In Mamavation we focus on changing families one Mom at a time, and during that process, we are redefining our lives – what is important to us and our family, what priorities we set for health and fitness, and how we think about ourselves. Our guest this week chose to redefine her life – stepping away from the life of money and fame that she knew and following her own path. She talks about how we all need to find our own voice and sing our own song, and this week she’ll be talking on Mamavation TV!

Special Guest: LaDonna Gatlin

If you’re a country music fan, the name Gatlin probably rings a bell or two. LaDonna Gatlin is the sister of country music legends The Gatlin Brothers. In fact, she used to be part of a family music group but walked her own path when she left the group to get married and have kids. She stepped away from the fame and money of the music industry and has been happily married for 38 years, and she has two adult children and 6 grandchildren! She is also a professional speaker, and in 2005 she was inducted to the Hall of Fame of the National Speakers Association and received the Council of Peers Award for Excellence – a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. She has 4 solo CDs, is a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul, and has also written her own book “The Song In You: Finding Your Voice, Redefining Your Life” which was co-authored with Mike Marino.

On Monday, we will be speaking with LaDonna on Mamavation TV about how we can find our own voices and redefine our lives to discover our own passions and live a life of purpose and meaning. She is an amazing speaker and liberally uses humor in her inspiring and motivating message, which our viewers will really love! Using the musical scale, she crafted a method to remember her message of hope and healing, so make sure you keep an ear out for it. Join us on Monday to hear LaDonna Gatlin talk about redefining our lives. You can also connect with LaDonna on Twitter and Facebook or check out her website.

Hey – did you read about the petition to request Similac stop using GMOs in their infant formula? Check it out here and be on the lookout for information on the Facebook Party we’ll be having on Wednesday!

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)

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by LaDonna Gatlin

• 2 participants will receive a copy of LaDonna Gatlin’s book “The Song In You: Finding Your Voice, Redefining Your Life”

Be sure to include the following disclaimer at the bottom of your post:

“ This post is sponsored by LaDonna Gatlin and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway ”

———> Sistas, link up your posts here.

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

• 2 Viewers will win a copy of LaDonna’s Book “The Song In You: Finding Your Voice, Redefining Your Life”

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

1. Hit the Linky
2. Tweet out this message “ Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. @LaDonnaGatlin will be talking with us about redefining our lives! http://bit.ly/1789NKi ” (Unlimited Entries for tweets, comment each time)

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. RSVP to the Google+ event for Monday (1 entry)
5. +1 the Google+ event for Monday (1 entry)
6. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
7. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
8. Follow @LaDonnaGatlin on Twitter (1 entry)
9. Like LaDonna Gatlin on Facebook (1 entry)
10. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)
11. Start a thread on the forums and tag another Sista to join in on the conversation (1 entry)

I can’t believe that my time as a Mamavation Mom is coming to a close it is shocking how quick the time has gone by and how much I have learned from this experience.  I was asked to come up with my top ten list of things that I have learned from Mamavation and I can honestly say it was hard to keep it to ten things because I have learned a life time of lessons in just these few short weeks.  So here we go

10.  I am finally ready to make a lifestyle change and get healhty.  There have been a 1000 times that I have started down this path but I am in the right place, at the right time, and Mamavation has helped make this a lifestyle change for me

9.  Eating food with fat in it won ‘t kill me, in fact it will help me loose weight and feel full

8.  When I was eating carbs, and which ones was impacting my ability to loose weight.  I now eat my carbs early in the day and only eat healthy “good” carbs which has helped me loose weight

7.  Making a lifestyle change was not nearly as hard, and expensive, as I thought it would be.  For me this wasn’t a diet but how I was going to change my families life and move to a healthier more eco-friendly lifestyle.

6.  My family will support me no matter what even when I start to change their diet and put me first

5.  The scale is not the only measure of weight loss success-Even when the scale doesn’t move your measurements can go down a lot and show you that you are loosing, just not on the scale.

4.  I am so f-ing proud of myself and I see that in the confidence in which I now have.

Look at me rocking my new dress!

3.  I am so much stronger both physically and emotionally than I ever thought I was

2. In the past I have talked myself out of doing so many things and I have missed out on too much because I said I can’t.  This campaign has taught me that I CAN

1.  100% of this is Mental and I can do it!

So thank you Mamavation for all the support and confidence you have given me over these last few weeks.  Now I will leave you with my standard weigh in picture.  It was a really great week for me in terms of weight loss.

Hard to read I know but it is 220.4

We love fierce women in Mamavation, and one way that women of all ages can feel empowered is through learning self defense. This week we have a couple on the show who have experience teaching women self defense and have even had a show on PBS explaining how a woman can defend herself without punching or kicking. Known as the “Sonny and Cher” of Self Defense, this power couple had been all over the media sharing their message of empowerment with women, and now they’re with us on Mamavation TV!

Special Guests: Tracy and Charley Vega

In Mamavation we have our own power couple in Mark and Leah Segedie, and this week our guests are another example of how amazing it can be when a husband and wife team works together to empower women. Tracy and Charley Vega are personal safety experts who have Simple Self Defense for Women. Their program is safe for women from ages 9-91 and focuses on escaping from an attack, not staying around and fighting. There is no punching or kicking involved and you do not have to take your shoes off to learn it! Tracy is an amazing woman and the winner of the third annual “Woman of the Year” award from Power Women Magazine and Radio Show in 2012 – she has 20 years of experience in marketing and working for Fortune 500 companies, and is now in charge of marketing development, contract acquisition and social media for her company! Her husband Charley has 30 years of experience in martial arts, is a Master Instructor of Combat Hapkido and a Black Belt in Taekwando. Combining their martial arts experience, Charley’s business background, and Tracy’s marketing expertise they have created a fantastic company – check your local PBS station to see if you can catch their Simple Self Defense for Women TV show! They are also speakers for events and conduct workshops and have been on numerous television shows, and we are delighted to have them as our guests on Monday.

We will be talking with Tracy and Charley about self defense and what women can do to escape attacks, especially when we have our children with us, a situation that puts some of the other techniques on the back burner because we are protecting our children first and foremost. They have lots of tips and love to answer questions, so feel free to shout out your questions to us on the Google+ event comment section, in the forum linkup, or using the #mamavation hashtag on Twitter. Join us on Monday to hear Tracy and Charley Vega give us simple self defense tips! You can also connect with them on Twitter, their Facebook Fan Page, YouTube, and Google+. And don’t forget to check out their website – SimpleSelfDefenseforWomen.com!

Hey – did you read about the petition to request Similac stop using GMOs in their infant formula? Check it out here and find details on the Twitter party too.

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)

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Simple Self Defense for Women

• 2 participants will receive Tracy and Charley’s Simple Self Defense for Women DVD

Be sure to include the following disclaimer at the bottom of your post:

“ This post is sponsored by Simple Self Defense for Women and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway ”

———> Sistas, link up your posts here.

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

• 2 Viewers will win a copy of Simple Self Defense for Women DVD
  To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

1. Hit the Linky
2. Tweet out this message “ Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. @defense4women will be talking with us about self defense! http://bit.ly/10MzV5s ” (Unlimited Entries for tweets, comment each time)

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. RSVP to the Google+ event for Monday (1 entry)
5. +1 the Google+ event for Monday (1 entry)
6. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
7. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
8. Follow @defense4women on Twitter (1 entry)
9. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)
10. Start a thread on the forums and tag another Sista to join in on the conversation (1 entry)

I’m on a mission to protect babies.

Especially the ones who are poor, have limited accesses to resources, or who have parents who just aren’t paying attention. And I can use your help.

Please Sign This Petition

Join me in petitioning Similac to remove genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from their infant formula during an online rally Wednesday, May 22nd from 8-9:30pm EST (5-6:30pm PST). Because when it comes to babies, is it really worth the risk?

And I’m sure Similac will be listening. We are their target audience. Without our support, they cease to be a company.

They. Need. Us.

But I think we can encourage them to do the right thing.

Hashtag: #SimilacNoGMO

When: Wednesday, May 22nd from 8-9:30pm EST

Theme: Educational Rally about GMOs in infant formula and baby food. We want Similac to reformulate and lead the industry in positive change.

Related: Similac is also involved directly marketing to social media moms with their #StrongMomsEmpower campaign. The campaign is about not judging each other and the decisions we make as parents. I thought the hashtag was very ironic because I feel as if WE need to empower ourselves first to ask them to change some things. Right now I don’t think they have demonstrated core values of putting the safety of babies first. Let’s focus on who’s more important in this scenario–the babies. Then we can start talking about how moms treat each other. But to me, one is far more important.

Panelists:

@Bookieboo–Hostess
@Momma_oz–Swag Hag (She’s in charge of giveaways every 3 minutes…)
@GMOInside–panelist
@GreenAmerica–panelist
@Food_Democracy–Panelist
@Lisa_Stokke–Panelist
@UnhealthyTruth–Panelist
@PhdinParenting–Panelist
@JessicaGottlieb–panelist
@LucretiaPruitt–Panelist
@MommyNanibooboo–Panelist
@DietsinReview–Panelist
@FormulaFeeder–Panelist
@HappyMothering–Panelist
@JoLynneS–Panelist
@Realmomreviews–panelist
@Whatsthatsmell–panelist
@YvonneinLA–panelist
@FrostedFingers–panelist
@ScrappinMichele–panelist
@Goddessgarden–panelist
@Purenaturaldiva–panelist
@The818–panelist
@Bigzigfitness–panelist
@HealthyJasmine–panelist
@Gutimom–panelist
@AMusingFoodie–panelist
@EatPlayLove–panelist
@GGirlGGreen–panelist
@thesoftlanding–panelist
@ecokarenlee–panelist
@Greentalk–panelist
@GreenSisterhood–panelist
@thesmartmama–panelist
@YourOrganicLife–panelist

Giveaways every 3 minutes….or less

Some very generous brands also supported our efforts and because of them we will be doing a giveaway every 3 minutes.

1.Earth Footwear (3 winners)

2. Nutiva gift baskets (3 winners)

3. Nature’s Path gift baskets (4 winners)

4. iPlay Baby dinnerware multi-pack (4 winners)

5. Bob’s Red Mill whole grain sampler packs (4 winners)

6. Hint Water sampler packs (4 winners)

7. Poppy’s Naturally Clean Aloe Vera hand soaps & cleaning powder (3 winners)

8. Goddess Gardens Organics kids and adults spray sun tan lotion (4 winners)

9. Unhealthy Truth by Robyn O’Brien (3 winners)

10. GMO Inside Kits: “I’m Not a Lab Rat” Tshirt, GMO Inside pins, Labeling stickers saying “May Contain GMOs” (3 winners)

11. Healthier Breakfast & Brunch Recipes eBook by DietsinReview.com (3 winners)

How to Enter:

1. To enter please share this on two social media platforms of your choice. Here is a sample tweet in case you choose to use twitter:

I’m standing w/ @Bookieboo & asking  Similac to remove #GMOs from their infant formula 5/22, http://bit.ly/13BmkSH #SimilacNoGMO

OR

#GMOs in baby formula? Similac we want you to remove them and lead positive industry change, http://bit.ly/13BmkSH #SimilacNoGMO

2. During the event, every tweet you produce will enter you to win a prize. There are no maximum entries.

Please RSVP by hitting the linky below

Moms CAN make a difference, but sometimes our looks can be deceiving. Some of us may live in yoga pants, while others confess to wearing baby food. We wipe noses, kiss boo boos, and comfort the defenseless.

Another thing that is true of us is we protect our little ones….even if they aren’t our own. But most of all, we are powerful.

And I’m going to prove it to you.

Sign This Petition

Last week Abbott Labratories, the makers of Similac Infant Formula, had a shareholders meeting and voted down removing GMOs from their infant formula.

And thus abandoning babies.

*jaw drops to ground*

I sat here completely stunned because not only does Similac Infant Formula contain genetically modified ingredients, which hasn’t been proven safe by long-term independent testing (Yes, independent as in they have nothing to gain), it’s also labeled OR BANNED in about 60 other countries, including Russia, China, all of Europe, India and Saudi Arabia. Those countries have made labeling and removing GMOs from their food supply a priority.

I wonder why.

Here’s the real issue. When it comes to babies, is it worth the risk?

I know advocates of biotechnology are going to say that GMOs are the most tested food in history…they are regulated by the FDA…they have been deemed safe by our own governmental agencies…no one has died of a GMO…blah blah blah…

Sure, because we’ve never gotten it wrong before, right?

Here’s my point. Is it REALLY worth the risk when we are talking about babies?

The vast majority of industrialized nations have answered that question unanimously:  NO

In fact, if you go to Europe where only 5% of the food supply is genetically modified compared with America’s whopping 85%, you will find that there are lots of studies being done over there that are tying GMOs to diseases like cancer, obesity, allergies…and the list goes on and on.

Let’s also consider some basic facts that I got from Healthychild.org. Since the mid 90′s, which is about the same time that GMOs were introduced into the food supply, some very dramatic things have happened to the health of children.

• 400% increase in food allergies
• 300% increase in asthma
• 400% increase ADHD
• and 1,500% increase in Autism

And as a mother, I find that disturbing. Because even if there was a CHANCE that GMOs are dangerous, why are we putting them in baby formula? Babies are more susceptible to chemicals than adults.

Let’s leave the defenseless alone, mkay?

Here’s what I think. I think corporations CAN make good decisions. I want to feel safe about what I feed my kids. Don’t we all? I just think in this instance, Similac shareholders may have made an error in judgement. And I’m asking them to rectify it.

I’m asking Similac Infant Formula to lead this industry in a very positive way. I want them to remove GMOs from all their formulas and lead the industry so others do the same.

Because when it comes to babies…it’s not worth the risk.

Sign This Petition

You can help by visiting my petition and sharing it with your friends using #similacnogmo.

Let’s change this. We can. And we will.

For more information on the impacts of GMOs on the health of our children visit these organizations:

GMOInside.org

HealthyChild.org

I seriously need a pedi-you all must be sick of my blue polish by now!

As I stated in my video I want a healhty family and since I run the show and I am the decisioin maker I decided we aren’t going to be the sit on your butt family, we are going to be active and healhty.  So for me what that meant eating as much organic food as possible. I started out slowly adding in a little at time (it gets easier as you go and less expensive then you think).  We are more active…I went out and bought myself a bike.  She is georgous but now the whole family has bikes and we can ride on the trails by our house.

Me and Miss J getting ready to ride

Master D at the park-No running laps just play

I don’t want you all to think that I am so crazy crunchy granola hippy who is making my kids go out and run laps around the backyard and come in for a snack of organic twigs and berries.  We eat normal food and have fun outside playing.   I just decided I want to do eveyrthing I can for my family to ensure that we live a happy and healhty life.  For me that means as a family we eat healthy good food (local if possible-summer in CT yeilds amazing food) and that we move together.  The reality is I don’t think my kids (or hell my husband) has any idea about my master plan.  Why…because I just do it.  I say we are going outside, we are eating this, or we are buying this.  There is no arguement because I run the show in my house…and I know you all do to.

We can just make those changes…slowly a little at a time and it will make a difference.  A big positive difference over time.

Look no twigs and berries here-Just yummy food

For a while now (6 months at least!), Leah has been talking about aromatherapy and how much she loves diffusing essential oils – it has definitely struck up some interest within our community, so we have been on the hunt for an expert to share information with us and be our special guest on Mamavation TV. Luckily for us, we have found an expert! She is absolutely fantastic, a certified aromatherapist, a dynamic speaker, host of the show “Everybody Nose” on Veria TV and founder/CEO of Vim Essentials – Noelle Katai.

Special Guest: Noelle Katai

Noelle showed an interest in aromatherapy at an early age – by the age of the 3 she was already mixing up potions and products! She was on the cutting edge of aromas when she worked in marketing for small IT firms and and used it for marketing – by diffusing essential oils in conference rooms and even scenting invitations to marketing events. Although she was successful in the business world (she even has a patent pending for for a leadership assessment methodology that she co-invented!), she finally took the plunge and became a certified aromatherapist after studying at the Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy in San Rafael, CA. She has been studying and practicing aromatherapy for over 15 years and is also a member of the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy – all of which makes her a confirmed expert! Her success as a TV show host with the “Everybody Nose” series about aromatherapy and essential oils that can be seen on Veria TV (DISH Satellite channel 9575 and soon to be coming on DirecTV or on Veria.com) also makes her a fantastic guest for Mamavation TV.

We will be talking with Noelle about some basic information on aromatherapy and essential oils, where she will discuss a few myths about them and well as information on quality and safety of essential oils. She’ll also be touching on the safety of essential oils with kids and with infants – great information for moms! Since summer is just around the corner and we’re all gearing up for our children to be home on vacation, she’ll be discussing summertime sanity, something we could all use a little more of in the Sistahood! Finally, we’ll leave a little bit of time for a question and answer period, so come ready with questions! If you have questions ahead of time, please post them on our forum link for this week. Join us on Monday to hear Noelle Katai speak – you won’t want to miss it! You can also connect with her on Facebook or Twitter. And while you’re at it, check out her credits on IMDB!

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)

BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Noelle Katai

• 2 participants will receive an AromaCar Commuter Kit

Be sure to include the following disclaimer at the bottom of your post:

“ This post is sponsored by Noelle Katai and Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway ”

———> Sistas, link up your posts here.

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

• 2 Viewers will win an AromaCar Communter Kit

To Enter (leave a comment for entry):

1. Hit the Linky
2. Tweet out this message “ Giveaways LIVE on #Mamavation TV. @NoelleKatai will be talking with us about aromatherapy! http://bit.ly/17ehzBC ” (Unlimited Entries for tweets, comment each time)

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. RSVP to the Google+ event for Monday (1 entry)
5. Subscribe to the RSS feed of this blog (1 entry)
6. Follow @InspiredRD on Twitter (1 entry)
7. Follow @NoelleKatai on Twitter (1 entry)
8. Give @Bookieboo Klout points, +Klout in Fitness, nutrition, health, social media, or parenting. (1 entry each)
9. Start a thread on the forums and tag another Sista to join in on the conversation (1 entry)

My stack of grading that I mentioned in my Vlog

This week’s topic is to talk about our struggles we have encountered since becoming Mamavation Mom’s. Although this journey has been an amazing one-it has also been tough. For me my struggle has been with reordering my priorities. As I said in my video, my priority list would be
1. My family
2. My Work/Students
75. Me

When I was chosen it became clear that the above ranking system would not work with having all the workouts, creating proper food, and all the support meetings. I needed to reorganize the list to look something more like this
1. My family
2. Me
3. Work
4. Everything else

The only issue is by moving me up….it makes me feel….well uncomfortable. I feel like I am letting my students down because I am not working as hard for my job as I use to. I know in truth my student don’t notice the difference other than it takes me longer to get papers back, I know that my family doesn’t feel slighted by me putting myself higher on the priority scale. It is just hard to get rid of our old habits and make new ones. I just keep telling myself that I am going to be a better mother and teacher for getting my health in order.

So as far as this week goes, I only lost .02 and lets just say I may or may not have called my scale some very nasty words. Then with some encouragement from my Mentor Rebecca suggested that I measure myself. I did…and damn! I lost over five inches in three weeks. That sure as heck makes up for the small weight loss.

So here is my scale pic and my stats! Have a great week everyone.