Mamavation Monday: Let’s Zumba

November 24, 2012 By 16 Comments

I hope you enjoyed you Thanksgiving dinner and the time spent with family. Have you had a chance to try some healthier dishes or did you enjoy Thanksgiving to the fullest? Since we are between the holidays, please make sure to move around more and make healthier food choices most days.

And here is a way to burn some serious calories – Z-U-M-B-A! Since its inception in 2001, the Zumba program has grown to become the world’s largest – and most successful – dance-fitness program with more than 14 million people of all shapes, sizes and ages taking weekly Zumba classes in over 140,000 locations across more than 150 countries.

Special Guest: Rudy Flores, Zumba Instructor

Rudy first started Zumba in January 2011 and has been hooked ever since. She enjoys all types of music, but latino beats are what really move him. He teaches Zumba class at First United Methodist Church Lufkin. Since he discovered Zumba Rudy has lost 70lbs and is still dropping.  At the same time he has gained the courage to pursue other fitness goals including running and body building.

“If you think your body can never change or you have been told ”thats just your body type” think again!!! If i can do it you can too!!  Come be apart of the easiest way to loose weight and get fit! Let Loose come feel the BEAT!!”

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Hyland’s. 2 blogging carnivals participants will each receive Hyland’s Defend Cold & Cough Syrup.

100% Natural, Gentle, Safe and Effective liquid formula for cold and cough relief. Hyland’s DEFEND Cold & Cough’s comprehensive formula covers a broad range of cold symptoms including nasal congestion, cough, sore throat and sneezing. As with all the homeopathic products Hyland’s offers, this medicine contains none of the controversial cold medicine ingredients. Its ingredients are classic, well-proven homeopathic remedies that have a known potential to relieve cold symptoms.

Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Hyland’s and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post. Link up your post  here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. Hyland’s Defend Cold & Cough Syrup (2 winners)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. Let’s Zumba with Rudy ! This week sponsored by @HylandsHealth http://bit.ly/Yba9KJ” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Follow @HylandsHealth on Twitter (1 entry)
  7. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: Learning About Menopause

November 17, 2012 By 29 Comments

Last time we tried talking about menopause, technology wasn’t on our side; but we felt that it is very important for us to learn early symptoms of menopause and what to do about it. Our community members are in different stages of their lives.  We really hope that the information from our guest will give you something to think about.

We don’t usually talk about menopause with our friends, and that is why many of us get very confused or frustrated when suddenly facing pre-menopausal symptoms. You’d be surprised to learn that some women experience pre-menopausal symptoms as early as 35. That’s right, you might have kids in diapers and have to deal with pre-menopausal issues. This week’s Mamavation TV show is about education and learning what we need to know now before menopause knocks on our doors.

Special Guest: Kelley A. Connors, MPH, Founder of Real Women on Health

Kelley is the founder of Real Women on Health, an on-line community and radio show that educates, empowers and engages women so they can take more charge of their health and wellbeing. From heart health to sexuality, and surviving with cancer, Kelley brings passion and expertise to the topics she shares with her Real Women on Health audience and her advocacy partners.

Kelley also contributes her expertise and passion for women’s health and wellness to some of the most recognizable global organizations. As a member of the American Heart Association’s Westchester/Fairfield County GO RED Leadership Team, Kelley brings her advocacy-to-action to raise awareness and raise funds to improve education and awareness of heart disease as a woman’s issue. Kelley is also a member of the American Cancer Society’s Blogger Advisory Council, helping to draw attention to the most important cancer-related issues facing women.

She is a competitive rower and a yoga enthusiast, living in Connecticut with her husband and dog Lucy.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Schick Intuition. 2 blogging carnivals participants will each receive Dole Nutrition Handbook.


The Dole Nutrition Handbook comprises the best handpicked information from the Dole Nutrition Institute, the research and education organization founded by David H. Murdock, Chairman of Dole Food Company. This book will teach you:

  • Everything you need to know about the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that support optimum health.
  • Top superfoods with the highest nutrient density and off-the-charts antioxidant power.
  • The Dole Diet: a complete two-week meal plan that curbs cravings with total nutrition through filling fruit and vegetables.
  • Dietary and lifestyle tips for your heart, brain, skin, bones, joints and more. Total body health- from head to toe

Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Dole and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post. Link up your post here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. Dole Nutrition Handbook  (2 winners)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. Join menopause talk w Kelly @RealWomenHealth! This week sponsored by @DoleNutrition http://bit.ly/UwqwuC” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Like Real Women on Health on Facebook (1 entry)
  7. Follow @DoleNutrition on Twitter (1 entry)
  8. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: Healthy Thanksgiving

November 10, 2012 By 101 Comments

With Thanksgiving around the corner, are you concerned how to continue eating healthy in November? Traditional Thanksgiving dinner is not the healthiest holiday of the year. I recently worked on the Thanksgiving feast photoshoot and was shocked to see absolutely no good healthy food on the photo scene. I hope that your holiday dinners have plenty of healthy items for the whole family, but to give you some great cooking ideas, we are bringing an expert.

The upcoming Mamavation TV show is dedicated to healthy food options for the Thanksgiving dinner and our guest Johanna Cook is a real pro of making meals that are fast, delicious, and nutritious.

Special Guest:  Johanna Cook of Momma Cuisine (@mommacuisine)

Johanna M. Cook is the creator of MommaCuisine.com and host of the #MCShowLIVE; a cooking & talk show premiering on October 9, every Tuesday at 11 am CST on MommaCuisine.com. Her mission as Momma Cuisine is to show busy families that “Great Everyday Meals” can be made with simple ingredients and basic cooking techniques. What does Johanna know about being busy? A mom of 3 and a former restaurant industry professional of about 10 years, she is always on the go. I honestly can’t believe how much she has been able to accomplish just this year alone. She loves, loves, loves to cook and throw get-togethers for family and friends, and it’s importnat for Johanna to make food from scratch as much as she can and as often as she can. Johanna loves coffee – all day and every day, and maybe (just guessing) that’s what keeps her energized and happy.

“I enjoy showing busy moms and families just like myself that great cooking can be done with simple ingredients and basic cooking techniques.. It is equally important to me to make everyday meals simple, fresh, and delicious because we all know how hectic it is to get dinner on the table during the week.” Johanna Cook

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV.

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Hoopnotica. Two blogging carnival participants will each receive Dole Gift baskets. To be eligible inlcude the following disclmber and link back to Mamavation website. “This post is sponsored by Hoopnotica and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post. Link up your post here.

Hoopnotica is a state of being; training your body to control the hoop as it revolves around your body.  In learning these movements, you create a space in the world that is uniquely yours; a vortex spinning energy created and maintained by your core strength. The stress of the day begins to melt away as you lose the ability to focus on anything other than keeping the hoop up! In doing so, you are strengthening your core and burning up to 600 calories per hour! Would you believe that hooping can burn as much as running a marathon? We didn’t, and you probably won’t be thinking about anything of the sort as you spin and laugh and wonder why you didn’t think of this sooner.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over Twitter. (Or later if I get swamped)

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. Hoopnotica travel hoop (2 winners)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. This week sponsored by @Hoopnotica.Cooking fast & healthy 4 holidays w @mommacuisine http://bit.ly/Usz6R4” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):
Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)

  1. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  2. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  3. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  4. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  5. Follow @mommacuisine on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Follow @Hoopnotica on Twitter (1 entry)
  7. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: Holiday Diet

November 3, 2012 By 10 Comments

Welcome to the month of November, the month of comfort food, family gathering, and shopping. This might the happiest time of the year, because we get to spend precious time at the dinner table, but that also comes with calories, fats, and extra pounds.

Did you know that an average person gains 7-10 pounds between the months of November and December. We get enough pressure from people around us telling what we need to avoid, and how we only need to only eat when we are hungry at this time of year. Many experts also say “Just walk away from the food”, or “Stick to eating low calorie foods”. Well, if there a secret to NOT gaining these hated holiday pounds, I want to know it. Don’t you?

 

Special Guest: Alysa Bajenaru, RD (@InspiredRD)

Alysa Bajenaru, RD earned her Nutritional Sciences Degree from the University of Oklahoma. After working as a clinical dietitian she transitioned to focus more on the wellness aspect of nutrition and fitness. She earned a personal training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and later a group fitness certification through the American Council on Exercise. Alysa joined us in the sixth Mamavation campaign and we are thrilled to have her return with her guidance and out-of-the-box approach to make balanced nutrition an inspiring experience. You can see her beautiful recipes and take on a balanced lifestyle at Inspired RD.
MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Bengay.

BENGAY® ZERO DEGREES™ is a Menthol Pain Relieving Gel with PRO-COOL™ technology.

BENGAY® cold therapy
This is the first and only topical pain reliever that combines the icy-cold sensation of ice with the long-lasting pain relief of BENGAY® medicine. BENGAY® ZERO DEGREES™ gel may be stored in the freezer to provide the instant sensation of ice and its powerful PRO-COOL™ technology that lasts for hours.
  • Blasts away pain
  • Medicated pain relief
  • Lasts for hours
  • Instant icy-cold sensation
  • Vanishing scent
  • May be stored in the freezer
  • Ideal for muscle and joint strain or sprain pain relief
Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Bengay Zero Degrees and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post.” Link up your post here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. Let’s talk nutrition during holidays with @InspiredRD! http://bit.ly/TxnIRw” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a  Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Check out the full line of products by Bengay (1 entry)
  7. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: What Can We Do about GMO?

October 27, 2012 By 81 Comments

The flu seasons is here, and let me tell you that there are some nasty germs out there. My whole family has gone through a flu cycle a few times already and I am constantly trying new things to boost my kids immune systems. If you are not sure what both you and your kids need then reach out to the nutritionists out there.  They might be able to save you a bundle of money on medication by taking some preventive measures now.

The election is right around the corner. Are you ready?  Today we are coming back to the GMO topic, because we want you to know the facts and make the right decision. Our guest is a registered dietitian with a lot information to share. What we do and don’t know about GMOs? Why is it important to label and what we can do today and until the election?

Special Guest: Ashley Koff, RD (@AshleyKoff)

Ashley Koff is a registered dietitian (R.D.) who strives to make better nutrition a way of life for all. Koff has the proven ability to demystify the science of nutrition and communicate the importance of a healthy lifestyle to clients in a way that instills loyalty and trust. Her passionate style is effective, resulting in Koff being named among the Top 10 Registered Dietitians in the US, by Today’s Dietitian Magazine, as well as by Citysearch as Best of LA’s “Nutritionist/Dietitians,‛ three years running. As a national media favorite, Koff appears monthly, contributing to various TV/print and online outlets.
Koff launched AKA (ashleykoffapproved.com) in 2008 as a way to house all aspects of her private practice, her work educating doctors and other healthcare practitioners, her product endorsement opportunities, as well as her corporate consulting company (formerly The HealthXChange). With AKA, consumers of all demographics can readily identify products that meet Koff’s standards for nutrition. Her motto is, ‘Be a Qualitarian‛ and helps people do so by making the best quality choices (via her AKA List) to achieve optimal health.
Companies – big and small – rely on Koff as their spokesperson, including Earthbound Farms, Nature’s Path, New Chapter Organics, Nuttzo, Procter & Gamble, Pure Bar, Sambazon and others. She also sits on the advisory board of Episencial.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Mamavation.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. What can u do about GMO by @AshleyKoff! http://bit.ly/Y5AaZy” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a  Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Follow @AshleyKoff on Twitter (1 entry)
  7. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

 

Filed Under: Activism, Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: Meet the Teams

October 20, 2012 By 9 Comments

There will be no Mamavation TV show on October 22, because we are all going to the Facebook Party! However, do link up your Blogging Carnival Posts.

If you have partied with Mamavation before for campaign launches, you know these parties are full of fun and swags. How is the campaign #14 different? First and foremost, it is our First Facebook Party ever! Second and still very important, this is a Graduate Campaign. That’s right, Mamavation is bringing back a bunch of Mamavation Mom graduates to see if they still have what it takes. AND Mamavation Moms are getting a little help from Billy Blanks and Tae Bo to get the job done. The Creator of Tae Bo has assembled the fitness plan for the Mamavation Moms and will be helping encourage them online.

So I think this is pretty exciting. Hurry and RSVP for the event if you haven’t already done so.

Meet the Mamavation Mom Bootcamp Teams and their previous campaign losses:

Team One:

Shelley Oswald (@Momma_oz): Lost 14.5 lbs.

jennydecki

Jenny Gniadecki (@Jennydecki) : Lost 27.8 lbs.

Team Two:

Megan Carter (@nccarterfamily): Lost 62 lbs.

Shannon Sander (@ShannonMSander): Lost 22 lbs.

Team Three:

Rachel (@RachHabs): Lost 46 lb.

Rachel Habegger(@RachHabs): Lost 46 lb

Wendy Del Monte (@Weightsover): Lost 20.6 lbs.

Team Four

Andrea Kruse (@notimemom): Lost 31 lbs.

Angela Bishop (@ninemoremonths): Lost 26.4 lbs.

Join me in wishing these brave ladies the best of luck and support this event by tweeting this message out

#Mamavation is hosting Facebook Party kick off. Join us for a great time & prizes 10/22 at 8pm EST!  http://bit.ly/QbquJF 

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: The Sex Talk

October 14, 2012 By 18 Comments

In case you haven’t heard – Mamavation Mom Campaign #13 has come to a close and we have some major pounds to brag about. Here is Tina’s journey in two pictures. Can you believe that this change only took 6 weeks? She lost 10.8 lb and 14.5 inches.

tina kelley beforetina kelley after

Rachel went through an unbelievable transformation is well with 46 pounds and 23 inches loss.

  

Rock on, Ladies! You both are such an inspiration for the community and all women. Can’t wait to see you progress after the end of the campaign.

It’s has been a while since we talked about S-E-X and I know you can’t wait to have another conversation about intimacy. Are you comfortable talking about sexual things? How easy is it for you to voice your desires in the bedroom? If you don’t know how to approach this topic, our guest of the upcoming Mamavation TV show can help. She is anything but shy when it comes to different aspects of sexual life – she is a an Intimacy and Life Coach and she is stopping by on Monday night to share sexual wisdom and answer your questions.

Special Guest: Nicole, Intimacy Life Coach at Touch Within Coaching

Nicole was in her mid thirties when she realized that she wasn’t following her dreams. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wanted to become a coach. Just weeks after meeting a life coach Nicole’s enrollment in the Coach Training Institute was completed and she was eager to learn.  During the training at CTI Nicole came across some of the most beautiful souls,  one of which was an Intimacy and Sex Coach. Soon after the training at Coach Training Institute was completed, Nicole opened her own practice. Being a life coach was very enjoyable, and Nicole was happily coaching her clients on everything – from personal and business to couples relationships.

The one issue, which kept feeding the second seed planted, was mental and physical intimacy always arose during the sessions.  Mental and Physical Intimacy is a package deal and all too often the package is not fed in the way it is deserved nor deeply desired.  My heart and soul guided towards Intimacy Coaching and I found it natural, freeing to have an open dialogue with my clients on such a beautiful want in our lives.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Lilly’s chocolate. 2 blogging carnivals participants will each receive a Lilly’s Chocoloate bar.

Lily’s stevia-sweetened premium dark chocolate has the indulgence you crave but with 25% fewer calories than other 55% dark chocolates. Using only the finest, all-natural, non-GMO ingre­dients, including cocoa that is Fair Trade certified, Lily’s is committed to making great tasting chocolate that’s also better for you.

Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Lilly’s Sweets and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post.” Link up your post here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. Lilly’s Chocolate  (2 winners)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. Let’s talk S-E-X w @touchwithin. http://bit.ly/UYAZ2J. This week sponsored by http://www.lilyssweets.com” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Like Lilly’s  on Facebook (1 entry)
  7. Follow @TouchWithin  on Twitter (1 entry)
  8. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: Learning About Menopause

October 6, 2012 By 63 Comments

As a Mom of a little girl I will one day have “The Talk” with my daughter. You know the “You are growing up and your body is changing” type talk. However, when it comes to menopause women usually wish they knew more about it before they had to face it. Who will sit down with us for the 2nd vital talk, and walk us through what will start happening to our bodies some day?

Here is a tricky thing though, we usually don’t want to talk about menopause. I am sure some of our community members don’t think much of it, because it doesn’t apply to them. However, you’d be surprised to learn that some women experience pre-menopausal symptoms as early as 35. That’s right, you might have kids in diapers and have to deal with pre-menopausal issues. This week Mamavation TV show is about education and learning what we need to know now before the menopause knocks on our doors.

Special Guest: Kelley A. Connors, MPH, Founder of Real Women on Health

Kelley is the founder of Real Women on Health, an on-line community and radio show that educates, empowers and engages women so they can take more charge of their health and wellbeing. From heart health to sexuality, and surviving with cancer, Kelley brings passion and expertise to the topics she shares with her Real Women on Health audience and her advocacy partners.

Kelley also contributes her expertise and passion for women’s health and wellness to some of the most recognizable global organizations. As a member of the American Heart Association’s Westchester/Fairfield County GO RED Leadership Team, Kelley brings her advocacy-to-action to raise awareness and raise funds to improve education and awareness of heart disease as a woman’s issue. Kelley is also a member of the American Cancer Society’s Blogger Advisory Council, helping to draw attention to the most important cancer-related issues facing women.

She is a competitive rower and a yoga enthusiast, living in Connecticut with her husband and dog Lucy.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Schick Intuition. 2 blogging carnivals participants will each receive Schick Intuition Razor.


Schick® Intuition Naturals Sensitive Care™ has a Skin Conditioning Solid™ that contains 100% natural Aloe with Vitamin E, and is fragrance free and hypo-allergenic so it’s gentle on your skin and helps reduce irritation.

Now gentler on the environment with 100% recyclable packaging made with recycled materials!

Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Schick Intuition and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post.” Link up your post here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. Schick Intuition Razor  (2 winners)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. Join menopause talk w Kelly @RealWomenHealth! This week sponsored by @SchickIntuition http://bit.ly/RmmAwX” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Like Real Women on Health on Facebook (1 entry)
  7. Follow @SchickIntuition on Twitter (1 entry)
  8. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: From Lemons to Lemonade

September 29, 2012 By 31 Comments

How do you usually start your day? I spend 15 minutes looking at myself in the mirror trying to fix the imperfections on my face. Mask this, conceal this, and cover the whole face with that. I am sure your morning routine looks something like that too, but how good of a start is it? Think about it, we start the day with finding what we don’t like about ourselves and go through the whole day pushing ourselves down the list and moving everyone else up the list. If you ever stopped to think about it, the answer is simple: we are moms and that’s what we do.  We serve our family, leaving very little room for positive thoughts and pampering.

Fitcation 2012 attendees were able to meet Joshua Medcalf in LA in August. When he started his speech, a few of us were slightly confused: what can this man possibly know about the lives of moms? How can he make a difference in our well being? However, thirty minutes into the conversation we were really listening.  The whole “If life deals you lemons, make lemonade” works really good in theory, but how many of us really live by this rule? That’s where Joshua comes in. He will tell you exactly how many spoons of sugar and gallons of water to add to your unhappy lemons, to make positively charged delicious lemonade (figure speech, of course).

If you have seen Joshua Medcalf in action, you will be happy to see him again and if you didn’t, make sure to attend our next Mamavation TV.

Photo Credit: Alysa Bajenaru

Special Guest: Joushua Medcalf, Entrepreneur, Speaker, Consultant. Mental training innovator. Director of Mental Training for UCLA WB.

Joshua Medcalf is a former division 1 soccer player who graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in communications. He went on to study under one of the top sport psychologists in the country at Duke University, while playing out his last year of eligibility. He started a non-profit organization that focuses on training at-risk athletes in the heart of the south central housing projects in Los Angeles, CA. In order to help fund his organization he created Train to be Clutch, in which he teaches the same life changing principles to athletes, businessmen, actors, and universities all over the world.

Train to be CLUTCH has created the first mental training apps in the world for soccer and basketball on the apple network, as well as a golf and generic mental training app, “ReFresh my Heart” which is for everyone.

Joshua has been hired as the director of mental training for UCLA women’s basketball, and is a consultant in a similar capacity for other sports programs
around the country.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Olay. 2 blogging carnivals participants will each receive a Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum.

Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum penetrates down into skin’s surface to deliver our super-concentrated amino-peptide and B3 complex. This fast absorbing, non-greasy formula provides specially designed hydration that softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin’s texture. Skin looks brighter, more radiant and significantly firmer after just five days. Non-Greasy. Fast-Absorbing. Dermatologist Tested. Non-Comedogenic (won’t clog pores). Suitable For Normal, Dry and Combination Skin.

Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Olay and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention &weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post.” Link up your post here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum  (2 winners)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. Making positive changes w @JoshuaMedcalf! This week sponsored by @OlayUS http://bit.ly/P2DcgA ” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Follow@JoshuaMedcalf (1 entry)
  7. Like Olay on Facebook (1 entry)
  8. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

 

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays

Mamavation Monday: GMO and Food Labels

September 22, 2012 By 32 Comments

How much do you know about GMOs? You probably know that Genetically Modified Organisms in our food supply are bad news. However, so many people out there do not know about this huge problem. Having a large group in the dark about GMOs and their threat might be why so many companies are not in a hurry to identify GMOs on product labels. Labeling products that contain GMOs would raise their awareness and will bring clarity to food categories. If you were in the food industry, wouldn’t you want to tell your customers that your food is safe to eat? This week we have a great opportunity to talk with the business owner of Beanitos, a company that we know and love, whose product has this label on the packaging:

I am really curious to know what does it to take to become certified by NON-GMO Project and does our guest himself eats exclusively organic food…

Photo Credit www.statesman.com/

Special Guest:Doug Foreman, the Founder of Beanitos, INC

Developing healthier snack alternatives is nothing new for Doug Foreman, whose latest foray into the snack chip market, might be his best yet.  In early 2010, Foreman’s Bean Brand Foods launched Beanitos®, an all natural, bean-based, 100% corn-free snack chip.  The overwhelming and enthusiastic response from retailers and consumers has struck a nerve.  Supermarket guru and industry luminary, Phil Lempert declared Beanitos, “a hit” and wondered aloud, “Could these be the perfect chip?”

Foreman is no newcomer to the specialty snack market.  He was very successful in bringing several consumer packaged goods to market, and he is best known for creating the “Guiltless Gourmet” line of low-fat, baked tortilla chips in 1989.  He started the line out of his restaurant’s kitchen with only $200, eventually growing “Guiltless” into a half billion dollar category that included the first-ever fat free bean dips and no water added salsas.  With the help of the investors behind the successful Barq’s Root Beer brand, Foreman expanded Guiltless Gourmet from its beginning in health-food stores, into the broader mass consumer market in 1992.  He ultimately sold Guiltless to Barq’s Root Beer in 1994.

MAMAVATION TV: Join us Monday night at 7pm PST/10pm EST on Mingle Media TV

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Beanitos. 2 blogging carnivals participants will each receive a case of Beanitos Chips.

Beanitos are loaded with non-GMO vegetable fiber (20% of the daily value in just 10 chips, that’s 5 grams!), 4 grams of complete protein and are rich in Essential ALA Omega 3s (600mg in Pinto Bean and Flax) all which are packed into one great tasting serving!

Beanitos are always free of corn, wheat, soy, potato, trans fat, cholesterol and are verified non-GMO, gluten free, lab tested and certified low glycemic & kosher!

Be sure to include the following disclosure “This post is sponsored by Beanitos and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention &weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway” at the bottom of your post.” Link up your post here.

SISTAHOOD: If you are interested in pledging to the Mamavation Sistahood, Monday is the time to do it. Please go here for instructions. Invitations are done on Wednesdays over twitter. (Or later if I get swamped).

GIVEAWAYS (You must attend Mamavation TV show to win):

  1. A case of Beanitos chips  (2 winner)

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

  1. Hit the Linky
  2. Tweet out this message “Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. This week sponsored by @beanitos. Let’s talk GMO! http://bit.ly/PKK27f” (Unlimited Entries for tweets)

Extra Entries (leave a comment for EVERY entry):

  1. Download the Alexa tool bar, http://www.alexa.com/toolbar (this will help your Alexa rating go up and will help Mamavation too!) (1 entry)
  2. Comment on a Mamavation Monday post. (2 entries for each blog you visit)
  3. Tell a Sista this week WHY she is special on twitter using the #mamavation hashtag (1 entry)
  4. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
  5. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
  6. Follow@Beanitos (1 entry)
  7. Like Beanitos on Facebook
  8. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)

Filed Under: Activism, Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Mondays