These are a few of my favorite things about food, fitness & life in Houston

I read a lot of healthy living blogs, and it’s always fun to see what people are eating, what they’re wearing, and what they like and don’t like. I have gotten many recipe ideas and fitness tips from reading about other people's healthy living adventures. Here are a few of my favorite things about food, fitness and life in Houston.

Food:

My favorite breakfast cereal: For many years before I ever found fit blogs, I swore by Fiber One. I still love it and always mix it with other cereals. It has 60 calories, 1 gram fat and 14 grams of fiber per half cup serving. That’s a lot of fiber — more than half of what you need in one day. It’s great with any Kashi cereal (my favorites are Heart to Heart, Go Lean Crunch and Cinnamon Harvest) or mixed with cottage cheese for a snack. Also great to grind up and use as breading for baked chicken.

My favorite pre-major workout breakfast (especially before a run or race): Two slices whole wheat toast with peanut butter and a banana. My favorite peanut butter is Peanut Butter & Co. Mighty Maple. Its stats are similar to other peanut butters (two tablespoons has 180 calories, 6 grams protein, 14 grams fat), but the ingredient list is very short without hydrogenated oils or added sugar. Try this one out, the maple flavor is delicious.

My favorite Houston restaurant to celebrate a great run/race: Stone Mill Bakers on Westheimer. They always have great samples of generous sizes. Their breads are delicious, and I have a weakness for carbs. I like their turkey avocado sandwich on honey whole wheat best. And you must eat a cookie too. Yum. I also like turkey sandwiches from Brown Bag Deli and Picnic. The bread really makes a sandwich.

My favorite ingredient of the season: This year, I am experimenting with fall flavors like pumpkin and squash. Canned pumpkin is great to mix into oatmeal or cereal with yogurt, and squash is so versatile as a side dish or blended into a smoothie or soup. Both can be sweet or savory, making it a perfect seasonal ingredient.

Fitness:

My favorite clothes for a workout: Lululemon has great exercise gear. Their clothes are stylish and fit well for both men and women. They have great colors, fabrics, and the staff are always so kind and knowledgeable. I specifically love the Scoop Neck Top. I also love their Groove Pants for winter outdoor exercise and lounging around any time of the year. I also wear Nike Tempo Track Shorts to the gym anytime of the year. Can’t get enough of these shorts.

My favorite workout accessory on my wish-list: I am currently lusting over Garmin’s FR 60 and 210 models. The 210 debuted at the Chicago Marathon last weekend, and all Garmins keep track of heart rate, distance, calories, pace, time, etc. They are the mecca of the athletic watch, and many athletes are lost when not wearing one. I just want to know how far I’ve gone when I leave my house, and knowing your heart rate during various activities can be helpful too. They are quite pricey — make sure you're committed to using it before you think about buying one.

My favorite songs to keep me going while exercising: I love music from Glee for exercise. It is upbeat, fun, and fast. Currently, I like "Telephone" by the cast, "Stronger" by Kanye West, "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, and "Vogue" by the cast.

Houston is a great town for health and fitness, especially with weather like this! There are so many gyms, racing clubs, yoga studios, farmers' markets, and restaurants to try that you could be busy for a long time. There's no need to eat the same things day after day and do the same circuit at the gym when our city has so many activities. And did I mention great fall weather?

What are your favorite things for these categories?

Follow Marci Gilbert's quest for a healthier life at www.marcigilbert.com