Aaron Bartley
Director
P.U.S.H Buffalo

My calorie intake is way down today, and I'm feeling less productive and a little spacey because of it. At lunch I was faced with a choice that seems typical of those living in poverty: buy low-cost, sugary, high-calorie, unhealthy foods out of the corner store or buy higher-quality food with fewer calories. I did the latter, and I'm hungry. I got a can of decent tuna and a yogurt from Guercio's. three hours later I'm craving more, but I 't think I'll have to wait until dinner.

As I reflect on this experience, I keep coming back to the many layers of stress that compound to create the true condition of poverty. How hunger can turn into low productivity, which can in turn cause joblessness or under-employment, which can then be compounded by depression and addiction and may spiral into homelessness. I'll only be experiencing the beginnings of this spiral through the Challenge.

I've already become a little more mindful of some of the daily, seemingly small challenges that a lot of my immediate neighbors face on the West Side. Buffalo has pretty pitiful public transportation most of the time. I happen to live on a great bus line that takes me right to work, but what if I needed to get to a doctor's appointment or a job interview?

Another immediate effect of my lower calorie intake is that I can't imagine doing much exercise today. I usually do something aerobic three days a week. Can't imagine doing that in my light-headed state.