My name is Denise, I am 44, a Wife, Mother of 2 great boyz, an Oncology Nurse, avid reader, and love to relax and kick back after all the work is done. I firmly believe in balance. I work when I work and love it, but I also relax when I relax and love it.

I was always thin to average as a child and young adult, but when I went to college (at 26) and then had kids, I stopped taking care of myself physically. As a new nurse working nights, I packed on 20 lbs. I ate to stay ...

My name is Denise, I am 44, a Wife, Mother of 2 great boyz, an Oncology Nurse, avid reader, and love to relax and kick back after all the work is done. I firmly believe in balance. I work when I work and love it, but I also relax when I relax and love it.

I was always thin to average as a child and young adult, but when I went to college (at 26) and then had kids, I stopped taking care of myself physically. As a new nurse working nights, I packed on 20 lbs. I ate to stay awake. As a new Mom, especially after my 2nd son who slept poorly, I packed on another 25lbs, again to stay awake (I was sleep deprived for almost 2 years). I prided the fact that my weight didn't carry much in my face. UNTIL I saw my Mother's Day 2006 picture. I was so depressed looking at it. I was in the middle of moving out of state, back to CA, so I put that pix out of my mind. Fast forward almost 2 yrs (of doing little about my weight) and I hit an all time high weight of 168.5 lbs. I found SP looking for a recipe calculator. I started browsing SP and found that if I gained a half pound more, I would be considered Obese! My BMI, % body fat, and weight were skirting the edge. THAT was my catalyst! I changed my eating habits right then and there. It was time to take myself back.

I rediscovered Tae Kwon Do after 20 yrs and it has motivated me to exercise again.... for fun as well as fitness. And my entire family is enjoying it too. What a bonus! I also, on a whim, decided to register for my local Half Marathon a few months away. Tho I was never a good runner, after learning more about running, I started to enjoy it more and I am getting better at it. I committed to 4 months of HM training. Since I refused to cut back on my TKD, I pulled double duty. By the time I ran my first HM race, I lost 33 lbs in 6 months. And as of now, have maintained this loss while continuing to train for other HMs. I believe the last 10-15 lbs I want to lose are more of a mental/emotional issue for me. It's very slow going, but that's okay, as it is a work in progress. I feel and look better now and that is what is important to me. I am not stressing over it.

Right now, I am in control of my own lifestyle and tired of putting myself last in the family equation. It is time for ME to be in charge of ME, and everything else will fall in place naturally. I want to be a good example for my boyz to follow. They deserve a healthy Mom.

Accomplishments:
11/2/08 Santa Clarita Half Marathon (2:29:23)
2/01/09 Surf City Half Marathon (2:21:29)
3/22/09 Pasadena 5K (29:32 PR)
3/28/09 The Great Race of Agoura Hills 10K (1:02:45 PR)
09/09 Received my Green/blk belt in TKD (wht, ylw, purple, orange, green, blue, brown, red, black.... most have various levels of black and/or white stripes, 19 levels in total)
5/2/09 Attended 1st SP Convention in San Diego CA
7/26/09 San Francisco Half Marathon (2:29:20)
10/11/09 Long Beach Half Marathon (2:22:42)
10/11/09 Finished CA Dreamin' Racing Series and received my HUGE CA Metal and race jacket!
11/08/09 Santa Clarita Half Marathon (2:20:44) PR


Future Goals:
2/21/10 LA Marathon 5K
3/27/10 The Great Race Cheseboro trail Half Marathon
3/20/10 Receive my blue belt in TKD
5/2/10 OC Half Marathon
9/10 Disneyland Half Marathon

Read More About DENIRAZ (Updated November 16)

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