This week, we asked runner and writer -- and occasional candy bar addict -- Dimity McDowell Davis how she stays fit. Davis is the co-author of Run Like A Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose your Family, Job or Sanity.

Q: Can you tell me about your exercise routine?

A: I try to exercise between five and six days a week. I can run three days a week, and that's all my body can handle. Right now, I'm really trying to reform my running stride, so I'm doing three 30-minute sessions a week; my brain hurts more than my quads do because I'm really thinking about the way I run. I've been injured off and on for three years, so I decided I needed to start from square one. I'm training for the New York City Marathon in the fall. I also like to ride my bike a lot, so I cycle outside one day and then I have a trainer -- a stand that holds the rear wheel -- so I can ride one day in the basement and work harder than just riding on the road.

I've also been training for a triathlon in August, so I've been swimming a little bit. I actually prefer triathlons to straight running because I think the cross-training benefits my body and makes me feel healthier. I like the variety of workouts, and that helps my mind. With swimming, I find it really helps to join a group because they set the workout and then you have someone to follow, which takes the pressure off you. You just have to get up and get in, and you can kind of go on autopilot. I also like to take bike rides with my kids. We hike and walk the dog, too.

Q: Does exercise feel like a chore?

A: A chore is probably too strong a word, but I definitely have motivation issues, and I think that's normal. I have to exercise in the morning, otherwise my day gets too busy and I can't get it done. My alarm goes off at 5:15am and I think, I don't want to do this. I hit snooze once or twice. Then, as I come to life in bed, I tell myself to get up because I'll feel better if I do. That's the internal dialogue I have every day. But I never regret getting up, even though it's not the easiest thing.

Q: Do you also make an effort to maintain a healthy diet?

A: Yes, definitely. But sometimes my intentions are better than my reality. It's really important for me to eat protein, especially in the morning. I've found a real difference if I have a bowl of yogurt with cereal and fruit in it or some scrambled eggs instead of waffles. I find that if I start the day like that, I eat better throughout the day.

I don't eat a ton of meat -- mostly because I don't know how to cook it very well -- so I stick to mostly vegetarian things, like a black bean salad that I eat way too many days in a row. I also eat a lot of peanut and almond butters. I'm bad at eating vegetables, but the best way I get them into to me is by making a big thing of low-maintenance spinach salad by buying those pre-washed mixes, adding some broccoli, peppers and blue cheese, sticking it in the fridge and then adding the dressing only when it's on the plate.

Q: What are your biggest obstacles to eating healthy?

A: My biggest obstacles to eating healthy are time and motivation. I've got two kids -- four and seven -- and they're picky, so I have a hard time getting them to eat the way my husband and I eat. What happens is that I make them a dinner and then I have to make our dinner, too. Last night I had a whole wheat bagel and almond butter because it's 100 degrees here and I had no interest in turning on a stove. We do eat pretty healthy, but I tend to rely on the same dishes every week -- veggie pizza, pasta with vegetables, veggie burgers and that black bean salad.

Q: Do you have any particular food weaknesses?

A: I don't even know where to start. I'm trying to get better, and a month ago I cut out Diet Coke because I can't pronounce any of the ingredients. I eat way too much sugar. I love licorice, any kind of cookies and ice cream sandwiches. I really try to stop buying them because my self-control is not admirable. When I go to the grocery store, it's important that I have a list so I don't just fill my cart with whatever looks good, but I'm not terribly rigid about it. I work from home, so if I'm having a blah day or I can't write, I will be in the stash of chocolate chips. It's hard not to. I also buy candy bars in the checkout lane.

Q: Do you feel guilty about indulging or do you feel justified because you exercise so much?

A: I feel mostly justified. I'm 6' 4" so I feel like I burn more calories just living than someone else. I have a little more space to spread things out. I try not to beat myself up or get obsessed about food. If I make brownies and eat half the pan, I'll feel really gross. But then I'll go for a run the next morning and it's done. I'm not going to stress about it.

As I've gotten older, I realize the effect food has on my body. When I was younger, I wasn't so in tune with it. I drank more than I do now and ate more crap. But now I feel the highs and lows I go through, especially with sugar, and it's not pleasant for anyone when I come crashing down after eating half a bag of licorice. I'm trying to be more conscious of that, but not to the point where I'm not going to let myself have it.