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“While in Los Angeles to see the Dodgers Ispent a day at APU. Pictured here with President Jon Wallace and fellow Biology alumni Todd Korthuis ’86, MD, and Jon Milhon ’87, Ph.D.” He knew he needed to lose weight, but felt certain that the punishing 90-hour week he typically worked would make shedding the pounds a difficult task. His goal was to drop more than 230 pounds, but he needed a plan. And from this need “Taking a Swing at Weight Loss” was born. “I was looking for something that would combine my love of America and my love of America's pastime with my desire to retreat and facilitate healthy habits, including a better fellowship with God,”said Yphantides. “I knew I was embarking on a major struggle, and I thought ‘Why not make it a wholesome, fun, and enjoyable experience?’” So in April 2001, Yphantides set out on a journey in his Chevy Camper that would take him 38,000 miles through 49 states to visit every Major League ballpark. Yphantides attended 110 games, witnessing highlights such as Barry Bonds’ record-setting season, the farewell tours of Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn, and the World Series. But instead of enjoying these moments with hot dogs, peanuts, and Crackerjacks, Yphantides lived for seven months on a liquid protein that yielded 500 calories a day, about 5,000 calories less than he used to consume. “The first week was the worst,” Yphantides said. “I was so hungry I could have eaten a cigarette butt covered in mustard. But God was generous. I lost 17 pounds the first week and an additional 13 the next. With these results, after the first couple weeks it was easy.” In addition to the satisfaction of watching the pounds
disappear, which they continued to do at an average clip of more than
six a week, Yphantides also relied on the support of others, as friends
and relatives joined him for stints on the trip. “I chose to do this for the Lord, and there was a real sense of public accountability throughout this trip,” Yphantides said. |
 “The last
day before my diet, tipping the
scales at 467 pounds!”
“On Christmas Day 2001 with my parents George and Bernice Yphantides. First time I had meat in nine months!” When Yphantides returned to San Diego in
November, he was 200 pounds lighter and closing in on his goal weight
of 230. Even with such dramatic results, he knew he still needed to commit
to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With this reality in mind, Yphantides kept a light workload, splitting a twenty-hour workweek between practicing clinical medical care and medical consulting for foster children. He also began devoting more than three hours a day to exercise, a regiment that remains a regular facet of his life. “This has been an incredible experience,” Yphantides said. “Now I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing while I wait to see what direction the Lord leads me.” Christopher Martin ’98 is a production manager for Clear Channel Entertainment Television. He lives in Washington, D.C. |
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