Progress!

Here's a quick update: Since I have started the Woman of Moderation Bible study by Dee Brestin on January 9th, I've lost 6 pounds! Having started out on the South Beach Diet, I've settled into eating the three, sensible, moderate meals.

As you can see by the photos, my pants are getting a bit loose, and no! I'm not really trying to suck in my gut!

The hair is also a new look for me. I had my stylist cut some of it off to shave off every bit of excess weight I could! Of course, I'm just kidding. I love this inverted bob. The new look is less work, and a bit of a reward to keep going.

With less than a week left in the month, I'd like to lose two more pounds, which would bring me down to 155 lbs. I'm going to try to shoot for at least a 5 lbs per month loss. That's reasonable, isn't it?

I am a bit behind in the Bible study, but I'm enjoying it, aren't you?

"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Psalm 34:8

Who's Your Inspiration?

When we embark on a difficult journey, whether it be a new job, weight loss, or training for a marathon, it helps to have a person to look to as an example, someone who can inspire you when the going gets tough. Let's face it: there are times when we we don't choose to take on these challenges. Instead, they are thrust upon us. Hey--I didn't choose my high cholesterol, I inherited them from my Mom, Betty Hayden, whose picture you see above. How do I know? Well, Dad eats bacon and eggs like there's no tomorrow, and his cholesterol levels are...well, I envy them. Mom, on the other hand, had very high cholesterol and some other struggles that she met head on with great courage. As a result, she is my inspiration as I continue my pursuit of moderation and improved health. I hope her story will inspire you, too.

Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39. Despite a mastectomy, the cancer returned a year later. Then came twelve years of freedom from the disease, until a new case devloped in her remaining breast. More surgery followed, but the cancer was unrelenting. Mom was left with skin over her breastbone. She continued her work as a discussion leader in Bible Study Fellowship, and as a Sunday School teacher. Over the years she met with many ladies through the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery Program. She was an inspiration to all who knew her. In fact, her cheerful disposition belied the fact that she was battling cancer. Many didn't know that she was an active survivor.

When Mom discovered her recurrence, she cast off moderation because the battle had become intense. She radically modified her diet, eating dark green leafy vegetables, making her own fresh juices, and limiting her protein intake. Sugar, caffeine, white pastas and breads were set aside for whole grains and organic foods, in order to strengthen her body to fight the cancer. She continued on like this for many years, while still engaging in conventional medicine. I remember how she would say, "Jennifer, let me smell your coffee," because she loved it, but refused to drink it.

Mom also volunteered for some experimental treatments in hopes that her small contribution could help ladies in the future. While all of her efforts helped her maintain a high quality of life, she eventually was asked to rest from her battle when God took her on September 17, 2003.

Mom's story inspires me. I spent so much time with her that I can still "hear" her voice saying, "Dahlin', why don't you eat better?" or "Why don't you forget those demon muffins?" What inspires me most about Mom, is that she loved her Savior, and her motivation in life and in her death was for His glory.

Who is motivating you today?

Less Really Is More!

It's Friday, and already we're a week and a half into our 3-D Challenge and A Woman of Moderation Bible Study.

We've heard the saying, "Less is More." In the past, I always though of jewelry, or make-up, or even interior design. Too much of a good thing can be...well, very gaudy, and almost laughable.

This week, I've really been struck by this saying as it was used in the context of one of Dee Brestin's lessons in A Woman of Moderation. Dee shares about a conversation she had with a friend of hers who enjoys everything, but in moderation. On page 19, we learn that Dee's friend "loves to open [her closet] and see neat rows of what [she] really loves to wear." Dee adds, "Less is more satisfying than more."

Let's forget the food for a second. I have clothes in my closet that I haven't worn for years, at least three different sizes...my "normal" size (a size 8), which is the size I had been for years before I got addicted to chocolate chip muffins, my fat size (clothes reflecting the heaviest weight I have been), and my current, overweight size. Have you named different categories of clothing that you're hanging on to? Anyway, the mental picture of my bloated closet really brought home the sick feeling of being overstuffed and wasteful.

After the blueberry pancake panic day last Sunday, I have taken some of your post suggestions, and tried to come to a more sane approach to my eating. Melinda Schmidt of Midday Connection is trying to only eat when she is hungy. I've started with the eat three moderate meals a day plan. It seems to be working. I have lost some weight! I'm not gorging myself, and I'm trying to wait for mealtime. I have this feeling of being slightly hungry all the time. In between meals, I've been breaking for one cup of coffee in the morning, and one cup of hot tea in the afternoon. The Psalm meals have helped me pray through the temptation.

Less really is more! Are you enjoying less?

Pancake Panic!

This past weekend was a busy one for the Epperson household! Dad came down to visit from Melbourne. Early Saturday morning, I walked, then met at church to practice my solo (flute, not voice, folks!) for the first service at church. In the afternoon, Dad and I went to the craft fair at South Florida Fairgrounds, and I brought my own snacks (pecans and walnuts) to munch on to help steer me away from the M&Ms. So far, so good!

Then came Sunday. Typically, I attend one service at our church, but my musical obligations demanded that I play for both services and attend a rehearsal in between. Now, I’m not whining. I had a great time doing all of it. However, I’ve just started joining the praise band with my saxophone, and that takes a good deal more wind than the flute. By the end of both services, I felt like I had come through a workout!

When I sat down for lunch, the thought of one more bit of protein made me feel sick. I actually felt nauseous. It wasn’t just a psychological thing. Have you ever felt that way? I really couldn’t stomach it, so I jumped off of the South Beach wagon and slid down into the syrupy satisfaction of blueberry pancakes-two of them. And oh, yes, I did order some eggs on the side so the rush of sugar wouldn’t be as disruptive to my system.

When it was all over, I actually felt better. I felt physically better, and psychologically it seemed that my mind was clearer. Waitress Darlene, who has become a friend, said, “Hon, you obviously need more carbs.”

Some questions come to mind. If this is true, do I need to try another diet? Phase I of South Beach is only two weeks. Then comes Phase II which includes good things like oatmeal, whole wheat bread, and fruit. I think of the effects that sugar has on my depression. Too much sugar depresses the immune system, and can put a person in a funk. Perhaps too little sugar hasn’t been good for me. After all, we’re supposed to be “Women of Moderation” as the Bible study is titled. I’m going to think about it, and ask my doctor some of these questions too.

In the meantime, after the pancake plunge, I walked right back on to the South Beach and have stayed there. Has this happened to any of you? What are your thoughts?

I've gained 2 pounds??

How did that happen? Actually, there's a logical explanation. I have had it with my bathroom scale. It's one of those big, heavy duty jobbers with the huge dial, and you have to adjust to zero every time you use it. I was tired of getting different readings for every time I got on! That's no way to live. Furthermore, I just got on and off until I got the lowest weight I could. Other times, my husband Jack would sneak up behind me and depress the scale with his foot. No fair!

So, I broke down and bought a new scale which was highly recommended by WRMB Volunteer, Cheryl Scrivens. If we want accurate measurements, we must have accurate tools, agreed? :-) The official weight this morning was 159.2. I'll weigh in again with you next Wednesday after I've been on the South Beach Diet for one week.

On Day Three, Phase I of the South Beach, I'm sticking with it. I wanted ice cream or SOMETHING chocolate very badly between 3-4 PM yesterday. The other difficult hour for me seems to be 11AM -Noontime when I crave a white bagel with cream cheese, cinnamon roll or some such concoction.

If I have a craving, I say it out loud for other people to hear me, so I don't coddle it in my mind. Instead, I have friends at WRMB like Becky Borgstrom say, "Jennifer, you're not going to be happy with yourself if you do that." Yesterday, I emailed Midday Connection's, Melinda Schmidt and she commiserated with me saying she had just passed up Peanut M&Ms.

Most of all, it helps to think about the Lord, and WHY I'm abstaining from certain foods now. I have to take action on the bad test results I received to try to improve them. I've only been given one body and I have to live in it! Remember, where ever we go, there we are!

What do you do when you feel like those cravings really creep up on you? What techniques do you use to remain successful? Please post your thoughts!

Crunching the Numbers

Here is a picture of me at my heaviest weight-169 lbs. For those of you who aren't Star Trek fans, the hand signal I'm doing is the Vulcan sign for "Live Long and Prosper." Appropriate for this endeavor. Today is the first Day of the "Woman of Moderation" Bible Study! It's been exciting to hear Anita, Melinda, Dee, and the women from WGNR share their encouragement and honest thoughts on the "Midday Connection" radio program.

I got on the scale this morning and it read 157. I'm 5 feet 3 1/2 inches. I went online, and found a BMI (Body Mass Index) Calculator. Inputting those numbers show that I have a BMI of 27.4. This puts me in the category of "Overweight," sandwiched between the "Healthy" and "Obese" group. Here's another number: not long ago, my Doctor, Tara Stock of Wellington Family Practice, told me that my triglyceride level was 313! A healthy individual has a level under 150.

Throughout my whole life, I had never had trouble with my weight until the year 2000. I put on 35 lbs in 6 months. I had been a size eight forever and a day, and started purchasing size 14 clothes. I still remember the day when my sister said to me, "Welcome to the fat club, Jen!" However, the emotional stress of moving to Florida, a Mom with cancer, a couple of broken relationships and a diagnosis of clinical depression kept me driving out of my way to the donut shop.

Dee mentions 4 keys for success at the beginning of her book: Choosing a partner, plan a time to do the Bible study, choose an exercise program, and choosing a food program.

I plan to be accountable to the ladies at WRMB and my sister, do the Bible study in the evening, walk most mornings, and start by followng the South Beach Diet. I have had the most success with this program in the past. Because of my high triglycerides, and yucky acid reflux when I fast, I have decided on this program. In a sense, I am fasting from those high carbs and will greatly benefit from the oatmeal breakfasts when I reach phase 2!

Breaking Up is Hard to Do!

T-minus One Day and Counting until the start of my portion of WRMB's 3-D Challenge and Midday Connection's Woman of Moderation Bible Study!

I've got my study book ready "Woman of Moderation" by Dee Brestin, and my Bible is handy. However, today, I had some important business to tie up: I said goodbye to some old friends and some old habits.

First, I said, "Farewell" to my friends at Dunkin Donuts at Lantana and State Road 7. They tried to entice me to come back with offers of "Low Fat Muffins" and Whole Wheat Bagels. While I know that they mean well, I think it's just too risky now to drive through without first having established some solid barriers.

Secondly, I said goodbye to my afternoon M&M run at the local gas station at the corner of Boynton Beach Blvd, and Congress near the station. By the way the short walk doesn't come close to burning the calories consumed by those multi-colored sugar pills!

Am I ready?

Hi and welcome to my blog! I hope you're here to join me in my quest for better health during our WRMB 3-D Challenge!

This is Station Manager Jennifer Hayden Epperson, and I’m a part of WRMB’s 3-D Challenge. My D is for “Death By Chocolate.” Well, not exactly. My D is for Diet because my chocolate and high-carb addiction is leading me down a deadly path. At age 41, I’m about 30 pounds overweight, have developed sleep apnea, and my triglyceride level is more than double a healthy level.

While pairing down my figure is an attractive goal, I’m really in this to honor God. In order to keep my journey to better health Christ-focused, I’ll be joining Moody Radio’s Midday Connection Team as they work through Dee Brestin’s Bible study called, A Woman of Moderation. Throughout the process, I’m hoping that my increased consumption of oatmeal and routine exercise will improve my health. Join me, won’t you? It won’t be easy, so I’d love to have your encouragement, and send some uplifting words your way too!

Audrey Altman took this picture of me today! I'm a little nervous, and don't know if I'm ready, but I've got to make a change!