Friday was kind of a big day for me (Zak). As you may recall, the whole reason I earned by BA while in the Navy, then got out of the Navy early, then moved our family away from Hawaii (and the sunshine), then started here at Seminary, was so eventually I would go back into the Navy as a Chaplain. This has no doubt been a rather long-term goal (around 4 years since I started my BA)! However, yesterday I feel like I took one giant step forward down the path to eventual active duty chaplaincy.
I have been working with my Officer Recruiter for the past 7 months or so getting my application package ready to submit. This package includes transcripts, resumes, a security background check, interviews, letters of recommendations, evaluations from back when I was in the Navy, and a Letter of Endorsement from the Churches of Christ (many, many thanks to all of you who helped me complete some of these things in one way or another!). The last part of my application package is a physical fitness report, which cannot be done by a recruiter but by military medical personnel at a local MEPS office. Anyone who has ever served in any branch of the military, officer or enlisted, active or reserves, even National Guard, has to go through MEPS. I went through it the first time almost 10 years ago in Richmond, VA. At MEPS I (along with about 40 other people [high schoolers!]) did an audio screening, a visual screening, I had blood drawn, I peed in a cup, I had a medical history review, and I had a physical fitness exam which included a bunch of balance and range-of-motion maneuvers (like the duck walk), and then they got my height and weight and body fat percentage.
It was my weight that had me concerned - I was way overweight when I got out of the Navy and I had to lose a bunch before the Navy would let me back in (they're not so strict if you're already in!). So, as you know if you've been following my Twitters, I began eating healthier and exercising under the close supervision of my wife/personal trainer on December 17th of last year - just a little over 2 months ago. I set a goal for myself of 200lbs by 15May09 which is the last day of this semester. On Thursday the 19th, I hit 200lbs (200.4 to be exact). And in just 2 months - less than half the time I gave myself! The graph at the beginning of this post is the actual Excel Spreadsheet that I used to chart my progress - the blue line being my actual daily weight, the green line being an Excel calculated Trendline, and the red line being an Excel calculated weight-loss average.
Before I go any further, let me give all the credit and glory to God. I, like I'm sure most of you, have struggled for years with losing weight, and have tried many different ways to get rid of it. I honestly didn't do anything different or new this time around - based on historical evidence I should have lost interest and given up a long time ago. However, only through a power greater than my own, I was able to maintain interest and drive and get to where I am now. There's no way I could have given up drinking anything other than water for 2 whole months on my own. There's no way I could have worked out around 6 nights a week every week for the past 2 months on my own. There's no way I could have completely stopped eating outside our house for close to a month straight. There's no way I could have taken as much coconut oil a day as I have since December 17th on my own. I truly, truly believe that God has helped me lose these 20lbs as I slowly work my way towards becoming a Navy Chaplain. So I give Him all the credit for my success.
So that's the good news - I lost enough weight by MEPS on Friday that I passed my physical and completed my officer application package. Now we wait... My recruiter says it may take a couple weeks to hear if the Navy Chaplain Corps (to whom my package was sent) accepts my application and will let me go in the Navy. If they do, I'll become a Chaplain in the Navy Reserves for the next couple years until graduation of Seminary when I can apply to become active duty. We'll keep praying that that wicket will also be passed through.
Oh, and my new weight goal is 180lbs by 15May09! We'll see...
