Not Hungry? Try This Pizza

Larkspur-Corte Madera editor Derek Wilson writes a column called "Tick Tock..Time of My Life" that chronciles his days living with Stage 4 carcinoid cancer. Here's his latest entry.

--

One of the greatest inventions ever was the wheel. The circle is a perfect shape, especially when it's made of dough and has cheese, tomato sauce and fresh basil on it.

Another of history's great inventions? That's right, the pizza.

has been the pizza restaurant for a guy born and raised in Mill Valley. I've spent a good portion of the past 39 years in one booth or another there, watching Maria, Tino, Lucia and the Aversa Family grow up in the kitchen. My father's favorite order, a mushroom and salami pizza, gained the moniker "Wilson Special."

I don't know what I'd do without the classic Italian food there. La Ginestra is a great therapy for me. Some people eat when they're angry. Some people eat when they're depressed. Some people eat when they're happy. Some people just eat for the sake of eating. I feel like I'm eating not enough sometimes, but when I do I want to make sure I eat well.

Carcinoid cancer might interfere with some parts of my life, but it's not going to take my favorite pizza away from me.

Walking into Dr. Alex Metzger's office at Marin Cancer Care, I always have to fill out the same old health update form, which includes that scale of 1-10 about my appetite. On Tuesday, my appetite was about a 4, on the low side. I started that day with a bowl of cereal, then snacked on some pretzels around midday. Dinner was a small fishcake and some sweet potato. That was about it.

It's no big surprise that my energy level drops like a hockey puck in winter when I don't eat, so a trip to La Ginestra is always welcome. I'm always hungry for their pizza, or the ravioli or tortellini. I suppose I should add more chicken to my order next time I visit.

I don't want to force myself to eat, but I look at the chart of "superfoods" on my refrigerator and I know I need to power up with more proteins and irons and such, all the good stuff found in lean meats, fruits and leafy greens. Hey, it worked for Popeye, why not me?

I don't think there are any heroes who gain superpowers from a pizza. A pizza diet probably would give me only a big belly, but honestly I just can't eat that much. The food on my plate is usually only a quarter of what it used to be.

My diet doesn't include the usual "superfoods" that line the health food aisles at the grocery store. Certain whole grains, flax seed, legumes and other foods don't seem digest well, especially since I had a chunk of colon removed. Aside from any discomfort, the concern is I might not be getting all the vitamins I need.

The good news is I'm nearly down to my high school weight. The bad news is I'm afraid I'm losing more muscle mass than fat. I want to lose another 15-20 pounds, but I have to be careful how I do it. I know my body isn't ready yet for a full gym workout, so I'm focusing more on my diet. If anyone know of any good "superfood" diet recipes, I'd love to hear them.

I've got an appointment to see a nutritionist, who hopefully can guide me through the kitchen on a healthier path. We'll see.

Just as a reminder, my wife Tracy and I will join the 5k Palo Alto Moonlight Run and Walk fundraiser Friday for the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation. I hope you can support us in our cause.