My newest guilty pleasure

I've signed up to be part of Shrinking Jeans's newest challenge, Shrink Yo'Self in 2012.  (Click the button here on the left to find out more about it!)  There's an assignment that comes with the challenge, and as I'm learning to become a dutiful student - thank you massively expensive college tuition - I shall accomplish aforementioned assignment.

The challenge lasts approximately eight weeks, until the 29th of February.  In those eight weeks, I know that it's unrealistic of me to want to lose all 30-odd pounds that I'd like to drop, but I would like to exercise enough that I am in relatively decent shape.  And by decent shape, I mean, I can exercise for a period of 30 minutes without feeling like dying.  I want to be able to at least jog half a mile without feeling like my lungs are inching up my throat and on fire.  I think, in eight weeks, I can acclimate my body to that.  I hope.

As far as the entirety of 2012, I'd like to have lost those 30 lbs by the end of the year.  I think that's realistic.  Being that today is the first, and we're looking at 366 days this year, that's less than one pound every ten days.  I think it can be done, if I stick to it.  I want to get to the gym at least once a week.  Part of my tax return, I plan to take $100 and invest in some training sessions with one of the trainers there.  (4 sessions for $100 and get the 5th free.)  I think by doing so, they can point me into a true direction, instead of the somewhat aimless efforts I've been making.  I want to get out of the house more with my kids, get to the park at least once if not twice a week, and not just sit on a bench while they run around.  I want to get out on my bike more often and try and get a good distance going on that.

I'd like to change my lifestyle to one where I'm not relying on comfort snacking to get me through a night of homework, or some boredom food to fill my hands while I watch one of my tv shows.  I want to have water to be the first thing I automatically reach for when I think of being thirsty.  If it takes 30 days to make a habit, I think, in 366 days, I can become good and set on drinking more water!

I have my friend Tammy to help me, and hold me accountable.  She'll be going to the gym with me at least twice a month - though hopefully more! - so we can work out together and hold each other to our goals!

I have discovered a very awesome and quick snack.  While unfortunately, it is not low in calories - the exact number of calories it has, I'm not sure, but I know that the orange juice alone in it has at least 300 calories - it is very quick, makes for a good breakfast or dinner/evening meal (or whatever), and is seriously delicious. I found it through another blogger - though I can't recall exactly who it was.  It's a homemade Orange Juilius.  To die for.  Truly amazing.  If you have one of those hand-blender type mixers - the one they have those infomercials for - one large cup is perfect to make these.

Homemade Orange Juilius
1/2 cup milk (whether you use 2%, 1%, skim, soy/etc... it's up to you.)
1/2 cup water
2 Tb sugar (I use sugar substitute to at least cut down somewhat)
1 tsp vanilla extract
4-5 ice cubes
6 oz orange juice concentrate

Stick it all in a blender and blend for about 5 minutes or until frothy.  Makes 2 servings.  (Though I always end up drinking the whole thing myself.  Maybe that's something else I should work on.  Break it up into two servings and give one to my son before he goes to school.)