Body, Mind and Spirit
What's in your pantry?
t’s relatively obvious when we need to call a
personal trainer. Much more mysterious is
how we acquire the extra weight most of us
pick up through the years. When 1 decided to
regain my health and lose weight, 1 instinc
tively knew that 1 would have to revisit and break
the patterns created when I was young to maintain
the weight loss. There is an undeniable emotional
component worthy of fearless examination. More
than 80 percent of fourth-grade girls have been on
a fad diet, according to one statistic 1 found, and 1
was no exception. 1 also hid a full-blown eating dis
BY MARIA CALLAHAN
order for a number of years by feigning veganism in
my 20s. Since then it’s been undereating or
ly announce that someone gayer than me had taught
overeating, citing lack of time, my girlfriend, soci
his HMO’s nutrition class the previous night. Deeply
ety and even God for the reasons 1 haven’t been
doubting this information, 1 went straight to Bob
able to feed myself properly. Balance is a precarious
Wilson’s Web site and found my rival: a dapper
act for all of us, but we are all ultimately responsi
looking man with a rainbow bow tie. We were
ble for what we put into our mouths, regardless of indeed neck and neck. Having maintained a
the circumstances. Yes, it’s a struggle for those who
250-pound weight loss for more than 34 years, this
profess fitness, tod.
self-described “mother with a beard” has devoted his
If weight loss and the maintenance of your ideal
life to helping other people achieve a healthy
weight are your goals (which it is for 95 percent of balance of body, mind and spirit. Wilson tells of how
my clients), your overall success will exponentiate if
his own mother, a “vibrant woman," was prescribed
you “clean up” your diet by making moderate
speed in the ’50s for weight loss. After becoming
changes and eating fewer calories. It’s that simple;
addicted to speed, other addictions ensued and
1 kid you not.
contributed to her death at the young age of 50.
1 am limited to a narrow scope of practice when
Wilson, a registered dietetic technician, teaches
it comes to nutritional advice. I had been actively
and coaches 40 to 60 people a week, many of whom
seeking asexual minority dietitian or nutritionist to
are scheduled for bypass surgery. He says: “There is
network with when my friend Larry called to proud-
always a simple answer to a complex problem, and
I
Dear Ethel
it’s always wrong. Changing the size of
a person’s stomach will not change
the hungers they are seeking to fill.”
Raised in the Foursquare Church,
Wilson refused to live in the closet.
Wary of being judged “a fat, gay
abomination” by his church when he
Dietetic technician Bob Wilson coaches clients on how to
arrived with a partner, he converted
solve complex health challenges with sound nutrition.
to Buddhism, which has been an
“answer to a prayer,” as is his 18-year participation
That your life will be radically different post
in 12-step principles. For exercise, Wilson and Jon
surgery. You will have very little energy for quite a
Dickman, his partner of 10 years, love to hike, gar
while. You will lose fat and muscle and gain excess
den and use his lush yard for frequent metaphors
skin. You will likely experience Dumping
about how our life can blossom as we speak.
Syndrome. (It is what it sounds like, folks.) There is
“Gardens require maintenance and patience,”
a good possibility that you’ll never be able to eat the
Wilson says. “Our bad habits are like a garden that
ftxxls you love again. You will need to take vitamins
needs weeding. We’re in charge of directing the
for the rest of your life, as your stomach is unable to
changes.”
help you absorb nutrients. There are serious side
Wilson has been writing a book, but in the age
effects from this surgery that are truly irreversible.
of quick fixes, he realizes that a balanced approach
Please see a nutritionist, counselor and physical
to health and fitness isn’t popular with publishers:
therapist before this surgery and explore all other
“It’s a journey towards increasing health and fit options. •
ness, not a race. It’s an investment in you."
As 1 was driving away from our interview 1 real
For more information about B ob W1LSON visit
ized that, twice now, my bearded mother has man
www. balancedweightmanagement.com.
aged to send me off with large containers of salad.
Information in this column should not be used in place
D ear E thel :
of advice from a licensed health care professional. If
you have a health or fitness question, e-mail D ear
I need to lose a major amount of weight quickly,
and I am considering Ruen-Y bypass surgery. What do
ETHEL at mariacallahan@gmail.com or visit
www.mariacallahan.net.
I need to know prior to surgery?
Making your Money work as hard as you do
Initial consultation at no charge
• Comprehensive Financial Planning
• Life & Disability LTC Insurance *
• Inheritance Estate Planning Strategies
• IRAs, Roth IRAs, Rollovers
• Tax Planning
• Investing with a Conscience
^^WADDELL
€=3<SrREED
Financial Services'
’ollrrri through arrMfMNNih with mwimi tomp«m«s
MEMBER SIPC
www.waddell.com
anneseelye@wradvisors.com
9 Convenient
Health Centers
Online at
www.ppcw.org
• Annual Exams
• STD Testing
& Treatment
Birth Control
& Emergency
Contraception
Condoms & Dams
Traditional
f .
TH
RUG
TO
• Order Birth
Control
I
• Order Emergency
Contraception
(
• Info Online 24/7
I
f
O
Planned Parenthood
IH® of the ColumbiaA/Villamette
Gallery
Wonderful Rugs.
Wonderful Prices!
We have the right
rug for you!
1220 SE GRAND
503-282-4400
• Free “Ask a Nurse"
Our Core Value*:
• building, strengthening, end supporting a diverse women's community.
• diversity of feminist perspective.
• education for empowerment.
• social change through grassroots activism.
Open 7 Days
• connecting feminism to all movements for justice.
• Find your nearest
Health Center
I -800-230-PLAN
www.ppcw.org
503-232-6003
Women’s Books
and Resources
a Week
8 NE Killingsworth (at Williams)
www.inotherwords.org
we offer a comprehensive, diverse collection of women’s writing * earth-friendly
menstrual products * anti-oppression children's & adult's books * locally made crafts &
jewelry * cards, stickers, buttons, gifts, music, magazines * tools for the revolution