Bill Streetman

Trim and tall for most of his childhood and into his twenties, Bill was a single, active man. In his thirties, he slipped into family and career roles, and over time, his values changed, allowing him to behave in a manner that would ultimately land him in the prison of obesity. His actions created the four hundred-plus-pound body that caused his quality of life to suffer and limited his ability to pursue happiness. After college, where Bill studied architecture, he spent 35 years as a consultant to the natural gas and electric utility industry, focusing on implementing Energy Efficiency and Conservation programs. During his career, Bill traveled constantly, ate poorly, worked long hours, and got little sleep. His health and well-being suffered; most notably, his weight went from a trim and fit 180 pounds to over 400 pounds. His blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol were all rising into the danger zone. In 2010, at fifty-four (54) years of age, Bill retired from his career to focus on his health and plan what he called his "Escape from the Prison of Obesity." He underwent gastric bypass and used this tool to make a lifestyle transition by establishing a set of values that, when allowed to direct his actions, resulted in a 240-pound weight loss that he has maintained for 14 years. He uses his approach of living by "Design & Election" as an outline anyone can follow to make their own lifestyle change. Bill likes to say that as his body shrank, his life grew. Losing weight was a catalyst for more change than just weight loss. Bill regularly engages in long-distance, multi-day bicycle rides and cross-country hikes. His daily activities include weightlifting, balance and stretching classes, pickleball, and other sports. Bill's escape from the prison of obesity has also allowed him to travel the world. In 2015, he founded Tour of Hope, a week-long bicycle ride to help defeat obesity. The ride aims to raise awareness of obesity, show by example that it can be defeated, and raise funds for weight loss surgery grants. 2015 – Westerville, OH to Raleigh, NC – 525 miles 2016 – Westerville, OH to Gaylord, MI – 428 miles 2017 – Seattle, WA to Portland, OR – 411 miles 2018 – Frisco, TX to San Antonio, TX – 375 miles 2019 – Savanna, GA to Orlando, FL – 365 miles 2022 – Westerville, OH to Cleveland, OH to Mt Clemens, MI to Southfield, MI – 423 miles In 2017, he was named the USA Male BariAthlete of The Year. In 2018, he was elected to the board of directors of the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America (WLSFA), a non-profit organization that raises funds for WLS grants. Bill speaks at weight loss conferences, is a frequent podcast guest, and is a guest lecturer at Otterbein University. Bill lived in Westerville, OH, for over 35 years with his wife, Colleen. There, they raised three sons, each now married. Bill and his wife now split their time between the USA and South Korea, where they have two grandsons (and a son and daughter-in-law).