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At the end of our second vacation week I just weighed in again at 265. Not great but atleast I didn’t gain anymore. Also of note, I finished last week’s post by saying I was going for a run. Well, that run felt like it was trying to kill me; my legs did great but my lungs felt like I had asthma. I think it was a combo of cold, dry air and me being a little sick. My runs this week have gone much better.
Well, week 6 is a doozy. It finds us smack in the middle of vacation where we are eating differently and have little opportunity for exercise. I weighed 265 at a 2:30 pm weigh in and I am about to go get a quick run in. On a positive note, last week right before we left I made it down to 261. But now I’m back up. Oh well, off to run.
This week was sort of a rough week. I was only able to get to the gym once, and I spent Thursday having one of the most unhealthy eating days ever (even though I miraculously only went over by about 150 calories). I started today with a massive 2 hour dawn patrol surf session with a few friends for Craig’s birthday. I weighed in after I got back from that (and ate breakfast) and posted an encouraging 263lbs. So after 5 weeks I have lost 4 pounds (close to my goal of 1 a week) and have about 26 or so to go (though my technical goal means I have 23 to go, I would like to end up down below 240). We are heading on vacation Sunday and that should make this whole process a little more difficult but “Lose it” is really helping a ton and I hope to keep it up.
This week is one of highs and lows. Earlier in the week I consistently weighed 265, though today, after a rough Thursday I weighed 267. Thursday was rough because I think I am getting sick and for some reason I could not feel full after eating my healthier dinner. Anyway, sans that rough spot yesterday I gave been doing well and have already adjusted my weight to 265 so my calories are also adjusted. Hope the others are faring better on this Friday. Aloha
Today at church Sean preached. Since he normally leads worship he asked me to lead for him while he preaches and to bring a couple of our super talented high-schoolers with me. I was very excited to do this and so I agreed. We practiced on Thursday and warmed up early this morning and played through our opening set nicely. Then it happened (this moment will probably forever stick in my mind as it’s that embarrassing).
I should mention, that although Sean has previously given me the lead for a couple songs while he and I have ledworship together, this is the first time I was leading the whole shebang by myself. I should also mention that Sean’s preaching topic today was, in fact, worship itself. I should also mention that we celebrated communion this Sunday and that, as usual, we do that after the message during the final worship set. The perfect storm is brewing, you see.
Anyway, we went to play a contemplative-Crowder-esque All Creatures. We play this in “C” (Crowder plays it in “D”) and it’s great to have an acoustic guitar play capoed on the 5th fret in “G” to add a nice high-end bounce to the song. I was responsible for that, and also for starting the song out with Brian, our talented HS pianist/guitarist. The only problem was that I was capoed on the 4th fret and actually playing in “B”. I could immediately hear the grating and assumed I was at fault, so I had to stop, ask our bassist, Joanne, for a “C,” in embarrassment plainly see my fault, and capo one fret further. At this point there is nothing I can do to save face, anyone who can hear notes knows that the guitarist and the pianist were playing in different keys and everyone watched the guitarist humbly correct himself. All I could do at that point was say, “Sorry, let’s try that again,” and then take it from there,
I know you’re thinking that sounds too similar to many people’s nightmares and it was pretty bad, though not mortifying. You see, while Sean had been preaching on worship, he had not been preaching on forms and styles but rather the heart of worship; the heart of surrender, adoration for and glorying of God (specifically NOT for music itself) and all these other incredible impactful things that made every brother and sister in the congregation very forgiving and patient and focused on God and not on my terrible rookie mistake.
On top of all that, the set finished and I was getting ready to leave the stage when Beth, one of our sweet church secretaries bounded onto the stage, gave me a big kiss on the cheek and nearly tearing up told me how wonderful the worship was, and how great it was to see our teens leading worship. And again I was reminded in such a powerful way that God doesn’t want or need perfection in our service, rather God wants faithfulness. God doesn’t need me to lead worship like Crowder or Tomlin or Stanfill, God wants me to lead worship like imperfect Groves, and to point others to God in my weakness and imperfection.
I am so blessed by today; by my opportunity to lead our body, by the message I heard, by the humility of imperfection, and by the gut-wrenching grace and heart of God that Beth showed to me (and so many more, its a lifestyle for her).
It’s Friday morning weigh-in for week 3 and I’m celebrating with my americano this morning because I finally lost a pound! After another pretty good week where I stayed under every day except Saturday and maybe Sunday I am down to 266lbs. I am really finding the lose it app very useful. As I entered my new weight it has already adjusted my daily calorie budget.
I also have figured out a couple of great breakfasts to start my day with through the week that are pretty complete but only hit about 400 or 500 calories (sadly these do not include loco moco). I have been alternating my weights work doing chest, triceps, back squat and hamstrings while my other day works biceps, back, hang cleans and quads. I try to start each workout with at least 15 minutes of high-level (for me atleast) cardio. I also scored a nice two-hour surf on Friday with Sean. An FYI: I have a goal of becoming proficient at surfing by January 2010 (my 2009 new years resolution), I’m getting closer but still have much work to do before I would consider myself proficient, so I need to surf alot these next three months. Happy aloha Friday to all.
it appears as though this title is a misnomer as I still have not actually lost any weight. I weighed in this morning again at 267 lbs (even the .8 has stayed the same for my weigh-ins). I went over my calorie budget on Wednesday, I think, but otherwise have been doing pretty well. I’m definitely eating healthier and my workouts are getting better and better, so I feel better for sure.
Additionally the program, coupled with the vitamin B Complex my FIL, Bob, recommended, have really helped me to feel rested and energized when I wake in the morning and mostly through the day. So we are onto a good start in terms of health and wellness, but in terms of weight-loss I’m still staring at that goose-egg. I must continue to remember that this is a long term thing. Thanks for your support.
btw. A very Happy Birthday to my mother in law Patti!
I have been very busy lately and have been very bad at blogging. I am sorry to the faithful few who read this and I will work to get something up here soon. Until then, enjoy the coming fall and aloha.
Until then, rock on friends
I will start this post by talking about casual Fridays. Many places of employment have these things; Friday is more relaxed, you can wear jeans and a polo, or an aloha shirt (mainlanders read: hawaiian shirt). Well, I work as a youth minister at a church in Hawaii, so that means my typical work dress is more than casual by most people’s standards. I usually wear shorts and some sort of t-shirt, be it plain or surf. Now Friday rolls around and it just feels like you are supposed to dress down a little bit more, but where do you go from here.
Well, I prefer to take the cue from my friend and coworker (/sortof boss) Sean who goes all in and wears boardshorts on casual Friday. Nothing gets more casual than surf shorts and a t-shirt and that is my new trend for casual Fridays here in HI.
Casual Fridays to the max
Along those lines I’ld like to pass you on to a blog post by one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller. Miller is an awesome writer and he always writes and speaks so honestly and thoughtfully about God and faith. Miller is incredible at penetrating the self-inspired western heretical gospel. he shows us Who really is the point, and even begins to show where we fit into it. He is also great at starting discussion. Anyway, here is a post of his about Faith and Story. Enjoy, I know I did.
I read different articles about youth ministry and college and the transition from high school to adulthood. I saw one recently stating that somewhere around 65% of students entering a 4 year university don’t have a degree 6 years after they enter. I am sad to say I am a part of that 65 percent, though I have finally accomplished a big part of it.
As I write this I write with the freed feeling of a college graduate. Yes, I know I walked through the graduation 3 years ago and then moved to hawaii and worked a job all the while telling people I was a college graduate, but I really did that because it was too much work to tell people that I still needed one class, my GE philosophy requirement, to actually receive my degree and graduate. So, after two years of working to get residency for in-state tuition (its 1/3 of the price of out of state), and around 5 months of trudging through the class I have done it!!!. I put in the transcript orders and finished my class this morning. It is a great relief to know that after spending all that money I don’t have on my UCLA education, I am now officially validated with the degree on the way.
I was so happy I celebrated by taking out some lunch at Fatboys. it was awesome.
By the way I have posted my Mark studies thus far on the resources link. You can click on the link under blogroll or go to the resources page and find the link there. Bear in mind that these studies are still very rough and in outline form, but this is what I’m walking through in my relationship with God and Jesus and God’s Kingdom. Let me know any constructive criticism in the comments of each post.
