I ran my first 5k in 2011 and I wish I could say I've been running ever since but that simply isn't the case. I was hooked on the endorphin high for a while until a herniated disc set me back. Over the course of the last few years various injuries have deterred me from earning that "runner" title that I am secretly a bit envious that some people have.
Therefore I admit:
I am not a runner.
I am not graceful or light on my feet.
I sound like a dying gazelle when sprinting
And I often mumble "suck it up" to myself when each foot forward feels like it should be my last
BUT I DO RUN AND WHEN I DO, I FEEL ALIVE (once I push past the "I'm dying phase")
AND THIS YEAR I AM RUNNING FOR A CAUSE - the RUN 10 FEED 10 event.
As a selected Women's Health Action Hero it is my HONOR to promote and support RUN 10 FEED 10 

"RUN 10 FEED 10 started in 2012 with the hope of raising money and awareness for the hunger problem in America. The concept was a simple one. RUN a 10K and FEED 10 hungry people in your hometown. Since the event has started, enough money to provide 4.5 million meals to Americans in need has been raised!"  In celebration of the fifth year anniversary, a 5k option has been added!

"Right now, 48 million Americans are going hungry
—they don’t know when they will get their next meal"
As a teacher, I see first hand how hunger impacts children.  More than half of my entire school receives free or reduced price lunch.  Some of my students admit that school lunch is one of the few meals they are guaranteed to have.  Hunger effects more than the body, but the brain and capacity to learn.  As an adult, the stress of having to decide to pay bills or buy food can be taxing,
but WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS REGISTER AND RUN
It is my GOAL to get 20 people to participate, help me reach my goal and beat hunger!

This year you have the option of a 10K or a 5k but ALSO the freedom to choose HOW you want to run

• FlagShip Event - NYC, Chicago, & San Fransico 
• Join a FUN Run in your community
• Run on YOUR Own - YOU choose the date, time, and even where
• Create a Fun Run - register with a group of friends and run together! (my goal is to do this

TO REGISTER TO RUN THE EVENT FOLLOW THIS LINK HERE:
​USE WHVESEY for 5 Dollars OFF or 10% Discount on Registration
http://run10feed10.com/ways-to-participate/ - select what TYPE of run you want to do
(I will be doing the run your own event - and running with a few friends in Fall) 

OR SUPPORT MY CAUSE AND DONATE BELOW:
​https://www.crowdrise.com/ambervesey1/fundraiser/ambervesey 

I love water. It's all I drink. 
Except, despite my love for H20, sometimes, I want something more.
That still has the crisp and refreshing thirst quenching qualities of water, but with some oomph added to it.  Lemon water has been my go to, or lime water, but there's no nutritional benefits or sweetness to these hydraterss....I really want something fruity, but most fruit waters or beverages are loaded with far too many fake ingredients or have way too loaded of a nutritional label for my liking.

Meet ProHydrate, About Time's newest thirst quenching, protein packed product:
Only 95 calories, 3 carbs, and 20 grams of protein with only six ingredients

• No artificial colors or ingredients
• Gluten Free
• Sweetened with Stevia
• Made with Whey Protein Isolate (but NOT milky or frothy!)

It's perfect for post-workout, but also anytime of day you need a pick me up or are feeling a bit hungry.
It's fresh, fruity, refreshing and ready to go protein!  I use it between meals when I'm on the go!

Currently, there's two fruity flavors to pick from:

• Raspberry Lemonade 

       (Lemonade with a hint of Raspberry Flavor)

• Orange Mango

       (A fruity fusion of both flavors - my favorite!)
BUT there's two more options coming down the pipeline:
Cherry Lime and Iced Tea

On the website, they are 3.99 each or a case of 12 can be bought for 39.99! BUT you can use my coupon code: amber25 for a 25% off discount!

Spring has already sprung, and with summer slowly coming towards us, this non-milky or frothy protein is "clear, crisp, and refreshing."  
Simply grab a bottle and go!  
PLUS you don't have to worry about the protein "going bad" or curdling in the heat of your car,bag, or backpack while you're out and about.

Don't just hydrate, PROhydrate

• Which flavor would YOU prefer?
• How would YOU Prohydrate?
• Whey in your Water? Thoughts?

HAPPY almost ACTIVE NATION DAY!
Before we start the celebration, I think it's important to know who Lorna Jane is, and why I so proudly stand behind her and her company.  After all, if you have not noticed, I don't associate myself or my blog with too many fitness websites/brands/etc. because most send the wrong message to women about what a healthy lifestyle is...

At first, fitness and healthy living was something I did for my body, and mainly for aesthetic reasons.  If I worked out and ate right, I looked "good."  I was healthy by text book definition, but it wasn't something I weaved into my everyday life or making me happier.  To be quite honest, I dreaded doing cardio and wished I could stop every single minute I was on the machine.  As my fitness journey moved forward and my chronic conditions sent me on a roller coaster ride these last few years, I began to do a lot of research on happiness, and how my mind was a muscle I could exercise as well.  I moved away from being so focused on fitness, but rather a healthy, happy and active lifestyle.  I embodied the mindset that being healthy went beyond the physical, but was emotional, mental, and spiritual as well, a delicate balance between these components that I had the power to control.  I began to shy away from any form of Social Media that promoted too heavily of a focus on working out excessively to "get bikini ready" and seeing food as calories to be counted rather than fuel for you body. 

Then, I stumbled upon Lorna Jane, a brand whose ideals were the same as the ones I was trying to shape for myself.  A brand whose mission was to "empower every woman to lead her best life through active living."

Lorna Jane's passion was to originally create fitness fashions that were unique and showcased inspiring designs.  Now, her inspiration goes beyond tank tops and cotton lycra blends but instead is the platform for a positive mindset for women to embrace, giving a "whole new meaning to staying fit and healthy."  Her belief is that staying fit and healthy is a "lifestyle that transcends the walls of the gym" and is what helped her create the Lorna Jane Philosophy: Move Nourish and Believe!  Move, focuses on fitness being fun and engaging, whatever your form of fitness is.  Nourish, treating your body with respect and giving it the nutrients and nourishment that it needs to help fuel that active lifestyle.  And my favorite, Believe: Inspiration and motivation to be the best version of you possible every single day.

No matter WHERE you are in the world on September 28th, even if you can't attend one of the special events, you can join in on Active Nation Day in two ways:

1. With the Lorna Jane App: Move Nourish Believe          Have the app in the palm of your hands and embrace LJ's mindset:
           - Iphone - go to the AppStore:  
           https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/lorna-
           jane/id551554881?mt=8
           - GooglePlay : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
           id=au.com.lornajane.app&hl=en
   
2. Enter the #LJMove Competition for a chance to win a 1,000 dollar Lorna Jane Gift Card.  How to Enter below:

        1. DO THE #LJMOVE ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, film your       
            move or take a photo
        2. UPLOAD your video or photo to Instagram, Twitter or  
                                                                    Facebook - WATCH MINE HERE
                                                                3. HASHTAG #LJMOVE #ACTIVENATIONDAY
                                                                  4. INSPIRE OTHERS and tag a sporty sister to do the move
                                                                Please refer to Terms of use for Competition Terms and Conditions.
Now, let's get APPY with the Lorna Jane App: Move Nourish Believe

• Move Track your activity with your phone

                 - Fitness should be fun!  Hate cardio?  Then don't do it, or find a form that's fun for you!
                 - Walking, Running, Hiking, Skating, Skiing, Dancing, Climbing, tons of options to choose   
                   from

• Nourish Search for tasty recipes to fuel your body right

                    - A car can't run on empty, and neither can you!  Food is fuel!
                    - Lorna Jane reminds me that every meal is an opportunity to nourish my body with fuel, 
                      so I can keep up with my active living lifestyle

• Believe - Inspirational Quotes

                   - Our mindset has so much to do with our motivation and ability to achieve, the Lorna 
                     Jane App provides me with an inspirational pick me up when I need it

SO, September 28th, is no ordinary Sunday!  Instead, it's a very special day created by Lorna Jane, focused on getting YOU, the wonderful woman that you are, moving and living an active life!  It's Active Nation Day! 
So, what IS the definition of Active Nation Day?

In addition to the Move Nourish Believe App, there's the Move Nourish Believe Pink Bracelet, a physical reminder of your belonging to the sporty sisterhood and as Lorna Jane describes it:         
         "Move Nourish Believe bracelet (noun) A symbol of our belief in an active future."
Click the picture below to learn the story behind the MNB bracelet, and why this wristband is so special!