March Recap and April Goals

March was such a difficult month.  Coping with my injury was harder than I would like to admit and it has become apparent that I need the running to keep me emotionally level.  My daughter has now started to tell me "No Screaming, mommy" shortly after she says hello.  Luckily my bark is worse than my bite...but I have got to get myself recovered because I hate hearing that in her sweet little voice.  Biking just doesn't have the same effect on me as running does.

But injury notwithstanding, I did okay this month. I lost a couple of pounds despite so much downtime. I tried to come in below my calories on My Fitness Pal more days than I went over.  I still got in a fair number of workouts - here's my calendar to prove it

And now, with just over a month to go to Vancouver - I am ready for a kick-ass April!  I want to ramp up my efforts and really get serious about blasting off the last of my weight.

So - for starters - I am going to do Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans' Kick Ass April plan and am encouraging people to join me.  I figure if I can't do around 5 minutes of 3 little exercises 6 days a week - then I have bigger problems than I think...are you with me?

I am also going to make a concerted effort at meal planning this month.  Now that I am taking part in the Ready for Summer Challenge - I need to get serious about my eating.  And my portions. I've been on the challenge for a week now and it's been tough.  I haven't really felt like I was actively working toward my goals - though I know that recovering from my injury was in support of them.  New month, new motivation...I am ready to forge full speed ahead.

The highlighted items are the things I can make ahead on Sundays.  This is an experiment to see how well this kind of monthly planning will work for us.  I'm not a very adventurous "chef" so this is all about quick and easy.  and Breakfast and Lunch are just mine - the fam eats quite differently from me on those meals.

Note: anything that looks like it says meat - it's a veg equivalent.

And then there are the side goals:

• Still no buying books.  I did cave on a few in March...but am really trying to work my way through what I already have.  A couple just couldn't wait.
• Yoga - find a good regimen that I can fit into my life and workouts.  Still looking forward to my Yoga for Runners DVD arriving, but am also interested in any recommendations for Yin Yoga DVDs.  I need to slow myself down and hold the poses a long time.
• One of my new years resolutions has been getting abandoned so far...the writing one.  This month I will make time to write for at least an hour each week. 
• Run the Spring Trio 15K - registered
• I would like to be in the low 160s by the end of April.   Gotta get real to make it happen...

Do you set monthly goals?  What are your goals for April?  Have you ever planned your meals out a month in advance? (if so how hard was it to stick to?) Are you going to do the Kick Ass Challenge with me?