I don't know where I would be without softball. Really.

Marin Social Sports: Sons of Pitches vs. Pitch, Please

I was in the 7th grade, when I played my first co-ed softball game. Although, it was during a mandatory P.E. class, I completely fell in love with the sport. Unfortunately, I wasn't dedicated enough to pursue it as a recreational sport. Fast forward to high school, my sport of choice was badminton. Heck, I even lettered in badminton. Yes - I was a Varsity member of the team all four years in high school. I need to locate a yearbook and find my team photos. One day. 😂

Four years ago, my husband Donald joined his company co-ed softball team. I wanted to be supportive, so I took on the role of Team Mom. I brought snacks and beverages for 20 somethings and 30 somethings in San Francisco. I decided to do a throw back to our childhood, so I would always bring the 90s childhood standard: CapriSuns. One day, I had to trade in my Team Mom hat to become a team player because they were short a female on the team. TLDR: No female player = team forfeit. Thus, this was the start of my unofficial adult co-ed rec league slow pitch softball career. 

County of Marin - Marin Health & Human Services Softball Team

Co-ed softball has helped me in many ways over the years, but mostly it has done two things for me:

1. Co-ed softball brought my husband Donald and I closer together. (Who knew we were so damn competitive?)

2. Reminded me that I can be athletic at any size AND still improve. (Unfortunately, I have gained weight over the last four years, however my catching and hitting has improved consistently)

Why are these lessons important?

Lesson #1 is important because...
What better test is there for a relationship then to be teammates AND co-managers of various softball teams? We are coaches, players, and cheerleaders for the many softball teams we play on. It has taught us both about the virtues of patience, understanding, but most of all support for each other no matter what...win or lose.

Lesson #2 is important because...

I might have gained weight over the last four years, but I don't want my size to slow me down to improve my skills for a sport I have become passionate about. My weight loss journey is just that: it's a journey. There will be ups and downs. What is the difference now? I am removing more people, places, and things that distract me so I can just focus on one thing: MY HEALTH.

I will keep moving forward in my health journey and at the same time I will kick butt and take names on the softball field.

Looking for a league to join? Are you in the San Francisco/Marin area?

Try:

Marin Social Sports
Play in the Bay Sport & Social Club

Do you have a sport you are passionate about? Why do you love it? Share in the comments below - I'd love to hear from you.

-FFF Diva Mo

Dear Lolo Doring

FFF Diva Mo with her family, 2011

Dear Lolo Doring,

I can’t believe that it’s going to be five years since you graced this earth. Whenever, I got stressed out I knew I could always calm down with a simple chat with you. So here goes: You taught me that that “close enough” wasn’t enough. In 2011, our pamilya watched me walk for my MBA degree, but I was two classes short. I just wanted our family to see me finish, but I never did. By the time I wanted to go back to school you passed away and it crushed me. I justified it by saying “close enough, he at least saw me graduate.” As each year passed I knew it would be harder to go back, but in 2017 life circumstances changed and I needed to go back & finish what I started. It’s been 11 years since I started this original grad school journey, but I’m proud to say I got readmitted back to school and god willing I finish this December. Two classes unfortunately turned into more, but it is what it is - gotta push through. I have lived the last several years in deep denial and failure. I know I should be proud that I’m going back to finish - life after all is a marathon not a sprint. Don’t worry, I know this now. This is why I’ve been a hermit since January, like Elle Woods studying for her LSATs. I took a step back from everything. School and my health are my top priorities and luckily I see the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact I’m going to Argentina as a culminating project of my studies - a global consulting trip with a company based out of Buenos Aires. Please watch over me the next couple of months. Know that I am finishing this degree not only for myself but for you and my future kids as a reminder to never let close enough be enough. It took Mom 10 years to finish her Masters Degree as a full time nurse and part time student. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 🍎

With all my love,
Moyeen

           FFF Diva Mo with MBA Global Consulting Practicum group & professors in Argentina, 2018

"I'd rather own little & see the world than own the world and see little of it."

"I'd rather own little & see the world than own the world and see little of it."

Have you ever had one of those moments where you need to change your environment or shake things up in your life to break the routine or stale energy? I had this experience last Monday morning. By Monday afternoon, I requested three days off work to visit my sister in Tacoma, WA (near Seattle). By Tuesday evening, my husband Donald bought my plane ticket blindly on Expedia.com. Why did I do this? I just needed an opportunity to reset, outside of my North Bay, CA home environment. I fully acknowledge the privilege that is involved with being able to travel and leave at the drop of a hat. In reality, this decision was shared carefully with me and my husband - we reviewed our life budget and made it work. I am only here for 2.5 days. Not enough time to even sneeze. However, out of all the places to choose to vacation to I chose the Seattle area to specifically see my sister Leilani.

I am ten pounds away from my weight loss goal. I feel like I am stuck. My sister though is kicking ass and taking names. She has dropped well over 50 lbs and is close to reversing her Type II Diabetes. I just landed late last night after work from San Francisco, and she already booked me for our Wednesday morning kickboxing class (which did kick my ass). She is living life to the beat of her own drum and not letting money (or lack there of) stop her from living. I haven't even spent 24 hours with her and I have already confirmed I am living waaaaaaaay outside of my means and I can do better. You can live life to its fullest without going broke. You can experience adventure without going broke. There is no such thing as broke - it's living within your life budget.

You might be wondering: "Wow Mo, your husband Donald is so supportive of you just whisking off on vacation without a moment's notice." Yes and no. He is supportive, but the main reason why he worked our life budget to make this happen was because I needed a break to renew and re-balance my mental health. I have branded myself as #MoOnTheGo - I thrive on being busy - or so I thought. I needed a break from work, personal commitments, community work, emails, social media, and technology (yes I know it's ironic considering I am writing this blog post on my tech hiatus). I didn't tell anyone really where I was going. My husband agreed to this trip if I promised to put an away message on both my work AND personal email, plus not post on social media. Keep this trip quiet and sacred.  I know it sounds crazy, but I NEVER put on my away message on personal email. Last time I did that was 2012 - I didn't even do that for my own wedding last year! The moment I got off the plane at Sea-Tac, I felt relaxed. I felt unchained from checking email and my social media accounts. To continue this relaxed feeling, my sister decided to take me to the Tacoma Museum today. I literally sat in front of a video of an outdoor installation of inflatable tubes flapping in the wind on a 20 minute loop. I SAT STILL. My sister found me in the museum and was shocked that I was just sitting there quietly. You are probably thinking: "Twenty minutes? What's the big deal?" For someone nicknamed #MoOnTheGo this 20 minutes meant everything. We even wrapped up our visit with 20 minutes in the creative art making room. Leilani and I sat across from each other. She painted a picture of a bowl of fruit. I drew a sketch of my sister with the bowl of fruit she was painting. We hung them on the art wall with pride. I am taking them back to California to give as a gift to our mom. I am 32 years old. The last time I sat down and drew a picture the way I did today I was a teenager and before that I was in middle school. There we were sitting in complete silence. The only sound you heard was my pencil brushing against the paper and my sister's watercolor brush on her sheet of paper.

I am sharing this because by sitting in silence or in stillness I am shaking away discomfort. I am uncomfortable with silence and stillness. I am uncomfortable with rest. By having a neverending list of things to do, I am not able to prioritize what I really need to do or want to finish. For example, I am in the process of going back to school to finish my MBA. I walked in 2011 with two classes and a capstone project to finish. I finished my capstone project and passed, but never finished those last two classes. I am here sitting in front of my laptop sitting in a coffee shop in Gig Harbor, WA while my sister is running errands with only two goals - 1) finishing this blog entry 2) writing my MBA personal statement to be able to re-apply into my unfinished graduate school program.

Now is the time for me to crowd out the noise. This trip to see my sister was a gift from a higher power and I don't want to waste it.

I know my thoughts are all over the place, but I often delay my goals because I strive for perfection which in the end prevents me from even starting in the first place. Not this time - I am striving for the first raw draft. 

Do Or Do Not. There Is No Try.

I started this blog in 2009 as a way to vent but also connect with other folks who were on a journey to a healthier version of them. Originally this blog was about my weight loss journey, but morphed into an on-line therapy support group or ever dare I say it - electronic confessional. Now it is 2017 and I am coming back to the essence of why I started writing in the first place: an opportunity to reflect and hold myself accountable especially to a world of strangers (who eventually actually became my real life friends!).

But enough about that. Why am I back? A new journey for me has started. My husband Donald and I have decided to do whatever it took to start a family - now in our 30s we were in a tougher spot physically both weighing over 300 lbs. We made a heavy decision for our family in 2016 - we decided to pursue weight loss surgery. In a future post, I will dedicate a whole entry as to why we decided to go down this route and it was not a decision that came lightly by any means. There are a lot of emotional, physical, and psychological factors involved including addressing stress, food addiction, and other things that we try to bury by eating food for comfort.

**Disclaimer: I am not encouraging folks to go down this route. This is the journey my husband and I are taking. At the end of the day we will still have to eat well and exercise but in summary it gives us the ability to reboot our bodies.**

My husband weighed 324 lbs. in January 2017. This was the same number that was my heaviest weight. We used 2016 as a year to see if we could lose the weight again. We both had experiences in our 20's losing about 100 lbs each but something happened in our 30s where it was much harder to lose the weight.

I am pretty sure you have questions like: "Wait. Why are you choosing surgery as an option? You lost it before, you can do it again!" or "What's wrong with you? Why can't you finish it?" or "Surgery? Really? Isn't that just an out?" 

Ah yes. Trust me. I had these questions roll through my own head, plus the good old "Wow you are a failure" attitude. Here's the thing: Everyone chooses different journeys towards a healthier life. This one is mine. Is it the end all be all solution? HECK NO. Is it for everyone? HECK NO.  

We never considered weight loss surgery before because we used to be big losers and we could do it again, or so we thought. By the beginning of 2017 we moved to at least exploring what surgery and life post-surgery would be like. My husband I were both tasked to lose about 30 lbs each in order to qualify (among other guidelines - p.s. we had different insurance carriers, therefore different activities related to our programs). Long story short, he lost the weight and had his gastric sleeve surgery in May. Today he is in his 240s and is feeling healthier and more confident.

And then there is me. 
I am 10 lbs away from my goal weight! Yay! Right? Um. No. I have been 10 lbs away since July. What is holding me back from getting to goal? Am I really ready for this surgery? Do I even want it?

Short answer: Do Or Do Not. There Is No Try.

I have many friends in my previous weight loss journey who were inspired by my original journey, lost the weight and kept it off. Now I have other friends who started their weight loss surgery pre-op activities and were inspired by me and lost the weight and now are post-op surgery. Do you see a pattern? I'll connect the dots - I have given my time to other people, places, and things and not dedicating the same focus for me. Now it is the end of September and I am still 10 lbs away. New goal is to qualify for surgery this Fall to have surgery before the end of 2017. Now is not the time to half-ass this process anymore. 

I am not going to try to make time for exercise. I WILL DO.

I am not going to try to eat healthy everyday. I WILL DO.

I am going to try to keep my Sundays open for my meal prep day. I WILL DO.

Simply put: Do Or Do Not. There Is No Try.

I WILL try something NEW everyday.

I WILL take time out every day to sit still.

I WILL achieve my goal by October 31, 2017 because goals without deadlines are just dreams.

I am done with dreaming. #OverIt 

Walking Meetings: It's Not Just a West Wing Thing

Happy Election Day! #PantsuitNation #ImWithHer

In honor of #Election2016, I thought I would bring up a topic that has helped me avoid sedentary days at work: walking meetings. Believe it or not, it is not just an activity that was portrayed on one of my favorite political shows The West Wing. The New York Times and Huffington Post both agree that walking meetings are a wonderful strategy to engage with colleagues, create fresh ideas, and get walking steps to fit cardio into the work day.

#ProTip: Use tools like #FitBit for accountability!

I like to use fancy pedometers like FitBit to keep track of my steps. I have challenges with my husband Donald and other friend across the country. Oddly enough I feel so connected to them even though we may be hundreds of miles apart - yet I still want to out-step them! I am not competitive at all, unless it's against my husband, then by all means bring it on.

Start your day off on the right foot...with a walking meeting!

Walking meetings have been a quick solution for clarity. Whenever I am in a mind blank at work or even at home with my hubby I turn to the walking meeting method to help shift the energy in whatever I am fretting about. Surprisingly enough, there have been some pioneers in history who believed that walking meetings were just what the doctor ordered!

Walking meetings aren't a new thing.

Remember folks and friends: 30 minutes of walking a day is the best form of prevention! These health benefits include improved body composition (higher muscle-to-fat ratio) and decreased risk for metabolic syndrome (high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which together increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke) - just to name a few!

Insert #dropmic here.

MOtastic: Five Years Later

Hello FFF Diva Fans!

Five years has passed since my last blog post. Life has definitely changed greatly and I come back to the blogging world for one thing: MOtivation.

Today, I stepped on the scale and I weighed in at 300 lbs. I thought to myself: "WHAT HAPPENED?! What happened to the gal who got healthier and took back her life?" As I was trying to run through every scenario of whose fault it was, clarity kicked in: "Life happened Maureen. Now it's time to get re-motivated again. Keep moving forward."

I decided to go back to the beginning of my journey. In 2007, I weighed in at my heaviest at 324 lbs. Today in 2016, I realized I was only 24 lbs away from that number. I found this FFF Diva Blog and started reading its posts from the beginning. Did I have a different mindset in 2009? In 2011 I was starting to gain weight again but I was trying to get it under control. Or so I thought.

I repeat: Life happened. 

Key Highlights:

• 2011: I moved out on my own with the help of amazing friends. 
• 2012: I relocated to my college town and started working towards moving my career back to Public Health.
• 2013: I got back together with my college boyfriend Donald (long distance too!). We ran the 2013 Pittsburgh Marathon (as in Pennsylvania). 
• 2014: I got engaged. Chartered a Rotary Club. 
• 2015: Ran the 2015 Tiburon FitBit Half Marathon side by side with Donald. Celebrated Filipino American History Month at the White House. I solidified my career in Public Health. #MoOnTheGo
• 2016: I got married in Pittsburgh, PA. Catholic wedding. Casino reception. California reception. Became President of my Rotary Club. 
• And a bunch of other odds and ends. 

My health was no longer a priority. Other people, organizations, and things became a priority. However, somewhere along the way I forgot that I cannot help anyone or anybody else unless I put myself first.

It's my fault my husband got fat. 

Two years before my husband moved to California to start our new life together he lost 80 lbs. Now it is roughly 2.5 years later and he gained it back and then some. He says it's not my fault because I never force fed him, but I do know we are a strong source of enabling each other. Maybe it's my Catholic guilt talking, but still I feel horrible about it.

Now that I married all I can think about is my timeline for having kids.

I have to publicly thank my husband Donald. We were able to have a true heart to heart conversation about children. Yes babies are in our future, but we made a pact - we need to get healthier together first. 

If you made it this far down the blog post - thank you! I debated back and forth about blogging publicly again but I remembered what this community gifted me with: genuine accountability. I'm back and hope you can re-join me in my health journey in this new chapter in my life!

With love,

FFF Diva Mo

FFF Diva Mo is now #MoOnTheGo

Donald and Mo are proud Rotarians

Mo and Donald on their wedding day in Pittsburgh, PA: July 2016

FFF Diva Mo at 300 lbs. 

REAL UNEDITED FFF DIVA MO: A New Day. A New Beginning. A New Mo.

Hi FFF Diva Fans and Followers! I know it's been ages. I always say things like that. I have been going thru a lot in my personal life, hence why I have been sparingly posting to this blog of mine. I want you to know MAJOR CHANGES are afoot. Below is the 1st entry of my new life blog: "The Girl Called Mo: True Story For Reals" on http://motastictsfr.blogspot.com/. Why did I start a new blog? Well the 1st entry below says it all. Long story short I hired a weight loss life coach to get me thru my weight loss plateau and in the process I will be given LIFE ASSIGNMENTS. My first assignment? - START A NEW UNEDITED AND REAL BLOG ABOUT YOUR UNHAPPINESS AND CHALLENGES OF WEIGHT LOSS THEN TAG THE FOLKS YOU WANT TO READ IT ON YOUR PERSONAL FACEBOOK and let the magic work out itself. So for the next 6 months I WILL NOT BE POSTING to this blog page BUT I invite you to come along for my new journey thru my new blog http://motastictsfr.blogspot.com/. See you in March 2012! =) All the love, FFF Diva Mo <3 ------------------------------------------- A New Day. A New Beginning. A New Mo. (1st blog entry in new blog) Let's be real: You are probably wondering why you were tagged to read this blog in the first place. You have been directed to read this blog because long story short: In 2011, you have helped me learn something more about myself as an individual and have made some significant impact on my life in the last year. Heavy right? It gets better. Keep reading... For the last year I have been extremely confused and unhappy about my life, my future, my everything especially in regards to my weight loss journey and career planning post MBA graduate school. Since May 2011 to August 2011, I basically regained 30 pounds, took on habits that were unlike me, and just got unfocused. I wanted you to know friends and family that I decided to seek professional help: I hired a weight loss coach. Yep, I brought in the big guns. Why?! Although I was successful to lose almost 100 lbs on my own, since 2008 I have stayed relatively around 250-ish pounds and have not made much progress since then--yes I know it's 3 years later. During the next 6 months my weight loss coach will give me life assignments to complete during this time of healing and self-discovery. There are times where you might get annoyed with me, support me, or quite possibly never talk to me again. And you know what--I am prepared for that. Basically my coach asked me to start a new blog to be truly transparent about myself, my unhappiness, and my real raw weight loss journey struggles and challenges. In other words: I am going thru a detoxification of my life as I currently know it. Life Assignments Due By Next Session: Life Assignment #1: Create a new blog that is completely honest about my current journey.Tag certain individuals who you want to specifically read this blog. Life Assignment #2: Go through ENTIRE Facebook friends list and ask "How does this person add value to my life?" If no value can be established, then delete the individual from my friend's list. Life Assignment #3: Turn off my iPhone completely for 30 minutes per day to make myself completely unavailable. Life Assignment #4: Meditate 10 minutes a day by myself in a quiet place. Life Assignment #5: Clean out entire clothing closet and donate ALL clothes that are either too big or too small for me. Start from scratch. Life Assignment #6: No alcohol. Period. Life Assignment #7: 3 times a day look into the mirror and say: "I am beautiful. I am worthy of living a healthy life. I am going to reach my weight loss goal." Deal of a lifetime: By November 11, 2011, if I follow everything that is asked of me and lose 35 lbs. or more my payment for each coaching session will be majorly discounted. Talk about a true incentive! <3 I am detoxing from everything, but myself. I ask nothing more than for your love and support. However, if this is a journey you don't understand or are uncomfortable with all I can say is this: "You can be in my tribe or walk away." Simple as that. I would love for you to stick around for the adventure, but if you can't I understand and good luck to you! Like I said: "A New Day. A New Beginning. A New Mo."

FFF Diva Realization: Mental Vacation

Life Transitions: July 2011, photo courtesy of Cree Djork

Quote of the Day: "Love the body you have today, regardless of what you want it to look like."

It's been about two months since I updated this blog. I could go back and explain what I did the last two months, but I will just summarize it as this: I was finding myself through the course of a mental vacation. I seriously vegged out. I was still running, exercising, and skating but in reality I was a lost mess. I delved back into my habits of exercising but eating whatever I wanted. In all honesty I lost sight and track of the former disciplined Maureen. So during my two months off from blogging and other things I am happy to report that I am back and more motivated than ever to lose my last 50 lbs. to get back to my original college weight. Once that is achieved then I can address other things like toned muscles, etc. It's all about the low hanging fruit.

I just wanted to let you all know that this journey has had many ups and downs but I can finally see the light. (I know cheesy, but be patient with me, LOL)

I'll end on this note: Everyone needs a life reboot from time to time. A life reboot is an opportunity to make change for the better. Almost like wiping the slate clean. I've started my reboot. How about you?

Committed to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: Roller Derby Adventures and More

Welcome to the final and last week of WLB Season 4! Wow, it has been one heck of a seven week ride hasn't it folks?! I am happy to announce I made some stellar life long friends through this process and have learned a lot more about myself as well as how to stay motivated during a weight loss journey! My hope is that by keeping track with my journey the last 7 weeks kept you inspired to start your own healthier lifestyles too!

But DO NOT WORRY! I hope to come back to WLB as a guest blogger AND we can always keep in touch in various ways:

Maureen "Mo" De Nieva
Facebook: /MOtastic145
Personal Blog: www.MOtastic145.blogspot.com
Facebook Fan Page for Fierce Fat Filipina Divas: /FFFDivas
Facebook Fan Page for Dominican Radio Show: /TwithnickyP
Twitter: MOtastic
Email: maureen.apa.yli@gmail.com (I also g-chat too)

AND if YOU are living in the Bay Area in California we can always meet up and have coffee! I mean it! Or better yet a cool walk or a stellar hike! =)

New news and updates:

So unfortunately, because of unexpected expenses I couldn't afford to come back to Operation Boot Camp's June session. BUT DO NOT FRET for I will be back for our July camp! What's cool about my OBC family is that THEY WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME. So, what will I do to keep me fit and accountable until OBC starts?

Two things:

1. I will be doing a hydrostatic water dunking weigh in to see how much fat % I need to drop. Healthy fat % for a woman is 22% body fat. Yeah, last time I checked I was around 42% give or take, pretty good considering the first time I took it 4 years ago and it was closer to 50% body fat! Yikes! Now you may ask: WHY? BODY FAT TESTING? Well it's a more accurate way to measure your journey versus weight on a scale. See, muscle weighs heavier than fat. So for me I like to measure my journey through metrics: 1) hydrostatic dunk 2) measure inches 3) weight on scale. This makes me feel MUCH MORE positive about the whole weight loss process.
For more information: http://www.topendsports.com/testing/tests/underwater.htm

2. I signed up for beginner's girl's roller derby boot camp with the Silicon Valley Roller Girls! I just started a week ago. I haven't touched a pair of skates since I was 12 years old and I could barely skate in general. But yesterday at our second practice I was already skating laps and doing basic skating drills. Win status! Now that's progress! Here's to the next 10 weeks! Hopefully I can pass my minimum skating skills test in order to try out for the league, but first thing's first: DO NOT GET HURT MO. HAHA! For more information: http://svrollergirls.com/about.php


FFF Diva Mo on the start of her girl's roller derby journey

The Rules of Roller Derby

You can find the Official Rules at the Women's Flat Track Derby Association's website.

How to Play:

There are two teams on the track at once.
Each team can have no more than five skaters on the track at one time.
Each team is made up of one pivot, three blockers, and one jammer.
There might be fewer girls on the track at once, depending on if any girls are in the penalty box.

Positions:

Pivot - Skates in the very front of the pack, controls pack speed and serves as a last line of defense against the opposing jammer. The Pivot has a solid stripe on their helmet cover.
Blocker - The blocker's job is to make sure the opposing jammer never gets past them. They work together with other blockers and her pivot to help her jammer through the pack while stopping the opposing jammer. They can help their girl out by whipping them through the pack. Blockers do not wear helmet covers
Jammer - The “money maker“. They score all the points. Jammers starts 30 feet behind the pack. They have to skate through the entire pack once and lap the pack before she can begin to score points. Every girl on the opposing team she passes is a point. That includes girls in the penalty box and girls on the floor. The Jammers have a large star on each side of their helmet cover.
Lead Jammer - The first jammer to get through the pack passing all skaters legally and in-bounds. The lead jammer can call off the jam anytime she wants after lead jammer status has been earned. Referees will signify lead jammer status with two rapid whistle blasts and by pointing at the jammer.

The Game:

A bout is 60 minutes broken into two 30 minute periods. Each period is composed of an unlimited number of jams which can last up to 2 minutes. After each jam, the teams have no more than 30 seconds to line up for the next jam. If a skater is not on the track when the whistle blows, her team must skate short.


One long whistle blast signals the beginning of a jam and for the pack to begin skating.
Two rapid whistle blasts are blown to signal the jammer start.
Four whistle blasts signal the end of the jam, which can happen because the two minutes have elapsed or because the lead jammer called off the jam.

Penalties to watch out for:

Pushing, shoving, punching, grabbing or holding
Hitting or jabbing with the elbows
Hitting from behind
Tripping, kicking, or blocking with skates or legs
Blocking or assisting a jammer while twenty feet ahead or behind the pack
Blocking or passing skaters out-of-bounds

For more check out this video of '09 highlights of SVRG:


Yeah, this is going to be an interesting summer, but hopefully after my time here at WLB4 you can still follow my journey at my personal blog:

www.blogspot.com/MOtastic145

Anyways, rounding out this week...how have all of you been?! Has the weather been beautiful or absolutely dreadful? Have you been able to sneak in workouts in between? Let me know, I'd love to know!

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo <3

WLB4: Coming Back From a Hiatus

Operation Boot Camp: "Always Earned, Never Given"

This coming Monday, May 23rd I will be coming back to Operation Boot Camp. For those who don't know, I lost the last 50 lbs by 1) competitively running 2) Operation Boot Camp. However, since my last semester of graduate school had a crazier schedule I actually had to take a break from camp. I haven't been at camp from March-May, however I have been back each month for Bring a Friend Day and Free Community Preview Day on Saturdays.


Operation Boot Camp Family: 5K Urban Scavenger Hunt, March 2011 (24th out of 180 teams)

How do I feel about coming back to 6am outdoor cardio Operation Boot Camp?

In one word: SCARED.

In five words: SCARED OUT OF MY MIND.

Why?!

HIATUS.

hi·a·tus   /haɪˈeɪtəs/ [hahy-ey-tuhs]
–noun, plural -tus·es, -tus.
1. a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.
2. a missing part; gap or lacuna: Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript.
3. any gap or opening.

Coming back from a hiatus is always hard. Although I have been sticking to my 1/2 marathon running schedule, going to the gym, and meeting with my trainer Jill 1-2 days a week IS NOTHING COMPARED TO EVERYDAY SESSIONS at OBC. This coming Monday is out PT test. We do two PT tests to gauge how you have improved by the end of the 30 days. A PT test consists of running 1 mile, 1 min push-ups, 1 min dips, and 1 min sit-ups. Lord bless me. I feel worried. I feel worried to be the slowest one at camp again. I feel worried that I am not going to be able to keep up. I worked so hard the last year to improve my running and endurance and I feel that I am back at square one.

So how am I going to combat the inner negative voices in my head? By telling myself this:

"Maureen you CANNOT compare yourself to other people. Your weight loss journey is just as significant and important as everyone else. The only person you should worry about it yourself and YOUR journey. Stay positive. Stay focused."

Have you ever felt down because you feel like you are going one step forward, but two steps back? How did you move forward and fight the negative thoughts in your head? I'd love to know.

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: It's a Lifestyle!

Hello WLB4 followers! I am back and ready for more! WHY?! I am an MBA graduate! Last Friday I walked in my commencement ceremony for my MBA degree at Dominican University of California!


GraDUation Day: Friday, May 14th, 2011

It was an amazing day. I am 26 years old with an MBA degree. What am I going to do now? Sleep. =)

In other news this weekend I did the 100th anniversay of the San Francisco Bay to Breakers with my OBC family! I dressed up as Dave from Alvin & the Chipmunks. Good times! It was a 12K (7-ish miles)race through the streets of San Francisco. Long story short: IT WAS A STREET PARTY!


Operation Boot Camp Family at Mile 7 of the SF Bay to Breakers


OBC family with free chocolate milk!

Last but not least my favorite news of the day! Today I received this email in my inbox:

Dear Athlete,

Congratulations! We’re pleased to announce that you have been selected to become a member of Team MARATHON® Bar. Your athletic accomplishments and individual interests were a perfect match for the sponsors’ goal of building a dedicated team of passionate runners who are committed to staying active. Your 2011 goals, past achievements, future motivations, and overall dedication to the sport and product best demonstrated this commitment. Please see below for important details to getting started with the sponsorship.

Cheers!
Team MARATHON® Bar Management

That's right folks: FFF Diva Mo is a SPONSORED running athlete! I seriously didn't think this would happen in a million years. I am still reeling from excitement and shock. I can't wait to sport my new Team MARATHON Bar jersey at my running races this year INCLUDING the Nike Women's Marathon in October AND the NIGHT TIME Las Vegas Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon in December! Let the training begin!

Speaking of training...how are all of you with your training endeavors? I know I have been MIA, but I am sure you all have inspirational moments in your journey. I have learned, especially in my last year of grad school that LIFE HAPPENS. This year alone I went from my 280s to 240s to 260s and back down to 250s. THIS YEAR ALONE. But did I stop moving forward regardless of my setbacks? NO. I KEPT MOVING FORWARD. Tomorrow is always a brand new day. Losing weight, living a healthier life, why it's a LIFESTYLE! I just need to stick with it and I will be rewarded not just with weight loss but a more happier and healthier life! I know you can too!

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: Nike Women's Marathon 2011

I know, I know. I have been super MIA. Good news though: NOT FOR LONG! Why?! Because I graduate with my MBA degree this Friday! I know this season of WLB4 is coming to a close soon, but I just want to share how wonderful and supportive this community has been. It's not just about weight loss, it's about moving forward and living a healthier lifestyle. Regardless of what happens at the end of these 7 weeks I have made new friends, got a lot of great advice, and hopefully inspired others that YOU TOO CAN SAY YES TO LIFE. A life that is active. A life that is no longer in the shadows or in a size 28 plaid patterned moo moo dress. NO WAY! Not anymore!

I am happy to announce that I am officially registered for the 2011 Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, California! It is a random lottery race. It's a sold out race of 25,000 participants! Don't know what the NWM is? Well it's hosted by Nike and this year is their 8th race! Proceeds raised go to Lymphoma research. And when you finish either the 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) or the full marathon (26.2 miles) as a finisher's medal you receive a Tiffany & Co. silver necklace from a HOT San Francisco Fire Fighter in a tuxedo. True story for reals!

Last year I signed up to complete the full marathon, but fell behind their slowest pace setter. You HAVE TO COMPLETE the race either the full or the half in 6 hours or less or you don't qualify for the necklace. I was diverted to the half and PR'ed that day (personal record) at 3 hours 28 minutes. This year is pretty special because I am doing a FULL MARATHON schedule with our newly established Women's Running Club called Women Addicted to Running Club (WAR for short). This club consists of my friends both in and outside of Operation Boot Camp.

Photos from last year's Nike Women's Marathon 2010:


Ladies of OBC! We are running the 2011 race together this time!


One of my dearest friends, OBC Instructor, and one of my heroines: Alex Mijares


At the finish line post race with my Tiffany's blue box!


Pointing to my name written on a wall of all 25,000 participants last year

If you would like more information: Nike Women's Marathon Blog
http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_events-en_US/?tags=nike_womens_marathon_2011

Have you ever ran/walked/jogged a full or 1/2 marathon? If so, which one? If so, what inspired you to do it in the first place?

ALSO, if you haven't ran/walked/jogged a long endurance race, would you want to? What do you think you need to succeed or stay movtivated?

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: How to Run Injury Free!

How to Run Injury-Free

By Jeff Galloway
For Active.com

One of my proudest accomplishments is being free of overuse injuries for almost 30 years. Below you will find the risks and the ways to avoid them.

My advice comes from working with over 200,000 runners in Galloway training groups, one-day running schools, Tahoe retreats, e-coaching and individual consultations. As runners send me the results of my suggestions, I adjust the training and rest schedules. The current injury-free program is listed below, but I continue to look for better ways of avoiding problems and reducing downtime.

Fewer Days of Training Per Week

Those who run three days a week have the lowest rate of injury. I believe that almost all runners, except for Olympic candidates and world record aspirants, can be just as fit and perform as well running every other day. This may involve two-a-day workouts and more quality on each day.

Having 48 hours between runs is like magic in repairing damage. Those who insert a short and slow jog on recovery day (junk miles) are not allowing for complete recovery. When a client complains about lingering aches and pains, I cut them back to every other day and the problems usually go away.

Go Slower on the Long Runs

After 30 years of tracking injuries during marathon training programs, I've found that most are due to running the long ones too fast. You can't run the long ones too slowly--you get the same endurance whether you go very fast or very slow. Slow running will allow your legs to recover faster. The fastest that I want our Galloway Training groups to run is two minutes per mile slower than goal pace. Many run three or four min/mi slower and experience very fast recovery. Be sure to slow down as the temperature increases: 30 sec/mi slower for each 5 degrees of temperature increase above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

More Walk Breaks

The continuous use of any muscle used the same way, increases fatigue more rapidly. Continuing to run continuously, with fatigued muscles, will greatly increase the chance of injury. You'll see on my website the recommended frequency of walk breaks, based upon pace. If you have aches and pains already, it is best to walk more often, from the beginning, than is recommended. The most important walk breaks are those taken in the beginning of the run, for these can erase all of the fatigue. Walk breaks will also tend to produce a faster time in all races from 5K up. The average improvement in a marathon among those who've run several without walk breaks is 13 minutes faster by taking the strategic walks.

Don't Stretch if You Have an Ache, Pain or Injury

Stretching a tight or injured muscle or tendon will increase the damage dramatically. Even one stretch will produce tears in the fibers, resulting in a longer recovery. Stretching a muscle that has been tightened by running can injure it within a minute. Massage is a great way to deal with the natural tightening produced by running. The tightening is mostly a good thing, allowing you to run more efficiently.

Be Careful With Speed Training

Speed workouts produce a lot of injuries. You can reduce the odds of this happening by warming up very well, doing a few light accelerations as described in my books Testing Yourself, Year-Round Plan, Half Marathon and Marathon. Other important injury-reduction factors are the following walking more between each speed repetition and staying smooth at the expense of time. Don't strain to run a certain time. This is most important at the end of a workout.

Never Push Through Pain, Inflammation or Loss-of-Function

If you experience one of the above, stop the run immediately. Continuing to run for another block or another lap will often produce multiples of damage requiring weeks or months off for repair--instead of days.

For more information, see Jeff's books Marathon, Half-Marathon, Running--A Year Round Plan, Walking -- The Complete Book and Galloway's Book on Running, 2nd Ed. These are available, autographed, from www.RunInjuryFree.com. Join Jeff's blog: www.jeffgallowayblog.com

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FFF Diva Mo's Take: How To Run Injury Free
The bottomline is KNOW YOUR BODY and ASK QUESTIONS. If you don't ask your doctor, your trainer, or physical therapist what's going on with your pains and aches how will you know if it is a short term or long term injury. Trust me, PREVENTION of injury is very important and therefore stretching before and after a major run or cardio exercise is good for you.

I run to be free outdoors and be "one with nature." Running outdoors is definitely more refreshing than running indoors!

WHY DO YOU RUN?! WHY DO YOU WALK?! WHY DO YOU JOG?! I'd love to know!

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FFF Diva Mo: Where have you been?!

I know, I know. It's been like 10 years since my last WLB blog post! Trust me, I will make it up to y'all this weekend. I have this goal of at LEAST 3 posts a week, but I have been busy this week. WHY? I am graduating next Friday with my Masters in Business Administration (MBA degree) from Dominican University of California in Marin County, California (north of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco). It's taken 2 MBA program changes, a 7 month hiatus, and 4 years of commuting multiple days a week from South San Jose to Marin (that's 180 miles roundtrip!) while working full time and doing the 7 million other things I do to FINALLY get to this day: GRADUATION! And since it is also Mother's Day weekend, to honor my Mother I am wearing HER graduation gown she used when she graduated with her Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University. What else can make this day more special: knowing I paid my ENTIRE MBA degree out of pocket. How? The moment I graduated from Dominican in 2007 I moved home like a good Filipino Catholic girl. Since I live at home and commute I have been able to pay tuition on my own and with the help of family from time to time. This degree is definitely a FULL FAMILY EFFORT.


My graduation tickets, cap, tassel, hood (stole), AND a ticket from the San Rafael Police Department: yeah it's been a long week, LOL

Also, this past weekend I was an elected official at the California Democratic Party Convention in Sacramento. I am the District Delegate for Assembly District 24 (South San Jose and Campbell) AND I am the Vice-President of Membership for the Silicon Valley Young Democrats. I do a lot.

Some photos from Sacramento:


Silicon Valley Young Dmeocrats with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders


With former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, now Lt. Governor of California

This weekend will be full of final preparation for graduation next week, but more importantly it will also be MOTHER'S DAY! My brother and I plan to take our Mom for lunch and a nice walk together around the park. What will you be doing to be active and celebrate Mother's Day this weekend?!

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: Yum! Feelings!

Again today's blog entry is thanks to my good friend Kramer. He is an amazing source of inspiration. True story for reals.

Today's conversation over G-Chat with the amazing Kramer...

Kramer: Dude. My diet yesterday was of paramount suckery.
Me: It's not like you ate a fried turkey! Or did you?! LOL
Kramer: No, a fried cow!!
Me: You mean, a hamburger?
Kramer: insert his food log entry here which documented the hamburger at lunch
Me: Here's the thing...you wrote it down. I had 5 fried mozzarella cheese sticks yesterday and I wrote it down. Will I eat that again today? Heck no! Why did I eat it yesterday? I wrote that down too.
Kramer: You wrote why you ate it yesterday?
Me: When I cheat or eat poorly I always write why, whatever stupid reason it was.
Kramer: Oh! Never thought of that - writing a reason...
Me: So I can keep track of a pattern of my eating of bad things. For example I ate 5 mozzarella and next to the food log entry my reason was: Feeling wompy about boys. In the past I have wrote: Needed to stay awake during drive home. And so on and so forth.
Kramer: LOL @ "Wompy"
Me: Haha, right?! I am all about feelings. A lot of my bad eating is associated to how I am feeling. I like to eat my feelings.
Kramer: Yeah me too. That was one of my burgers yesterday.
Me: I think we have found a topic for today's blog!
Kramer: =)

Bottomline I explained to him: Our food logs keep us accountable. Having someone read and review our food logs keep us accountable. We are forced to see how we ate and if we diverted from healthy eating. Also by keeping track how we feel when we eat it helps us later on, especially if we suffer from emotional eating so we can avoid the situation or the triggers altogether. If we lie in our food logs, we are lying to ourselves, and in the end it would only be YOU who'd be suffering.

Do you keep a food log or exercise journal? Do you battle emotional eating? Do you know what your triggers are for binge eating? I know these sound like heavy questions, but it is something I had to honestly address in my weight loss journey. If you would like more insight on this feel free to either share here or privately email me. I promise I will respond to all of your questions and messages because this is something I still battle today.

I know I slipped up and ate fried cheese sticks yesterday. However, I do not regret it because at that moment I needed it. I am NOT supporting eating poorly or having a cheat meal on an everyday basis, but I am supporting this: once in a while you need a little taste to satisfy your craving. For some it's a small bite of dark chocolate. Think about it: if you don't satisfy your small craving a couple of days later something emotionally big might happen and you end up eating a friend Denny's Sampler appetizer meal all by yourself. THEN where would you be? BACK AT SQUARE ONE. I learned yesterday that I should have reached for something healthier when I was feeling emotionally down. I wrote it down for accountability. Now if this were to happen again next week I will choose either a) carrot sticks b) a run.

Life is all about options and choice, but in order to achieve the quality of life you want to achieve you have to also evaluate your decisions.

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: The Truth About The Coconut Water Craze

"The Truth About Coconut Water"
By Allison Baker, SELF
Source:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/the-truth-about-coconut-water-2476008/print

It's all over the supermarkets and a big splash with celebs (like Madonna). Here are the real facts about this water craze.

The talk: It speeds up your metabolism.
The truth: "This is an urban legend," says Liz Applegate, Ph.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of California in Davis. "There is no valid research proving it."
Another, albeit contradictory, myth: Coconut water makes you fat. This bad rap came from coconut milk, which is made from pressed coconut meat and packs 445 calories per cup, most from saturated fat. The water (the fluid in young coconuts) has only 46 calories per cup. Of course, for a truly trimming sip, opt for zero-calorie water, coffee or tea.

The talk: It's nature's sport drink
The truth: It's a fine postworkout chug for the average active Jane, but it falls short for more hard-core athletes.
The gist: When you exercise, you sweat out a lot of sodium and some potassium. You should replace both after intense sweat sessions (more than an hour a day), so your muscles contract properly. Coconut water is a potassium powerhouse, delivering roughly 600 milligrams per cup, about 175 mg more than a banana does and 13 times what most sport drinks offer. "The problem is that it has only about 30 milligrams of sodium per cup; we lose much more than that during a long workout," Applegate says. Thus, serious athletes may need a sport beverage with a higher sodium-to-potassium ratio, such as Gatorade or Powerade Ion4; lighter exercisers can rehydrate with whatever they like best, including coconut water or plain H²O.

The talk: It makes you look younger
The truth: Coconut water contains cytokinins, plant hormones shown to slow the aging process in plants and fruit flies, according to a study in Molecules. Alas, the benefits aren't yet proven in humans. The search for the fountain of youth continues.

The talk: It's a hangover helper
The truth: There's a reason the morning after a bender is so painful: Alcohol dehydrates you, leading to nausea and headaches. Like any drink, coconut water refills your H²O stores, but plain water does the job just as well, notes Samir Zakhari, Ph.D., director of the Division of Metabolism and Health Effects at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. As for electrolytes, our kidneys preserve them when we drink, so there's no need to replace them with coconut water. If the taste lifts your postspirits spirits, go for it; but you can save cash (and calories) with the tap.

The talk: It protects your ticker
The truth: Diets high in potassium can help lower blood pressure and promote heart health, says Andrea Giancoli, R.D., spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Coconut water is a good source of the mineral, but it's better to get it from whole foods like veggies (spinach, sweet potatoes) and lowfat milk, which supply additional heart-healthy nutrients such as fiber and vitamin D.

Three more ways to crack this nut

1. Coconut milk: A sweet alternative to regular dairy, coconut milk is derived from the white meat of a mature coconut, and it provides almost as much healthy potassium as coconut water does. But beware its high saturated-fat content: One cup has about 43 grams.

2. Coconut milk beverage: Diluted with water, it contains about five times fewer calories than conventional coconut milk. It tastes richer than coconut water.

3. Shredded coconut: Coconut meat isn't as high in potassium or sodium as coconut water, and it has about 388 calories and 22 g of saturated fat per cup. If you're tempted to cover yours in chocolate, opt for a snack-sized candy bar dipped in antioxidant-rich dark chocolate, which has only 80 calories and 3.5 g of saturated fat. (Don't mind if we do, Mounds bar!)

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FFF Diva Mo's take on the coconut water craze:

Personally, since I am Filipino I have always drank either coconut water or coconut milk. It has always been a staple product in my household growing up. In fact when we need shredded coconut for Filipino desserts, one of my favorite things to do is crack open a fresh coconut and drink the water inside, before I shredded it.

I didn't realize it was an actual craze until I saw SOOOOOOOOO many people at the gym drinking Zico brand coconut water that they picked up from Whole foods. What is my take on it? Coconut water WILL NEVER replace a sports drink or a protein drink after a longer workout. I think of coconut water as flavored water, for people to be able to get their 8 glass water intake for the day without it tasting so bland. Bottomline: It's nature's Crystal Light. Haha!

What's your opinion about the coconut water craze? I'd love to know!

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: On Simple Confidence and Accountability

Have you ever opened a newspaper or read an article and say to yourself: "Oh my goodness, this is ABOUT ME!" I subscribe to e-newsletter called Tiny Buddha and today's topic was about CONFIDENCE.

On Simple Confidence by Lori Deschene

Source: www.tinybuddha.com

“Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control.” -Richard Kline

People often think confidence means knowing you can create the outcome you desire. To some extent it does, but this idea isn’t universally true for anyone. No matter how talented, smart, or capable you are, you cannot predict or control everything that happens in your life.

Even confident people lose jobs, relationships, and even their health.
Confidence comes from knowing your competence but acknowledging it’s not solely responsible for creating your world. When you take that weight off your shoulders and realize that sometimes the twists and turns have nothing to do with what you did or should have done, it’s easier to feel confident in what you bring to the table.
Today if you feel insecure about something you’re working toward, pull your focus away from the outcome and back to your output. Focus on what you have to offer and how well you can use it. Do your homework, do the legwork, and then know you’re doing everything you possibly can.

There’s a lot we can’t control in life, but we can know we’re doing our best with the things that are within our control.

FFF Diva Mo's Take: In order to move forward in life, sometimes you just need to let go. Focus on you. Focus on what you know. Be good at you, then everything else will fall naturally into place.

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Getting Back on the Wagon...

Yesterday, was my first training session with my personal trainer Jill in about a week. I didn't get to see Jill last week because my school schedule got crazier, so we took last week off and came back to train hard. How it went down:

10 minute run
3 set rotations of ab and leg exercises
lifting weights while standing on a stability Bosu Ball
jump rope, sit ups, v-sit-ups

And that was what I can remember off the top of my head. It was hard, because even though last week I have been maintaining my 1/2 marathon training schedule, TRAINING with weights is completely DIFFERENT. COMPLETELY. Boy was my body pushed and my abs were on fire. P.S. Thanks Jill!

I also bought myself a new food log and exercise jorunal so I can hold myself accountable. Jill has volunteered to read and review my progress regarding eating and exercise, in order to make corrections along the way. THIS IS WHAT I NEED: ACCOUNTABILITY.

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FFF DIVA MO'S INNER CIRCLE: INSPIRATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY


Meet my friend Marisa--Miss Accountability herself


Easter 2011 w/ Marisa's Chocolate Lamb

Meet my friend Marisa. She and I have known each other since high school. In fact I was her sponsor for confirmation (yes I am a total Filipino Catholic girl). Anyways, long story short is that even when she moved to Southern California for college and eventually her Hollywood career (behind the scenes, producing, etc.) we always held each other accountable even though we had hundreds of miles between us. If there was any type of internal struggle about emotional eating or motivation for exercise we were there for each other.

What's my point? My point is accountability doesn't have to just be from a person who is physically here such as a trainer or a spouse, in fact it can be found in different forms such as a call, a "Hello!" text, or even a "Hey how are you?" email or Facebook post. The key thing about accountability though is CONSISTENCY. That is the beautiful thing about my friendship with Marisa: her accountability is consistent. If you have consistent accountability you'll always have a support system available to you when you need it.

Happy Tuesday folks!

Dedicated to your health,
FFF Diva Mo

WLB4: Marin County 1/2 Marathon Mania!

HAPPY MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY!!!!! What did you do this weekend to get your butt off the couch? Did you go swimming in the blue ocean water of the Pacific? Did you cycle 8 miles down your favorite woodsy trail? Did you take your dog on a stellar hike in the mountains? Please feel free to share!

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What did FFF Diva Mo do? She ran the Marin County 1/2 Marathon (13.1 miles)!

Actually, I ran 14.3 miles. Why?! Because I accidentally missed the final turn and went around the long way. So even though I didn't get an official time with my running time chip, I STILL wore my Running Garmin GPS watch. So I ran 14.3 miles of mostly hills and trails in 3 hours and 40 minutes and 35 seconds! I beat the meat wagon! What is the meat wagon?! The meat wagon is the truck that sweeps people up if they are still on the course. The course officially closed at 3 hours and 45 minutes, but I beat the last sweeper, HOWEVER I definitely was THE LAST PERSON to finish the race. Did I care? Not really. Why?!

This was quote on a sign I saw on the course of the Marin County 1/2 Marathon:
"The toroise and the hare BOTH finished the race."

I didn't care if I came in last. All I cared about was beating the meat wagon, which I did! This was my 4th 1/2 marathon I have ever completed. It was tough because the majority of it was hills and natural running trails. The photos alone below can describe what I went through, haha.

What else was super awesome was that my college's Cross Country team was present and cheered me on. I was so moved that I actually wrote an email to their coach and team:

Hello Larry,

I just wanted to personally thank you, your family, and the Dominican Cross Country Team for volunteering and cheering on runners at the Marin County 1/2 Marathon, 10K, & 5K race this past Saturday! = )

When I literally ran into you and your family at Mile 7 and saw you all wearing your Dominican gear I was definitely proud and touched that Dominican was being represented at a fine event in the community. This is why, while drinking the water you provided me, I stopped and introduced myself. However, what was more moving was when I hit Mile 9 and saw/heard the Dominican Cross Country team cheering me on, because they knew I was a Dominican alum.

When I learned Dominican was adding a Cross Country Team I was genuinely excited. Why? Because I have found a new love in running. Running has saved my life.

During my four years at Dominican I gained 124 lbs, and graduated in 2007 at 320 lbs. Since then I have lost close to 100 lbs, thanks to good nutrition and exercise. I have been competitively running since May 2009 and in less than a year completed my first 5K, 10K, 1/2 marathon, and full marathon. Bottom line: All of you literally made my day when you cheered and motivated me to finish the last 4.1 miles of my race. I am truly grateful for your spirit and kindness and hope to see you and the entire team at other races, not just volunteering, but running and representing our great university.

If there is anything I can do to personally help and support the Dominican Cross Country team please let me know. You have a new fan and friend in me.

With great respect,

Maureen "Mo" De Nieva
DUC Class of 2007
DUC MBA Graduate Student, Class of 2011

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The Marin County 1/2 Marathon in Photos...


Getting ready before the race!


About 700-800 people participated in the 5K, 10K or 1/2 marathon


About 8 miles of the 1/2 marathon was NATURAL TRAIL


New Running Friends! I met them on the racer's shuttle! They did the 5K!


Marin County 1/2 Marathon Course Map

For more information about the Marin 5K, 10K, and 1/2 Marathon:
http://www.marinmarathon.com/

All of the race proceeds went to local charities:

To Donate to Fit for Equality:
http://www.active.com/donate/fitforequality

To Donate to Run to Cure Cystic Fibrosis:
http://www.active.com/donate/cffmarinmarathon

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"It doesn't matter what your age is, if you put the time in, you're going to get out what you put into it. I strongly believe that. I feel that good things will happen if you work hard." -Sheri Piers, who set her marathon best of 2:37:04 at age 37

I will close out with this final reminder: It doesn't matter how long it takes to finish, all that matters in the end is that you did.

Dedicated to health,
FFF Diva Mo