Tag: #self worth

Daily Food Diary – Day 96 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 96 Days since I started my Daily Food Diary, making mindful eating a  part of my daily  Health and Fitness Lifestyle.

This month, I am tracking, and working to minimize,  the sodium and processed sugar I consume, while continuing to note my calorie count.

At the bottom of today’s diary entry, it is obvious that yesterday was a major fail looking at my calorie and sodium numbers. 

But, this diary isn’t  about how the numbers play out each day.  It is about finding issues with my diet  and making adjustments to improve it.

Last night for supper, I had a few  Lay’s Lightly Salted Chips.  So…  (1) Dan is going out of his way to look for lower  sodium alternates for us.  AND ...  (2)  They weren’t bad.  The crunch was there! That was a win.

The Harvest hot dogs we had contained a shocking amount of sodium.  That was a fail. But, this morning I did a bit of research and found that if we switch back to Maple Leaf Top Dogs – regular or low salt – we can still enjoy the occasional hotdog without stroking out from the sodium content.  That’s a win.

There wasn’t really a win in the calorie column, but it is still good to  get a dose of reality once in a while.  Pasta and processed meats – not a winning combination.

Quite honestly, the Bran Muffin wasn’t much of a win either.  I don’t know if it was substituting high protein yogurt for the buttermilk or if it was because I kind of scorched the poor things, but they  have  the consistency and flavour of burnt golf balls.  Numbers be danged – for MY  birthday in July we are having a Co-op Salted Caramel Cake. 

Best Cake Ever!

96 days into my 365 Day Food Diary and I am still finding issues with my diet and working to  correct them.  That’s a win in my book.  As long as I keep learning and adjusting, it is worth doing for the full year.

Food Diary – Day 96

Breakfast:

(1) c Coffee (2) (4.7 mg)

(4) slices bacon (173) (739 mg)

(2) scrambled eggs (231) (168.7 mg)  (3.1 g)

(2) Potato Patties (240) (420mg)

Snacks:

(40) oz water

(1) Bran muffin (148) (264 mg) (14 g)

(2) tsp butter (69) (63.3 mg)

Supper:

(2) hotdogs (320) (1100 mg)

(1 1/2) c macaroni & cheese (320) (453.3 mg) (2 g)

(1) side salad with French dressing (176) (134 mg) (2.6 g)

(20) Lay’s lightly salted chips (112) (40 mg) (.4)

Total net calories: 1791

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1791 = 522 over 😳

Total Sodium: 3386.9 mg

Sodium goal: 1500 to 2300 mg 😳

Total Processed Sugar: 19 grams

Processed sugar goal: < 25 grams 👍

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 92 of 365 Days

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 92 Days since I began tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary.

This Food Diary, which I use as a tool to become more mindful of what I consume, began on January 1st. The date was more of a coincidence than anything.   This was not an  impulse New Years Resolution type of thing.   My  motivation began months earlier.

While I had never been particularly mindful of what I consumed in the past, I always thought that I had a fairly healthy, basic diet. Until…

Three years ago, I realized that consuming anything made with yeast was a major issue, causing severe digestive issues.  Dealing with that, made me take a better look at everything that I was eating.  Until…

Last summer, I experienced ‘sugar creep’ in a big way.  While I was blissfully unaware, I was adding more and more processed sugar to my diet.  It was a vicious cycle of  sugar highs, followed by lows, and back to the pantry for another sugar high. Until…

All of my digestive issues started coming back and my chronic lung issues flared up.  I finally looked at my diet – and there it was – mounds of processed sugar.  Cereals, deserts, toffee, candy covered nuts, store bought muffins, ice cream, soda….

By late September, I was enough of a wreck that I was ready to make a serious effort  to become  mindful of what I consumed on a daily basis and to make whatever adjustments  were needed.  

Ultimately, I decided that I would begin a Daily Food Diary on January 1st and finally that I would post it here, on my little blog, to help keep me accountable and committed for a  full year (by which time, mindful  eating will hopefully be a natural part of my health and wellness lifestyle) .  So, here I am at Day 92 and moving forward. 

Food Diary – Day 92

Breakfast:

(1) c coffee (2) (4.7)

(1) c Raisin Bran Crunch ((190) (210)

(1/4) c 2% milk (31) (28.7) (3.1)

Snacks:

(1) c Licorice Tea

(1) Mango (135)

(1/3) c Dill Pickle Peanuts & Smokehouse Almonds (298) (317) (2)

(32) oz water

Supper:

(4) oz beef burger  – ground beef, sour cream, diced onion, Mrs. Dash spice, mixed spice, olive oil. (332) (91.4)

(1/2) cup mushroom and onions pan fried in olive oil. (38) (4.8)

(11) Old Dutch Ripple Chips (130) (115)

(1/2) c brown beans (130) (450) (8)

Total Net Calories: 1106 👍

Calorie Goal: 1269 – 1106 = 163 under

Total Sodium: 1231.2 mg 👍

Sodium Goal: 1500 – 2300 mg

Total Processed Sugar:  33.1 grams 😳

Processed sugar goal: 25 grams

* Note to self… read the entire label before buying ‘ healthy cereal’ and find a recipe for home made brown beans that have minimal added sugar. 

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 87 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

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! 😊❤️

A younger Genie at Waterfall Park 💞

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 83 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It has been 83 days since I began keeping and posting my Daily Food Diary.   It has been 3 years and 10 days since I began my health and fitness lifestyle.

Nowadays,   I keep plugging along with my efforts, always with a quiet appreciation for how far I have come and how many benefits I have received from living a healthier more active life.

Then there are days like yesterday! While I have washed our Jeep on occasion, it is generally one of those chores that Dan handles.  Yesterday, I decided it was my turn. 

I headed down to a self-serve carwash ready to do battle.   Half an hour later, I was heading home with a sparkly clean Jeep.  Not only did I do a great job, best job ever – but there was no battle.  I sprayed the pre-soak, used the foamy brush to scrub down the Jeep top to bottom, sprayed it all down with more soapy spray, and gave it a thorough rinse.  

I came home, did my aerobic workout, had a granola bar AND headed down to Wascana Lake for a walk with Dan and Molly.

There was a time (3 years ago) when I thought that being a flabby, clumsy old  wimp, that having asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis, that being sick and weak and miserable, that struggling every day was who I was.  

It was.   But three years later,  I am stronger and happier and healthier than I ever could have imagined.  And some days that is just so beyond  exciting!   😁

Daily Food Diary – Day 83

Breakfast:

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

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

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

Lunch:

(24) oz water

(1) Granola Bar (160) (3)

Snacks:

(1) c green tea

(25) Lay’s Classic Potato Chips(160) (2)

Supper:

(1) c white rice (242) (4.4)

(2) tbsp soya sauce (30) (2)

(3) sm. Chicken drumsticks(300) (30.5)

(1) tsp olive oil (40)

(10) asparagus spears (33) (3.6)

(1) tsp butter (34)

(5) pcs cucumber (4) (.2)

(1/2) med. Tomato (11) (.5)

Total Calories: 1237

Less 126 Calories for 30 min. aerobics

Less 85 Calories for 37 min walking

Net Calories: 1026

Daily net calorie goal 1269 calories

1269 – 1026 =  243 calories under for the day

Total Protein: 51.2 Grams

Protein goal for per day: 46 to 58.5 grams per day

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

Happy Birthday to our newest teenager PrimRose! We love you and wish the best for you – ALWAYS! 💞🎂

Daily Food Diary – Day 80 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am 80 days into my 365 day Daily Food Diary.  There’s only 285 more days to go before I will have to find something else to do first thing every morning.  With my hernia repair hopefully behind me, I am considering upping my daily activity by starting a 365 day Daily Workout Diary. 💪

Right now,  I am maintaining my morning aerobics.  I have been doing You Tube aerobic workouts for over two years now.  While the results have been subtle, they have been there.  I have lost +30 pounds, toned up my body, improved my lung function and  increased my stamina.  I have also  noticed a major improvement in my flexibility and balance – two things that are of major importance as I will soon be in my seventies.  Being able to move forward easily and confidently, is a huge win!

Dan, Molly, and I have also been out doing more walking, with the official arrival of spring this week.  I love walking and  spending dedicated time with Dan and Molly. 

I am looking forward to getting back to more strength training, once my repair is done.  Working with weights – even light weights is important to maintaining muscle and bones.  

I am still looking at  moving outside of my comfort zone and trying some of the  professional workout facilities around the city.   We have a variety of gyms, indoor tracks, climbing walls, trampoline parks… and more.  A Daily Workout Diary – especially one that I posted on here – would definitely give me the incentive to get out and do it.   Hmmm…

Daily Food Diary – Day 80

Breakfast:

1 c coffee (2) (.3)

1 c Cheerios (147) (2.7)

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

Snacks:

(2) pc Matrimonial Cake (278) (2)

(1) c Licorice Tea

(1/2) c Sunflower Seeds -inc shell (120) (4)

(26) oz water

Supper:

(4) oz Drake Sausage (380) (32)

(1/2) c Sauerkraut (20)

(7) Cheemo Pierogies (385) (10.5)

(1) tbsp Butter (103) (.1)

(1) med. Onion (46) (1.4)

(2) tbsp onion chip dip (45) (2)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total Calories:  1557

Total Protein: 57 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 78 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I am 78 DAYS in and still showing up every morning to post my Daily Food Diary.  It is a small, simple act,  but it is becoming an important part of starting my day on the right track.  Every morning, I commit  to being accountable for my health and wellness.

It is not just about my physical well-being.  My mental and emotional health, affect my physical health.  My lung issues are triggered by stress, so I  have been focussing on dialing it down. 

This cracked me up when it popped up on my Facebook feed the other day.  It’s funny because it’s true. 😂

Stress and anxiety have been an ongoing issue for my entire life.   I have dialed it down A LOT in the past few years, especially since I retired.  But it is still an issue.

I work on it before I go to sleep – listening to soothing music, guided meditations, or inspiring videos.  And I work on it in the morning – by setting my health and wellness as a priority – body, mind, and soul.  Because it doesn’t just happen.  We have to make it happen. 😉

Food Diary – Day 78

Breakfast:

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

(2) Potato Patties (240) (2)

(2) Eggs (160) (14)

(3) Slices back bacon (52) (12)

Snacks:

(1) c Cherry Trifle Tea

(1/2) pkg Popcorn (160) (2)

(1) pc Matrimonial Cake (139) (1)

(24) oz water

Supper:

(12) oz carbonated water

(1) porkchops (177) (26)

(1/2) pkg Ramen Noodles (190) (5)

(1) c broccoli (60) (9)

(1) tsp butter (34)

Total Calories: 1215

Total Protein: 71.3 grams

Protein goal per day: 46 to 58.5 grams

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 74 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

It is 74 days since I headed down this rabbit hole of tracking and posting everything I consume each day. 

Some days, I impress myself.  Some days, not so much!  Yesterday would be  ‘not so much’.

First off, there was the lack of any fruit and very little vegetables.  There was nothing in the fresh fruit or vegetable category.  I have noticed for the past three months that I haven’t been eating much fruit or vegetables – fresh or otherwise.  I do eat a lot of both in the summer but I am going to have to start working  on the other nine months of the year.

Second, this month I have been tracking my protein intake.  It is almost always higher than I would have thought.  Yesterday, I set a dubious record. I did a particularly intense aerobics workout yesterday morning  AND I went outside to get some fresh air yesterday afternoon. While I was outside, I shovelled the snow off of all of our walks, broke up and cleared away some ice, and I did my deep breathing exercises to clear my lungs.  Maybe I needed all that protein? 🤔

I have made progress on the quality of my snacks.  I have cut back on potato chips and that Root Beer that has been sitting on the little table in the porch taunting me is still there.

I have decided  that in April  I am going to track my processed sugar consumption. A woman is supposed to limit her daily sugar consumption to 25 GRAMS.   With that Root Beer weighing in at a hefty 46 GRAMS, it might be sitting there until we go to stay with Lucas and Cason in a few weeks.   They are active enough to burn off a little extra sugar. 👍

Cason & Lucas with their big sister Gabby

Food Diary – Day 74

Breakfast

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

(1) c Shreddies (200) (6)

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

(1) tsp sugar (16)

Snack:

(1) c Lemon Ginger Tea

(24) oz water

Supper:

(10) chicken wing flats (425) (46)

(1) tbsp Extra Hot Frank’s Sauce

(3) Egg rolls (225) (3)

(4) Riblets (74) (12)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total Calories: 1356

Total Protein:  94 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 41 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

Good morning to yet another frigid day in Saskatchewan!  I feel for those who have to be out and about in this weather, life and business as usual. 🥶

I have three days remaining to Year Three of my health and fitness journey.  I am satisfied with how this past year has progressed.  While I will always have chronic lung issues – asthma, COPD, & bronchiectasis – I managed to dodge any infections this year requiring antibiotics and oral steroids. 👍 My mental and emotional health has become ever stronger along with my physical strength 👍 I have missed minimal morning aerobics (very minimal due to health issues). 👍 I lost another ten pounds this past year and toned up noticeably. 👍 My life continues  to get easier as I grow progressively stronger! 🤗

I am ending this year on one frustrating note.  My strength and cardio training has been on hold for the past few weeks due to issues with my epigastric hernia.  I have an appointment with a surgeon in a couple of weeks to discuss repairing the repair that I had done three years ago.  In the meantime, I am being cautious.  I have enjoyed  getting out and walking with Dan and Molly in lieu of more strenuous workouts, but on the minus forty days that is not an option.

Molly keeping otherwise occupied on another minus 40C  day.

Food Diary – Day 41

(1) c coffee (1)

(1) Denver (no toast) (2) eggs/ ham/onions (260)

(2) Potato patties (240)

(24) oz water

(1) Mango (202)

(2) cookies (146)

(1) c tea (1)

(1) 6 oz pork chop (283)

(1) c white rice (206)

(1) c broccoli & cauliflower with butter (89)

(6) Large olives (30)

(12) oz carbonated water

Total calories: 1458

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

Daily Food Diary – Day 25 of 365

by annemariedemyen, posted in 2025, Health and Fitness

I’m still here and I am not looking to abandon my food diary until my 365 days are done.   🥶🐣🌹🍂. (For my son who appreciates my use of emojis. 😂)

Speaking of appreciation, in a few days  (February 14th) I will be celebrating three years since I began this health and fitness journey that I am on.

During these years I have appreciated having  the support and encouragement of a number of people – my husband Dan (who always supports and believes in me), my family (siblings, nieces, children, and grandchildren), my fitness friends and so much more, Jackie and Dwight (who are a part of my life every day and my motivation to keep going especially when life throws me a curveball), everyone on WordPress who has been SO supportive (those who have been with me from the beginning, those who have joined me since, and those that have passed through and left a kindly word), my friends (who check in on me through Facebook), my medical experts (especially Lara my Nurse Practitioner and Katie my respiratory therapist) and last, but not least, ME.

I am almost in awe of the me that I was three years ago.  That me was exhausted and cold and miserable, that me struggled to breathe and experienced heart palpitations every time she got up from her rocking chair, that me was anxious and unhappy, that  me was fat and flabby and bloated – but THAT ME decided I deserved better and made it her mission to take responsibility for MY health, fitness, and future.   That me could not possibly imagine how her decision would change me or the quality of life.   But she did it – she got up and danced (shuffled) through one little Buddy Holly song and she changed my life.

The last three years have not always been smooth or easy.  I broke my arm, experienced health issues, and had other setbacks,  but the me that was has persevered and now my future self is calling me forward.   That is pretty cool and something that I never fail to appreciate. ☺️

Food Diary – Day 25

(1) c coffee

(1/2) grapefruit with sugar

(1) granola bar

(24) oz water

(1) c tea

(1/2) sm bowl Frito Hoops

(24) oz water

(2/3) 10″ tortilla crust pizza with ham, back bacon, pepperoni, mushroom, red onion, red pepper, and black olive pizza

(2) chocolates

(1) c tea

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