New Wordpress Blog

I have a new wordpress blog that I will be updating with insights on love, life, dreams, identity, and creativity.

Check out my posts on http://jcbeloved.wordpress.com/

OMG!!! How Did You Lose All That Weight?!?!

 July 2010

October 2011

People often ask me, "How did you lose all that weight?!?!?"  Well, honestly there are no shortcuts or magic tricks to weight loss.  I went to the gym religiously three times a week, spending an hour and a half each time: 10 minutes of stretching, 40 minutes of strength training, 20 minutes of elliptical, and often I'd throw in Pilates and a hardcore ab workout.  After four months of doing this and eating healthy, small meals four or five times a day of 1200 calories total, I lost 35 pounds.  

But as most of us know its not about losing the weight but keeping it off.  Three months ago, my friend introduced me to the four minute Tabata workout also known as High Intesity Interval Training (HIIT).  I was skeptical but intrigued because I was sick of spending all that time in the gym to maintain my weight loss.  Also, given that it was only four minutes long, required no equipment and could be done in a small space, I knew I'd be more likely to do it on a regular basis.  And as anyone who has kept the weight off for years can tell you: consistency is key.

This intense four minute workout is extremely efficient at helping you burn fat, building your core and major muscle groups, plus studies have shown that it’s as effective as a 45 minute cardio session for your heart.  It’s an all in one package of fitness scientifically proven by its inventor, Dr. Izumi Tabata from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo.

If you give this workout everything you got you can burn fat and calories throughout the day because your heart stays beating at a fast rate which gives you a long after burn.  Think of it as revving up your stomach like an engine just ready to devour any fuel you pump into it.

So are you ready for the longest four minutes of your life?

Here's a video that shows you the entire workout.  Make sure not to eat before this workout, stretch all your muscles before you begin, and warm up:

http://youtu.be/AimPOSXe7n4

Here’s a link to a timer to help you keep track of the workout since you won’t be able to focus on anything else when you’re going all out:

http://www.beach-fitness.com/tabata/

Do it maybe once every couple of days.  I did it this morning as fast as I possibly could which is the way you need to do it to experience the full benefits of the workout.  I felt like my heart was going to pop out of my chest and I just lied on the ground for a few minutes afterwards like a dead dog.

But its so worth it since I no longer have to deal with grungy guys at the gym plus I get an extra five hours a week to shop for new clothes since the majority of my wardrobe makes me look like a wannabe hip-hop artist cuz they're so baggy.  :P

Bottom line: The Tabata workout three times a week along with eating smaller portions (no more than 1200 calories a day) and walking a mile daily works if you stick with it.  In the last three months, I've been able to maintain the same weight and figure and even slim down some more in less than half the time I used to.  More time to enjoy life thanks to Dr. Tabata!

By Sarah Allis Yang

Our Film, Jonathan, Swept 3 Awards at the 2011 Pan Pacific Film Festival!

Our short film, Jonathan, swept all 3 categories it was nominated in at the 2011 Pan Pacific Film Festival.

Best Animated Film: Director, Andy Han

Best Actress: Lead, Anna Klein

Best Soundtrack: Composer, Deon Lee

Congratulations to them and the rest of our excellent cast and crew!!!

Drum Audition

Mosaic's Self-Mastery Series

I've been listening to a great series by Erwin McManus called Self-Mastery.

You can watch the series here:
http://mosaic.org/podcast/

My personal favorite is the one he did on Ownership, its so good. Enjoy!

Great Articles on Marrying Well

A wonderful friend of mine sent me some good resources for learning how to marry well.  I read through both versions and thought it was really helpful.  Here are the links below:

Girl version is here:  http://www.boundless.org/girls/pages/GirlsGuide.pdf

Guy version is here: http://focusonthefamily.com/downloads/boundless/GuysGuide.pdf

I know its not that common to get good biblical counsel in this area so hope this can be helpful even if you may not be considering marriage now.

Enjoy and please pass it on...

My Messages Are Now Available on iTunes!

You can now find me on IMPACT's podcast:

http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/impact-harvest-church/id393486139

Check out my latest talk on 5/15/11 called "Why Are You on Defense?"

Pass it along and enjoy, its free!!!

The Naked Chicken: A Talk on Identity

Impact Harvest Church Drum Off

John, Johnny, J, and I having a drum off at the 4th year anniversary of Impact Harvest Church. Enjoy!

Love Never Fails

Originally posted on 11/1/07

The tide is changing at UC Berkeley. There is a Jesus movement arising...

The recent article below comes from the official student newspaper at the UC Berkeley campus, the Daily Californian. The article is about a week of debates between all the different groups on campus: muslims, socialists, jews, communists, christians, etc. The article that circulates throughout the entire student population says that the best speech on Sproul Plaza that week was by a Christian who simply shared her faith. She ended by asking all those who don't believe in Jesus to please raise their hands. Most of the plaza rose their hands including the writer. She looked into their eyes and with all sincerity said, "I LOVE YOU."



The writer ends the article by saying:
I’ve been on the receiving end of a few punches in my life, but nothing ever hit me that hard. I don’t know exactly what kind of politics or religion or philosophy that is—but whatever it is, where can I sign up?

People are hungry for the love of Jesus on our campuses. Wanna help them sign up?


(For full article, click here)
SCOTT LUCAS

Come Together Right Now

Monday, October, 29th, 2007

Thursday evening: Sometime around the fourth or fifth speech a thought occurred to me. I was watching hard-line socialists and moderate democrats, observant Muslims and fundamentalist atheists, Christians and Jews, top campus officials and little freshmen all move a little bit closer to each other. Last week I wrote that we like to keep ourselves in comfortable boxes instead of engaging each other across our differences. Well, over the course of the past week, we began work on that engagement. It’s what politics is at it’s finest. Weeks like this give me hope for the rest of the year.

A common refrain this week was that the right-wingers were motivated by hatred. I think that’s not quite it. More than anything, I felt fear emanating from their ranks. I don’t fault them for feeling it; I fault them for letting it rule them.

I can conclude only by ceding the floor to my friend Tinley Ireland, who gave, for my money at least, the best speech of the evening. Just as the sun set, shining right into her face, she stood up on the steps of Sproul Hall on that same consecrated spot where earlier in the day the fear-based community had shouted itself hoarse about the people “over there” who are just waiting, waiting to get us. She stood there and told us about her faith. She talked about how the hardest part of following Christ was to love­ not just her friends, but her enemies too. To stop having enemies at all, to feel that universal pulse of humanity, that spark of the divine that flows through all of our veins.

At the end she asked who in the crowd didn’t believe that Jesus was the son of God. Most hands went up. Mine did. She smiled, and as the light faded she simply and truly said, “I love you.” I’ve been on the receiving end of a few punches in my life, but nothing ever hit me that hard. I don’t know exactly what kind of politics or religion or philosophy that is—but whatever it is, where can I sign up?