5K..say whaaaaaaaaaaaaat???!!!!????

That's right friends, I have signed up for my very first (er, second) 5K. I did a 5K waaaaaay back in the day when I was approximately 11, 12 or 13 years old. I can't even remember it's been so long!

On July 15th, I will be heading to Fifth Third Field and joining thousands of other runners, walkers and "get healthy" enthusiasts along with this guy

                        

When I registered, I thought I was just going to be able to cross "finish a 5K" off my bucket list, but apparently you also score an awesome goodie bag that includes vouchers for FREE FRESH FIT subs from Subway, a custom Subway Dragons 5k dri-fit shirt, a Subway refillable jug, a Dragons hat, tickets to a Dragons game and more!

Not only do I get to run/walk this 5K with my best friend and significant other, but I also get to do it with a co-worker.

I've come a long way since April 24, the day I decided to take back my life. I've managed to push myself harder than I ever had, strengthen my lungs, and look and feel lighter - 13.6 pounds lighter, that is.

What more could a girl want...besides to shed some more pounds???!!!!???

This week started a new challenge for me. I accepted the challenge as a BzzAgent to Live Below the Line.

Live Below the Line is a campaign that challenges individuals and communities to eat and drink on just $1.50 per day for 5 days. By exposing participants to a glimpse of some of the daily difficulties experienced by the 1.4 billion people who live in extreme poverty every day, for everything, the campaign provides a unique window into understanding the realities of life for so many.
Through the insights gained over the 5 days, Live Below the Line is assembling a movement of people passionate about eradicating extreme poverty. Through partnerships with various charities, the campaign raises both awareness and critical funds.

This seemed perfect for me since I work for a non-profit organization and part of our mission statement is "...to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty...".

I encourage you all to check out Live Below the Line and to actually live on $1.50 a day.

On Monday, for dinner I had sauteed onions and green peppers, a medley of frozen vegetables on Tuesday and tonight I had a veggie sandwich.

I think it's really important that each one of us put ourselves in the shoes of poverty to really get a glimpse of what those 1.4 billion people in poverty go through each and everyday.

Working with low income, poverty stricken families has really taught me to never take what I have for granted and to truly be appreciative of whatever I do have.

I encourage all of you to take the challenge with me and to Live Below the Line until May 11th. Even if you don't think you can take the challenge this week, I hope you try it out for a week in the very near future.

And in case you are looking for a good, but cheap meal, try this recipe:

Pasta with Shredded Onions, Carrots and Garlic:

1 package of bow-tie pasta

1 tablespoon salt

3 carrots

1 tablespoon pepper

1 onion

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 cup canola oil

Peel the onion and finely chop. Peel the carrots and chop into half-inch long sections. Separate half a cup of canola oil and heat over high flame. Put onions into the oiled pan. After a minute, add chopped carrots. Let cook in covered pan until carrots are soft. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook pasta until al dente. Once pasta is cooked, add the other half cup of canola oil until pasta is coated. Add carrot and onion mix. Add garlic powder to taste.

I'll be eating this for dinner tomorrow but with GF penne pasta instead.

And if nothing else, thanks for the support!!!!! 

running

I'm not one to normally exercise...consistently, however, I am seeing results and loving it! In just NINE days I have lost 9.6 pounds. I thought it was longer than that, but I didn't start counting calories and really exercising until April 24! I keep pushing myself each and every time and I love challenging myself, feeling healthy, and looking thinnier. Working out does help that I now have some cute workout clothes and shoes to go along with it. I switch days between these two snazzy pairs of running shoes...

...and I love my workout clothes but just because I look cute when I start does NOT mean I look anything close to cute when I finish. I'm normally a hot, sweaty mess.

This past weekend, while Mark and I were out shopping for some new workout clothes, I picked up a pair of jean shorts that were a size smaller than what I normally wear. It may only be one size, but I think that's quite an accomplishment for being so new to the game.

I'm excited about my new journey!!