Healthy Granola Bar Recipe

January 20, 2012 By 9 Comments

Due to popular demand, today’s recipe is how we make granola bars in our house.

These are amazingly delicious, and my fiance even likes them, and he doesn’t like granola bars.

Not only are they yummy, they’re packed with all sorts of ingredients that are good FOR you! Nutritional yeast is one of those good FOR you ingredients.

What’s nutritional yeast you ask?

Well, it’s a yeast grown on beet sugar and molasses, then fermented and dried so it’s gluten free and won’t form yeast in your body. It’s great for nursing moms (helps with milk production if you’re “feeling low”!) and is beneficial for babies who aren’t nursing.

It is SUPER rich in B vitamins (just 1Tbsp contains 100% of the daily B12 recommended for an adult), a great source of 18 amino acids and 15 minerals (including phosphorus, zinc, selenium, iron and magnesium). It also contains protein, folic acid, biotin and a load of other vitamins!

It’s sometimes available in your bulk section, or you can order it on Amazon!

So without further ado, I give you…..

Print
Granola Goodness Bars

Granola Goodness Bars

Ingredients

  • 2 cups old fashioned oats (I use the Quaker Oats, but Bob's Red Mill makes some good ones too)
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (measure them AFTER you chop them..I used almonds)
  • 2T sunflower seeds (totally optional)
  • 1/4c nutritional yeast
  • 1tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3c honey
  • 1/3 agave syrup
  • 3T coconut oil (or homemade coconut butter, if you're so inclined..recipe here: http://www.crunchybetty.com/coconut-butter-recipe-3-steps-to-bliss)
  • 2 cups chopped dried fruit (for this batch, I used apricots and dried cranberries...look for fruits that are unsulphered and where fruit is the only ingredient)
  • palmful candied ginger, chopped
  • Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Cocoa Nibs (usually by the register, in a little mint-type tin. Can't find another place to get these, but they're totally optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter (or use coconut oil) a brownie pan (8x8) and line with parchment paper. (DON'T use wax paper. Your granola bars will taste like candles. Ew.)
  2. On a rimmed baking sheet, add oatmeal, nuts and sunflower seeds (if using). Stir to distribute evenly. Bake for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and lightly browned. WHILE you are toasting these, melt the coconut oil.
  3. Remove the oatmeal mix from the oven into a large mixing bowl and reduce oven temperature to 300F.
  4. Stir in nutritional yeast. While mix is still warm, add all other ingredients EXCEPT cocoa nibs. Stir until well-combined.
  5. Pour mixture into prepared pan and using a spatula (or your hand in a plastic bag), press until mix is even and tightly packed.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until edges are browned. (Bake for 20 if you want chewy, not crunchy bars).
  7. Right after removing from oven, scatter cocoa nibs (I used half the tin, but you can use more if you'd like) and press them into the surface of the granola.
  8. Let cool for 2-3 hours and then cut into squares or bar shapes. You can store these in the freezer if you'd like, they stay good in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks.
http://www.mamavation.com/2012/01/healthy-granola-bar-recipe.html

ENJOY!

Now it’s you turn! Please link up your healthy recipes below:

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Submitted by Libby (@miacupcake) from Bruises in the Frosting. Mom. Derby girl (team FLASH). Baker. PR-friendly blogger. Postpartum doula. Firmly anti-Beeber. Mamavation Grad. AWESOMESAUCE.

Filed Under: Featured, Food, Longterm Tagged With: , , , ,

Healthy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe

December 30, 2011 By 8 Comments

Happy HEALTHY Food Friday!! Mia Cupcake here…bringing you a spicy and non-butter-or-egg-filled chocolate cupcake recipe.

And it’s vegan.

I know what you’re thinking, but being the self-proclaimed Cupcake Queen, I have tried just about every single chocolate cupcake recipe I can lay my flour-covered hands on, and have fed most of them to my fiancé.

And this is hands down the best. It’s moist, tasty and does not taste like wheatgrass :)

Without further adieu, I give you Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes, based on a recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero.

Print
Healthy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe

Rating: 51

Healthy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 cup soy milk
  • 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (I use "vanilla sugar", but you don't have to)
  • 1/4 c canola oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder (I use Hershey's)
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (this is not a typo)
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and lay out your cupcake liners into your cupcake pan.
  2. Whisk together soy milk & vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. (this sounds gross, but this is the emulsifier...like eggs)
  3. Add sugar, oil, and vanilla to the soy milk mixture and whisk until foamy. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and spices.
  4. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in 3 batches, whisking just until ingredients come together. Small lumps are ok!
  5. Pour into liners, filling 3/4 of the way. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until tops are spongy.
  6. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely before frosting.

Notes

These can be eaten plain with no frosting, or you can use a small dollop of fresh whipping cream with cinnamon dusted on top if you need a little something.

http://www.mamavation.com/2011/12/healthy-mexican-hot-chocolate-cupcakes-recipe.html

Mexican Hot Chocolate CupcakeENJOY!

Now it’s you turn! Please link up your healthy recipes below:

Submitted by Libby (@miacupcake) from Bruises in the Frosting. Mom. Derby girl (team FLASH). Baker. PR-friendly blogger. Postpartum doula. Firmly anti-Beeber. Mamavation Grad. AWESOMESAUCE.

Filed Under: Featured, Food, Longterm Tagged With: , ,

Whole Wheat Pasta with Vegetables

December 8, 2011 By 5 Comments

My fiance took the car with the car seat with him to work a few days ago.

Being a stay at home mom and trying to cook something healthy that my kids will eat is tough. It gets tougher when you don’t have the luxury of running to the store to grab that one ingredient for something that sounds good to you too. And you don’t realize until it’s 5pm and your kids are HUNGRY.

I wanted to make tofu lasagne last night, but alas….was out of tofu. And cheese. And a lot of things.

So this is my Hail Mary from what I had in my kitchen and my freezer (both of which are looking pretty sad, since it’s our big monthly shopping day this weekend…).

And if the empty plates and kiddos begging for more (and my 2 year old’s spaghetti face) are any indication, it was a success.

Hope you enjoy!

Print
Whole Wheat Pasta with Vegetables

Rating: 51

Total Time: 15 minutes

Whole Wheat Pasta with Vegetables

Ingredients

  • A package whole wheat spaghetti (or regular, if you don't like whole wheat pasta)
  • 1 jar tomato sauce (we like the tomato and basil from Trader Joe's)
  • Olive oil
  • 1 small can tomato paste
  • 1 onion, chopped (we like Walla Walla onions)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (or pressed, if you have a garlic press)
  • About 3 cups of veggies, chopped (we used carrots, kale, broccoli and cauliflower. DEFROST if frozen! I learned that the hard way :)

Instructions

  1. Start a pot of water to boil for the noodles.
  2. In a separate saucepan, put enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom. (I know this is a super scientific measurement. It's about 2 tablespoons.)
  3. Turn heat for saucepan to medium.
  4. When oil is heated, carefully put onions in and spread in an even layer over the bottom of the pan. Don't stir!
  5. When onions are translucent (semi-see-through), add minced/pressed garlic and stir.
  6. Stirring occasionally (every minute or so), cook onion mixture until the onions brown a bit on the edges and become very fragrant.
  7. Add tomato paste and stir, cook 2 minutes.
  8. Add spaghetti sauce and veggies, stir, cover pot and turn heat to low.
  9. Cook spaghetti according to directions.
  10. Drain spaghetti and put into big bowl.
  11. Turn heat under saucepan back to medium and cook 3 more minutes.
  12. Add sauce to bowl with noodles, stir.
  13. Eat & enjoy :)
http://www.mamavation.com/2011/12/hail-mary-dinner.html

Now it’s you turn! Please link up your healthy recipes below:

Submitted by Libby (@miacupcake) from Bruises in the Frosting. Mom. Derby girl (team FLASH). Baker. PR-friendly blogger. Postpartum doula. Firmly anti-Beeber. Mamavation Grad. AWESOMESAUCE.

Filed Under: Featured, Food, Longterm Tagged With: , , , ,

This Momma is OUT.

May 20, 2011 By 10 Comments

Hey :)

It’s my last week as a Mamavation Mom, and I’m a little sad to not get to tell you all about my weight loss journey here…but it’s been a roller coaster of a ride.

I’ve had days where I really just want to say “SCREW IT” and eat a pint of ice cream.

But I didn’t.

I had moments when I wanted a cigarette so bad.

But I didn’t.

I had one entire week where I really wanted a bag of potato chips.

But I didn’t eat them.

You know why? You guys.

I knew I would have to tell you if I ate an entire sack of chips. I knew that if I lied and said “OOH I AM TOTALLY EATING HEALTHY” and then had to admit I gained 4 pounds in one week, that would suck.

And I want to be a good example.

Not only to you guys, but to my kids. And to my friends.

Yes, it feels great when people hug me and ask how I’m losing all of the weight and say they’re proud of me. I love it when I can fit into jeans again. (Zipping them up for the first time in 10 months was amazing.) I love that my yoga pants are too big and my baggy sweatshirts are WAY TOO BAGGY.

But I did this for me. I did this because I need to be healthy. I did this because I’m tired of being tired and out of shape and being unable to keep up with my kids at the park.

I did this because I want to be better.

And I like to think that I AM better. I know I’m making better choices and I’m feeling better about myself. And I think the numbers are MUCH better….

Want to see how much better? :D

BEFORE MEASUREMENTS:

  • Bust – 43 1/2″
  • Waist – 42″
  • Hips – 51″
  • Right thigh – 33″
  • Left thigh – 32-1/2″
  • Right arm – 15″
  • Left arm – 15-1/2″

AFTER MEASUREMENTS:

  • Bust – 41″ (-2.5″)
  • Waist – 40″ (-2″)
  • Hips – 49 1/2″ (-1.5″)
  • Right Thigh – 29″ (-4″ WOW)
  • Left Thigh – 29″ (-3.5″)
  • Right Arm – 13″ (-2″)
  • Left Arm – 13″ (-2″)

TOTAL INCHES LOST: 17.5″!!!!!!


Want to see some pictures? :) (I apologize for the layout….still getting used to the new computer!!)

I've lost 12 pounds in total..bet this last weigh-in I'll hit the 15 pound loss mark!

Before....

After!

Before...

After! (my favorite)

Before......

After! (Sorry for the angle...took the photo with my computer :)

So my love handles are disappearing, my arms look so much better and I had to bunch those shorts up because they’re falling off at the waist :)

I’m not going anywhere though….I plan on sticking with you ladies and helping you through your weight loss journeys as I continue on mine. I adore each and every one of you for your comments and concerns and for paying attention to me while I try and figure this stuff out.

THANK YOU.

Big puffy hearts and a THANK YOU to our sponsors, Earth Footwear,  EA SPORTS Active, Orville Redenbacher, and Chefs Requested. I appreciate your support! Thanks to our coaches, Pete Cohen,  Alysa Bajenaru, RDand Tracey Mallett. Thank you so much for supporting Mamavation!!!!!

A BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU to Amanda and Shelley for putting up with my crabby self and helping me get these posts up :)

And thank all of YOU for supporting me through this! I couldn’t have done it without you all encoruaging me <3

Filed Under: Featured, Longterm, Mamavation Moms Tagged With: ,

Sweat is my Drug.

May 12, 2011 By 11 Comments

Before we start…head on over here and read the awesome article that the local news station wrote on me…I’m pretty flattered and hope I put a great face on Mamavation :)

So last week I talked about motivation to lose weight, and how your primary motivation NEEDS to be that you are doing this for yourself.

I’d like to reiterate that you NEED TO make sure that you are not doing this for any external reasons (like your partner thinks you need to lose weight or you have to do it for work or whatever).

Lecture over.

Now we’ll chat about coping mechanisms in more depth. :)

Everybody has coping mechanisms. Like Chuck, who uses her pacifier to soothe herself when she’s angry or upset or I won’t let her have a permanent marker.

Mine used to be food.

If I was angry, I would eat.

If I did something “wrong”, I would punish myself and NOT eat.

I was not healthy.

When I removed my coping mechanism at the beginning of Mamavation, I had some pretty big issues trying to find something else to fill it with.

I got really angry with myself for feeling helpless, not figuring out that it was because I did not have my “security blanket” of food to help me sort through my emotions.

So I set off to find a new “blankie” and found it in exercise.

Now when I get mad, I do some situps or circuits or go on a walk.

If I’m sad, I do some yoga (try it, it works!).

If I’m happy, I do some dancing or run around after Chuck.

I think if you’re going to quit anything, be it smoking or soda or using food as a blankie, you have to replace it with a better choice. Be it gum for smoking, or water for soda…until it becomes a habit (which Pete says it does after only 21 days!) it needs to be a conscious decision every time you think about your former “blankie”.

Every time you want to smoke, you chew a piece of gum.

Every time you want a soda, you have a glass of water instead.

Until you don’t think about it anymore.

Just don’t jump off into removing something that soothes you without having something else to replace it with, ok?

Also, cake is not a good “blankie”. JFYI.

As for weight loss this week, I was swollen EVERYWHERE after running my 5k on Saturday (47:15….not too shabby for a first timer!) so I had A GAIN this week :(

But next week, I’m hoping to post a big loss…..

VLOG TIME! :D

Oh, and Chuck says hi. She’s not shy or anything.

Big puffy hearts and a THANK YOU to our sponsors, Earth Footwear,  EA SPORTS Active, Orville Redenbacher, and Chefs Requested. I appreciate your support! Thanks to our coaches, Pete Cohen,  Alysa Bajenaru, RD and Tracey Mallett. Thank you so much for supporting Mamavation!!!!!

And thank all of YOU for supporting me!

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One of those crazy days…

May 5, 2011 By 5 Comments

It’s week 5. (see what I did there, with the picture and week 5? OMG, I hope it’s week 5. Otherwise my joke just fell super flat.)

And just when you think things get easier, life likes to sometimes throw an enormous wrench in the works, trying to halt all semblance of a routine or normality, and you have to struggle to stay on track.

Losing weight is not a losing battle. (unless you count the pounds)

Losing weight and being healthier is a game. It’s replacing bad habits with new ones. It’s finding joy in the little things, like the fact that those shorts over there in the picture don’t fit anymore. It’s making sure that your friends understand that you’re not going out for ice cream with them because you are eating better, and not because you don’t love them anymore.

And I cannot repeat this enough: YOU HAVE TO DO THIS FOR YOU.

You can’t be a healthier you if you’re worried about comparing yourself to other people. You can’t lose weight in a healthy and sustaining way if your partner is saying “That’s it?” when you excitedly tell them you lost 3 pounds this week. (That didn’t happen to me, btw. Just so y’all don’t go yelling at Chef.)

You need to be worried about how YOU feel and how YOU look and whether or not YOU are happy with that number on the scale.

Because when everybody goes to sleep at night, it’s just you in your head. And if you are your own worst critic, then it’s hard to be happy for yourself.

I lost three pounds last week! And the big milestone has been hit…I weighed 239 the day I walked into the hospital to have Chuck 18 months ago, so it’s all gravy from here on out for me.

Also, I was interviewed by the local TV station (an article for their website!) last week for Mamavation….article should be up soon and I’ll update this post with the link and post it on Twitter for those of you interested :)

This week has been rough though….and I had a different vlog in mind before this morning.

But bear with me….and ignore the bags under my eyes. I was in the hospital until 4am.

Oh, and Chuck says hello.

(That’s a self portrait, btw.)

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I don’t wanna, and you can’t make me.

April 28, 2011 By 14 Comments

That’s the stage we’re going through with Chuck right now. Everything is “NO!” and running away, laughing hysterically.

Funny enough, that’s how I’m feeling with Mamavation right now.

I don’t want to work out, and I don’t want to eat right and I just want to lie on the couch and revert back to the “old me”. I want to run away from my obligations and go be fat because it’s easier.

But it’s really not easier for me to be fat.

Before Mamavation, I could barely get up off the floor. I would procrastinate doing just about anything until it reached emergency proportions (i.e. cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry). I wouldn’t go out with my friends. I COULDN’T go out with my friends…because I had nothing but sweats and yoga pants to wear.

I would never have DREAMED of running a 5k, or even attempting to run a 5k.

The excuses took over my life. I have cancer. WAH. I have a small child who rules my world with an iron fist. WAH. I live with my fiancé’s parents and I’m sad about it. WAH.

It was really quite pathetic.

So I made the decision to not make excuses anymore. It doesn’t mean that they don’t pop up now and then, because they do. And it’s still a struggle for me to overcome my excuses and get up off my butt and do what I know I need to do to make myself a healthier and better person.

So my challenge to you this week? Ignore the inner voice that’s prompting you to fall back on old habits. Be it smoking or sodas or candy or what have you…..don’t go back there. It’s dark and scary and you don’t want to be there anymore.

Be the best you that YOU can be! (That’s my mantra for this week!)

Oh, and no big deal, but I lost two pounds last week, and am officially in the 230′s. Which I haven’t been in since I was pregnant with Chuck, who is now 18 months.

So all in all, I’m pretty excited this week….hoping to have an even BIGGER loss for you next week!

ALMOST FORGOT. I am signed up to run my first 5k on May 7th! If everyone could light candles or pray or cross fingers that I don’t embarrass my BFF who agreed to run with me, that would be fantastic.

(although, she agreed to run with me, knowing full well who I am. Embarassment is part of the package deal. I may be the one in the tutu and tiara.)

Big puffy hearts and a THANK YOU to our sponsors, Earth Footwear,  EA SPORTS Active, Orville Redenbacher, and Chefs Requested. I appreciate your support! Thanks to our coaches, Pete Cohen,  Alysa Bajenaru, RD and Tracey Mallett. Thank you so much for supporting Mamavation!!!!!

And thank all of YOU for supporting me!

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Om (x100)

April 21, 2011 By 11 Comments

Mantra: [man-truh] (noun)

1. (originally in Hinduism and Buddhism) A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.

2. A statement that is frequently repeated; a characteristic formula or refrain.

Sometimes, a girl needs a mantra.

Sometimes you need to remind yourself why it’s worth getting out of bed today, vs. yesterday. Sometimes you need to tell yourself that what you’re doing is totally worth the pain and the sweat and the curling into the fetal position instead of working out.

Sometimes you need something to focus on during that last pushup where your arms are about to give up, but you know that EA Sports Active is going to yell at you if you don’t go (DOWN, UP) if you don’t do it correctly.

Sometimes, you just need to repeatedly say “Left foot, Right foot” to get through your day.

My mantra for the past week has been “Today is better than yesterday.” I wrote it on our bathroom mirror. There’s a post-it on the fridge, one in the closet and one on my bedside table. All say that same thing:

TODAY IS BETTER THAN YESTERDAY.

Because it is. And I need a reminder that I have the power to make today better than yesterday. That my food choices for today will be better than yesterday. That no matter how slight the improvement, I have made myself and my day more awesome than yesterday.

And sometimes, that’s all one can do to get through one’s day.

So one of my challenges to you this week is to create your own Mamavation Mantra. Find words or a phrase that inspire you to work harder or be better. Repeat them to yourself. POSITIVE SELF TALK ONLY.

A negative mantra is so destructive….Saying “oh my god, I’m fat” when you look in the mirror is super damaging to your psyche. It’s bad for you and bad for your mood and bad for your progress. Love yourself enough to tell yourself.

My other challenge to you for this week? You’ll have to watch the video to find out. Happy Thursday everyone!

oh, and no big deal, but last week, I lost 6.2 pounds. See? :D

Please ignore my continuing lack of pedicure. When your feet are shoved in rainboots and running shoes all winter long, it takes a bit for me to remember that when spring comes, other people see my toes :)

And as always, an enormous THANK YOU! to our sponsors, Earth Footwear, EA SPORTS Active, Orville Redenbacher, and Chefs Requested. We appreciate your support! Big hugs to our fantastic coaching team, Pete Cohen, Alysa Bajenaru, RD and Tracey Mallett. Thank you so much for supporting Mamavation! And thank YOU for supporting me through this campaign! <3

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Ditch the pity party. Sweat = better.

April 14, 2011 By 15 Comments

Pity parties do not burn calories, my friends.

I have spent a GRIP of time over the past few years thinking of how life has done me wrong or how I could have done things different. Wishing I could go back and just change one thing. Wasting my time dreaming of what could have been instead of picking myself up off the floor and creating my own destiny.

Sitting and hoping and thinking and wishing doesn’t help work off those love handles, kids. And I can preach to that. Just look at my before pictures from last week.

It’s hard to get up off the couch and work it out. I’m pretty sure there’s a Mia-shaped dent on my couch. It’s still super comfortable to flop down and do nothing for a while. But I have to remember, that sort of time-suck doesn’t help me reach my goals.

I won’t be able to squeeze into my skinny jeans any faster sitting on the couch.

I won’t be able to run after my kids if my butt is adhered to the sofa, and there’s a soda in my hand and a bowl of crappy junk food in the other.

I’m not going to teach my kids that you can do anything you want to do if you just put your mind to it….if I want to run around with them and I physically can’t.

So I’m getting up off my couch. I’m leaving what’s comfortable and easy for something that’s really hard. Sometimes I really don’t want to work out. I don’t feel like “going to exhaustion”. I just want to crawl back in bed and cry and feel sorry for myself that I’m a fat girl.

But that ain’t gonna get the job done. In fact, it’s going to go against everything I’m working so hard to shed.

HOWEVER, I’m the one that got me here and I’m the one that can get me out. I get by with a little help from my friends (and a lot of Beatles songs!), but the only person that can push me through this and remind me why we’re doing it is me.

I’m my very best friend and my very worst enemy.

It’s up to me to silence the whiny part of me that just wants to go back to bed, and consciously do so until she shuts up for good. I need to empower the good in me and ignore the voice that tells me I’m no good and tries to get me to compare myself to others.

I can only compare myself to who I was 5 minutes ago. Or yesterday. And I get a little better each day. And I don’t need a cigarette. Or a soda. Or half of a loaf of bread to make it better.

I can do it. And I need to rely on myself more and stop waiting for validation from other people that may or may not come.

Because I love me, and honestly, that’s all that matters.

As for scale pix this week….here you go :) I desperately need a pedicure and to clean my bathroom floor, but I’m down a pound from when I applied for Mamavation!

Do me and yourself a favor: make just one healthy choice for yourself this week. Choose not to eat out at McDonald’s for lunch and to have a healthy salad instead. Have water with dinner instead of soda. Go for a walk on your lunch break instead of playing Angry Birds on your phone.

Trust me, you deserve it.

Here’s a little video I shot while on my daily walk in the woods. Hope you enjoy it…

And as always, an enormous THANK YOU! to our sponsors, Earth Footwear,  EA SPORTS Active, Orville Redenbacher, and Chefs Requested. We appreciate your support! Big hugs to our fantastic coaching team, Pete Cohen,  Alysa Bajenaru, RD and Tracey Mallett. Thank you so much for supporting Mamavation!  And thank YOU for supporting me, not only through the voting, but through this campaign! <3

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Campaign 8: Mia Cupcake (Libby)

April 8, 2011 By 13 Comments

Hey everyone!

I’m Libby, but around the internet and in the roller derby world, I’m known as “Mia Cupcake”. I am pretty geeked about being chosen as a Mamavation Mom, and I know I couldn’t have done it without the help of my family, my friends (both IRL and online!) and one very special BFF named “Lethal” (yes, that’s her derby name) who didn’t flinch when I said “let’s go talk to people in coffee places and ask them to vote for me” and actually was as excited, if not more excited, than I was to hear my name announced this past Tuesday.

What I need y’all to know about me is that I am going to be as completely honest and real with you as I can be without giving you my address and phone number and having you show up at my house to kick my butt if I have a french fry.

I feel like if I’m lying to you or to our coaches, then there’s really no point in me being here in the first place because I am DEFINITELY not helping myself, and I am certainly not going to inspire anyone when I’m telling you I’m eating all healthy and gaining 8 pounds a week because I’m actually ensconced on my couch eating fistfuls of Cheetos and watching Real Housewives of Narnia (or whatever they’re showing now).

However, I am not perfect. (Amanda told me to say that) I am the girl who goes to the store without makeup on and possibly wearing blue pajama pants with lawn gnomes on them, and runs into her boss or her ex or someone equally embarrassing. I’m the girl who is the awkward one in a conversation, the one who sometimes gets left out, the one who didn’t get picked for cheerleading in high school. I’m not a princess, though I’d really like to pretend I am.

Who am I really? I am Mia AND I am Libby. I am a mom of two terrific kids (“Short Stack” is 11 and “Chuck” is 17 months). I am engaged to a pretty terrific dude, who occasionally plays video games and is a professional chef. (Yes, we’re working on recipes to post here.) I live in a spot in Washington where I’m closer to Canada than to Seattle. I am a “mommy blogger“, though I really hate that title. I am a roller derby official (training to be a referee) and I have a really unnatural love for Martha Stewart and Julia Child. I love to tweet and Facebook and blog….and I talk a lot :)

So far, this Mamavation thing has been a total roller coaster ride for me. Totally thrilling, but definitely ups and downs. I am completely thrilled to be a Mamavation Mom, don’t get me wrong.

Now I’m in it though. At first, I submitted the video thinking that I’d never get chosen. Then I was a finalist. Now I’m actually doing this. And having to post my food and activity journals every day, whether or not you guys read them, is really holding me accountable.

I just got the  exercise plan last night and don’t quite have a nutrition plan yet, so I’m still trying to absorb everything and find time to do it all.

Want to see some super awesome before photos?

I’m ALMOST ashamed to post these up here.

But I know if I don’t….that y’all would not be able to tell how much progress I’m making, or that maybe I possibly went out and got some sun during the 15 minutes it’s sunny here in Washington every month.

Holy mother of all things shiny, I am WHITE. How did I get that pale? Nevermind, don’t answer that.

I don’t really have a goal weight at this point. What’s my goal? You’ll have to watch the following vlog to find out

THANK YOU! to our sponsors, Earth Footwear,  EA SPORTS Active, Orville Redenbacher, and Chefs Requested. We appreciate your support! Big hugs to our fantastic coaching team, Pete Cohen,  Alysa Bajenaru, RD and Tracey Mallett. Thank you so much for supporting Mamavation!  And thank YOU for supporting me, not only through the voting, but through this campaign! <3

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