So, what are we eating? Well… I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m (as in, me, not everyone in my household) eating a TON of brussel sprouts. I have no idea what that’s all about but bring them on. I think prior to this winter I’d had them once in my life and that was as an adult. Now, I probably have them 2-3 times a week. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone though. I pinned this on Pinterest the other day and within 30 minutes at least 15 other people had repinned it. I mean, they’re brussel sprouts people. OK, but they do have bacon… But bring on the sprouts: more brussel sprouts and this one I’ve made no less than 20x this winter (OK, maybe 10 but it lasts for days and I eat it for lunch a lot). And then Saturday night we went out for dinner and this was the special salad/app and holy cow, it was superb. Brussel sprouts now just have a permanent spot on my list. (For the record, Paul who is CRAZY picky, thinks that the BS aren’t so bad if they’re shaved/thinly sliced.)

Another favorite site of mine is Gina’s over at Skinny Taste. If you’re watching what you eat and/or are on Weight Watchers, this is the lady for you. All of her recipes have points included and all the nutritional info. This is a recipe that I’ve made several times and just love. It’s very comfy-food-ish and makes for great leftovers. I find that if there are recipes you like but ingredients you aren’t crazy about, change them up. I’m not a fan of broccoli rabe so I subbed it out for regular broccoli and this was great. The crockpot is one of my favorite inventions of all time. I love throwing everything together in the morning and voila, dinner is ready hours later. Oh, and the house smells great! This is another favorite in our house.

I’m also a fairly consistent breakfast eater – as in I eat the same thing most days. I either have a bowl of oatmeal (NEVER the instant stuff from the packet) using almond milk, peanut butter, dried cranberries, and fresh apples or an egg salad. I can’t lie, the egg salad is one of my favorite things. It takes a little longer than my oatmeal so I don’t usually make it on days when I’m rushing to get out the door. But this can be made with so many variations. I’m on a spinach kick of late so I make this with spinach, I add some cheese, I use olive oil as a drizzle over the entire thing and some days I may mix up a crusty country bread for some quinoa or other whole grain. I find this to be as filling as the oatmeal and I love that I’m getting veggies in first thing in the morning.

But I’m always looking for new ideas. So tell me, what are some of your staples? Your favorite things to eat? I do try and find something I think the kids will like too but honestly, if they don’t, oh well. No reason why I can’t have things I really enjoy while introducing my family to new and delicious tastes.

So a few weeks ago I started to research 1/2 marathons in the spring. Again, I was looking at “exoctic” locations but it turns out those same exoctic locations still cost money. And, I felt like some of them were too soon, they didn’t really give me enough time to train. I then stumbled across the website for the Zooma Half which is just north of here at the end of April. AND, it’s all women!!!  Bingo! Local, inexpensive, the end of April, no men ZOOMING by me as I stumble up some hill – seems like the perfect trifecta of thingsto get me going. AND THEN, I was contacted by Zooma and they asked me if I’d like to be a Zooma Coordinator – and VOILA! A race (for me) is born!

Now I’m committed and I’d love for you to run with me!!  The race is April 22nd and there’s a 5k option as well.  AND, I have discount codes!! Who doesn’t love a discount???  (The discount is good for $10 off the half and $5 off the 5K.) What do you say?  This is a run for all levels and trust me, I’m no speed demon who’s ever run more than a 10k before. If I can do this, so can you. Oh, and there’s a meetup on Saturday the 28th to run and meet other participants. So if you’re interested but aren’t completely sure, come to the meet up!!!

You can register here:  http://zoomarun.com/atlanta/atlanta-registration/ and the discount code is: ATLCON4

*This is a sponsored post. The fine folks at Zooma are paying my entry and giving me schwag, like a free car and a pony. OK, they aren’t doing all that but it’s still sponsored.

• End of April, 1/2 marathon – more to come on this
• End of May, participate in the 10th Anniversary of Action Cycling 200. I expect to only ride maybe 50 miles a day but we’ll see what happens between the 1/2 marathon and the ride.
• July 4th – Peachtree Road Race 10K. I’d like to better my time on this by at least 15 minutes and do it all without stopping.

Three goals. If I can stick with it, those goals will carry me through the beginning of July. From there I can come up with a second half of the year goal. But I think it’s doable. I know it is. I would like to intersperse all that cardio with some weight training as well. I bought some Living Social package deal for a gym and have been going to body pump. I don’t love it but damn I’m sore so I know it has to be doing something for me. I’m hoping for 5 days a week of some kind of activity. Keep it moving and keep in shape. And keep it honest.

I’m tired just thinking about it. But I’m fired up. I have a goal to work towards and assuming my almost-40-year-old body doesn’t fall apart between now and then, i would hope to be in kick ass shape!

But it’s not like this is the first time I, or anyone else, has hurt themselves working out. Earlier in the year I was doing a Jillian DVD and I did something during some plank thing and jacked up my wrist. Bill hurt his knee training for a marathon. And just doing a search for “injury” on Another Mother Runner turns out TONS of results. Yet, here we all are, continuing to run and exercise and generally torture ourselves. And sometimes that torture actually results in a runners high or some crazy awesome endorphins running through our bodies, leaving us feeling invincible. Or at least like an athlete.

But then there’s the time you go to Old Navy to buy a skirt. You pick the size 6 off the shelf and take it home, not bothering to try it on in the store. And then you try it on. And it’s too big. Guess there’s something to this exercise, healthy living lifestyle.

For the record, I was dressed in something other than pajamas…