While we were confined to the Ark yesterday, I baked Apple Crisp – enough to share with Jen and her girls and Genie and Alec. I sent the biggest pan to Jen and the girls. Apparently, the girls are fans. There may not be much left for Jen by the time she is done with her current run of double shifts. 🙆
This is my very last day before getting back to my regular work out routine. I couldn’t be more excited to see how it goes tomorrow. I am feeling great and anxious to get back to it. 💪
Daily Food Diary:
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(3) PC Crumpets (240)
(3) tsp butter (103)
(1) tbsp jam (50)
(2) Slices bacon (87)
Snacks:
(1/2) c beef broth (5)
(36) oz water
(12) oz carbonated water
(1) c Lemon Ginger Tea
(12) Low sodium Lay’s chips (160)
Supper:
(1) Manwhich Sloppy Joe – w/sourdough bread, lean ground beef, cheese, Manwhich sauce, green pepper, onions (817)
(12) Lay’s low sodium chips (160)
(1) serving Apple Crisp (227)
Total calories consumed: 1851
Total calories used: 167
(1 1/2) hours cooking/food prep: 167
Total net calories: 1684
Net Calories Goal: 1851 – 1684 = 455 over 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day!
Today is Day 182 of sharing my Daily Food Diary. 🥰💃
This month, my focus is on COLLAGEN. Since I am celebrating my 70th birthday later this month, this focus was a natural for me. Most people recognize collagen for it’s role in skin and hair care – especially as we age.
But college affects far more that our skin and hair – as noted in this quotation taken from an online article posted by The Cleveland Clinic.
“Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It accounts for about 30% of your body’s total protein. Collagen is the primary building block of your body’s skin, muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments, and other connective tissues. It’s also found in your organs, blood vessels and intestinal lining.”
Collagen production tends to decrease as we age so this is naturally when most people start to notice it (or the lack thereof). Genetic conditions, such as Ehlers Danlos syndrome (some forms of which are life threatening), create collagen challenges from birth.
When collagen levels are inadequate to function as they should, all kinds of fun things can happen to make life interesting. There are the obvious wrinkles, thinning hair, and fragile nails. There are the unstable joints and weakened muscles which create mobility and dexterity issues. There are circulation and breathing issues as blood vessels and airways lose elasticity and stability. There is even vertigo caused by the weakness of the connective tissues that are supposed to be supporting the small bones in our inner ears. There is pain, often excruciating pain, from muscle cramps to migraines to intestinal issues and more. (Fortunately pain is something that seldom affects me, personally).
There is no magic pill or medical intervention available to ‘fix’ collagen synthesis deficiencies. For now, the only treatments available deal with managing the symptoms and the health issues caused by the collagen failure.
But, there is good news! A lifestyle focussed on exercise, diet, and stress management can do a lot to increase collagen production and efficiency in our bodies – especially if aging or benign collagen disorders is the root cause.
Since this blog is my Daily Food Diary, I will be highlighting foods that are rich in collagen and foods that support collagen synthesis within our bodies.
Because much of my Health and Wellness Journey, that I started three and a third years ago, involves fitness and stress management, I will be touching on them regularly as well – especially as they relate to collagen production and dealing with collagen deficiency issues.
Me and our dog Molly, who is aBIGpart of my fit & healthylifestyle.
The sun is shining and we are looking forward to having a good day – much of it spent outdoors in our yard and garden and of course taking Molly for a walk around the neighborhood.
Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours in the garden, working up one planter, planting more tomatoes, and watering my thriving little plants. I can’t believe how quickly these plants are getting established and growing to fit their environment.
They grow up so fast!
I also can’t believe how much stronger I am than I was three years ago. Before I started living my ‘healthier and fitter lifestyle’, everything was such a struggle. Yesterday, I was lifting five gallon pails of dirt, full (full size) watering cans, and using a garden fork to dig deep into packed earth. I was amazed at what I could do – and how easily it could be done!
This watering can used to be heavy even when it was empty. 🙄
I will always have compromised lungs. The damage from asthma, bronchiectasis, and COPD doesn’t go away. But, with being active, eating well, stress management, adequate rest, fresh air, and proper healthcare, I can have a quality of life I couldn’t imagine possible three years ago.
Daily Food Diary – Day 155
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2)
(1/2) grapefruit (39) (1 SVG)
(1/2) tsp sugar (8)
Lunch:
Ham & vegetable omelet:
(2) eggs (160)
(4) sl. Pillers shaved ham (54)
(1) tsp olive oil (40)
(1/4) c red pepper (12) (.5 SVG)
(2) green onions (16) (.5 SVG)
(5) lg. asparagus spears (16) (1 SVG)
Snacks:
(48) oz water
(3/4) c sliced strawberries (40) (1 SVG)
Supper:
Chicken salad:
(3) chicken thighs (360)
(1) tsp olive oil (40)
Vegetables – (2 1/2) c lettuce, (1) mini cucumber, (5) grape tomatoes, (2) green onions, (3) radishes, (1/4) c red pepper, (1/2) c cauliflower (125) (4 SVG)
(2) tsp sunflower seeds (33)
(3) tbsp dried onions (50)
(2) tbsp French Dressing (120)
(1) serving Apple Crisp (227) (1 SVG)
Total net calories: 1053
Net calorie goal: 1238 – 1053 = 185 under 👍
Total fruit & vegetable: 9 servings
Fruit & vegetable goal: 7 servings 👍
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💖😌
It is Day 153 since I began posting my Daily Food Diary. 🙌. It is amazing how fast this year is going – one day at a time. 🥳
Yesterday, was a very welcome smoke free day.
We were able to take Molly for a short walk over to the dogpark. Her friend Willy was there. They didn’t do a lot of running, but Molly did take one jog across the park when she noticed I was walking the perimeter checking for dog 💩. Willy took a leisurely stroll when he snatched Molly’s water bowl and tried to sneak off with it. 😂
Yesterday afternoon, I was finally able to get outside to do some yard and garden work.
My carnation plant is still waiting to go in the front yard flower bed.But Dan’s Bleeding Heart is continuing to thrive and I got pepper plants in yesterday.Meanwhile, Molly took another round out of my poor little watering can.
Today isn’t looking too promising. I was just outside and it appears the smoke is drifting back in. This could be a laundry and baking day.
Daily Food Diary – Day 153
Breakfast:
(1) Coffee (2)
(1) Granola bar (160)
Lunch:
(1) pear (103) (1 SVG)
(1) peach (51) (1 SVG)
(20) Doritos (255)
Snacks:
(2) mini cucumbers (60) (2 SVG)
(1) c licorice tea
(1) tsp honey (21)
(36) oz water
Supper:
(1.5) Svg. Homemade nachos with unsalted tortilla chips, ground beef with taco seasoning, red pepper, green onions, jalapenos, olives, shredded cheese (852) (2 SVG)
Total net calories:1219
Net calorie Goal: 1238 – 1219 = 19 under 👍
Total servings fruit & vegetable: 6
Fruit & vegetable goal: 7 👎
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 💞🌞
2021 Photo of the garden pond. I’m pretty sure that turtle riding gnome became one of Molly’s casualties. He disappeared a couple of years ago. 🙄
It is 87 Days since I started tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary. It is 30 plus years since I was diagnosed with, and began treatment for, asthma. It is 5 years since I was diagnosed, and began treatment for, bronchiectasis and COPD.
Over time, I have learned a few things.
First – Medications on their own (other than the antibiotics and oral steroids for acute infections) do little to manage respiratory disease.
Second – Respiratory disease can be managed with inhalers, exercise, breathing exercises, fresh air, diet, adequate hydration, stress management, and adequate quality sleep.
Third – Management of chronic respiratory disease is a personal responsibility. For me, this has included a lot of research and a lot of trial and error.
A few days ago, I joined a bronchiectasis group on Facebook. It has been validation of what I have learned and what I have done to live reasonably well with my respiratory issues.
I have also encountered some surprising information. A LOT of the posts I have read mention the connection between diet and respiratory health. I have seen general physicians, specialists, respiratory therapists, and a dietician (regarding general allergies). None have discussed this connection. None have mentioned the prevalence of food allergies – specifically a YEAST allergy. None have advised me to avoid sugar, processed foods, or dairy products. None have discussed proper hydration.
In Canada, we have a health care crisis. We have a shortage of doctors and healthcare workers. We have a shortage of health and long-term care facilities. We have a shortage of emergency and acute care facilities.
What is really disturbing to me, is that we have a shortage of critical information being passed on to people who are diagnosed with chronic respiratory issues. Information that would keep people out of emergency wards and healthcare facilities. Information and advice that we shouldn’t have to search out on social media. 🤦
Food Diary – Day 87
Breakfast:
(1) c coffee (2) (.3)
(3) crumpets (240) (6)
(2) tsp butter (68) (.1)
(2) tsp jam (33) (.1)
Snacks:
(1) c Tumeric Tea
(1/3) c bbq corn nuts (161) (2.8)
(6) candy coated mini choc. eggs (85) (2.5)
(30) oz water
Supper:
Taco Salad:
(200) grams ground chicken (260) (38)
(1/4) c shredded cheese (208) (13.2)
(2) c lettuce (12) (.9)
(1/2) med. Tomato (11) (.5)
(5) sl. Cucumber (4) (.2)
(1/4) c green onion (10) (1)
(1/2) c red pepper (23) (.7)
(3) green olives (22)
(3) tbsp salsa (15) (.7)
(6) Hint of Lime chips (150) (2)
Total calories: 1305
Less 106 calories – aerobics
Net Calories: 1199
Daily calorie goal 1269 – 1199 = 70 under
* Those candy coated chocolate eggs would have put me over my calorie goal for the day. Fortunately, I found that if I used regular salsa instead of Salsa Ranch Dressing on my Taco Salad, I could squeak out one more win. 😊🙌🙌🙌
Total Protein: 69.3 grams
Daily protein goal: 46 to 58.5 grams
That’s it for today. Take care and have a great day! 😊❤️
Seclusion 101 with AnneMarie 