Bill Streetman Bikes His Way To Health
July 13, 2015Only five years ago, Bill Streetman, ObesityHelp member WHSNewLife, was 54 and weighed 404 pounds. His health was failing. Bill had high cholesterol and high blood pressure. As a result of his weight and body size, Bill could no longer do the things he loved such as hike, snow ski, play soccer or ride his bike. He tried many diets on his own, commercial weight loss plans and even medically supervised weight loss programs but none of them worked for him.
Frustrated but determined, Bill knew he had to make changes in his life. On October 4, 2010, Bill underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The surgery provided him a tool to manage his eating but he knew it would take more lifestyle changes to achieve the health and weight loss success he wanted. Making changes in his food intake was only part of the equation for long-term success. Bill worried that he was too old to become more active and perform regular exercise to maintain his weight loss and health. Bill knew he had to incorporate regular physical activity in his day-to-day routine. He feared that if ‘eating well’ would be difficult, exercising, especially at advancing age and after years of inactivity, would be extremely difficult… and painful… maybe impossible.
Bill faced his fears head on and didn't let them hold him back. He implemented a vigorous exercise program and over the next 12 months lost half of his body weight. Bill is literally half the person that he was before surgery. Bill has maintained his weight loss for four years and is happy to share that he has returned to hiking, skiing, playing soccer and riding his bike. His blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are normal. He carefully manages his diet and nutritional needs to protect the excellent health he enjoys today. Bill loves to share his journey by writing and speaking about the topic of living healthy after weight loss surgery.
While childhood obesity itself is a major issue in the USA, Bill has found that the needs of obese seniors are unique and often not adequately addressed by the weight loss industry. As a result of his weight loss and successful ongoing weight management, Bill has focused on helping others in their personal weight loss journey, with a special focus on the needs of people 55+ years old.
Riding his bike over 600 miles to #OH2015
Bill will be one of the speakers at the #OH2015 in Cary, North Carolina on October 16 and October 17, 2015. Bill will be sharing his “Simple, not Easy” presentation in which he outlines the strategies he utilized to make his weight loss journey easier and shift the odds of success in his direction.
To raise awareness of obesity in older adults, Bill (now age 59) bikes his way from his home in Columbus, Ohio, on October 2, 2015, to the conference site in Cary, North Carolina (approximately 600 miles) in advance of the Conference.
Bill’s passion is to spread the word that it is never too late to take control of your health, defeat obesity, and reclaim your active, healthy and productive life.
Photo credit: Bill Streetman
