It's not an April Fools Joke, I swear!

So, did I tell the story of the missing sneakers on here? I think it was around mid-February when it began. I ran on the treadmill one morning, and took off my sneakers. The treadmill (and therefore, the sneakers) is in our house. The next day, I go to look for the sneakers and I can't find them. I didnt have time to look, so I just wore something else. The third day was a day to run, so i really needed them. I could.not.find them ANYWHERE. I mean, Over the course of the next MONTH I tore apart my house looking for them! I even put away stuff that had been out since December! (On the one hand, that's a good thing, on the other hand, I had obviously NOT wanted to put it all away, LOL!) B also searched high and low for them. People in our small group looked also. I finally give up and buy new sneakers. But because of Murphy's law, I wait a few more days to take the tags off the new sneakers. ( I was sure buying new sneakers would be the key to the old ones turning up!). No dice. I finally give up and walk with my new sneakers (which cost more and I didn't like NEARLY as much!). At this time it's mid- March.

Fast forward to two nights later when I go out with some girlfriends. God bless my husband, who is much neater than I am, he was cleaning/straightening the basement (it's finished, but we don't use it for more than working out) up while I was out.
I come home.
There, sitting on my stairs, my old sneakers sat! I was shocked! Apparently he had found them in between a pile of clean sheets that I had folded by the laundry room. (yes, I had CLEAN sheets, folded, but not put away, for over a month!)

So that whole story explains why I hadn't run for over a month. Then even after the sneakers were found, I still have my very inconsistent napper to deal with. So I wasn't really into exercising.

But now we have our new (FAB!) jogging stroller. It's a BOB revolution, and if you're in the market for a jogger, I highly recommend it. Anyway, so yesterday, I decided to take it for it's inaugural spin. After a month and a half off, I had no idea how long i could run for, or how far, pushing a jogger. I started out trying to make it (on the flat side) to the end of my street. I kept going. I did it again, then I did the hilly side and back! I ran for about 30 minutes and for about 2.7 miles (according to B)! I can't believe it. So here's hoping I can do it again tomorrow or Sunday.

I also ended up walking with my neighbor for a few miles in the afternoon yesterday, I'm a workout machine!

In other weight loss news, I thought I'd post some about what I'm eating. I'm a snacker, that's my downfall. I've found eating some of the following things satisfies my need to snack without sacrificing my diet.

• I found out microwave popcorn is TERRIBLE for you (even the fat free kind, they are all very chemically), so I've been popping my own on the stove for awhile now (so easy, no need to buy an air popper or anything!). I put a little "Molly McButter" on it to make it taste SUPER yummy. Popcorn is actually a great source of fiber and better for you than chips and whatnot if you make it like this. I find it to be filling and it's only a few points for a LOT of it!
  
• I love eating a few pretzels and dipping them in trader joe's bean dip. The bean dip is no points and super yum. And a bowl of pretzels is MUCH less than 7 or 8 tortilla chips! I use the pretzel trick for guacamole also.
• I also started eating the Laughing Cow light cheese wedges. TWO wedges is only 1.5 points. And with a few pretzels or reduced fat-wheat thins, this is a low point and filling snack!

Another downfall of mine is drinks. I love me some sweet drinks. I've banned soda (diet and otherwise) from the house, though we treat ourselves to a diet or regular drink when we are out and about. I sometimes will buy diet snapple to satisfy a craving, but I'm not wild about artificial sweeteners in everything (i use them in my coffee and try to limit it to that). But, I'll tell you what, it's easy to not drink em when we don't have any in the house! That's my main strategy. Now that it's warmer I've been getting Passion Tea at Starbucks because it's sweet without syrup or anything and I like it! I'll also make tea for myself at home (I like Harney and Son's Hot Cinnamon Spice) that is so flavorful I don't need to add anything (sometimes a little agave, but not even all the time).

It's so true that as you cut out some of those things, you crave them less. I really am enjoying my water, most of the time! And my milk at the end of the day! :)

Alright this is long enough and I want to get some downtime in before the wee one wakes from her nap!