Welcome to a new monthly blog post where I highlight one of my inspiring clients. Every one has their own unique reason for working to improve their health and there is inspiration in every reason, every “why”, and on every path.
Join me in celebrating this month’s inspiration, Kim.
When you are told you have cancer, there are 2 paths you can take…
One where you sit back and wait…wait for the doctors to tell you what to do…wait for all of the treatments and side effects to drag you down…put life on hold and wait for a change in circumstances.
OR
The path where you take action. Yes, you follow doctor’s orders but then you take your own action. You give your body all that it needs to fight. You feed your mind hope. You nourish your spirit. And you stand up for yourself.
And that’s exactly what my client Kim chose to do when diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.
I met Kim the summer of 2019 as she was seeking a personal trainer to come to her home and help her rebuild strength and endurance after a series of health issues had sidelined her from living the life she wanted to.
Kim is an avid tennis player, golfer, and hiker. She also enjoys cycling and running. So as you can imagine, she was feeling frustrated that her health was holding her back.
We focused on building strength first and also focused on stretching and mobility exercises. In time Kim was feeling strong and capable. Back on the tennis court, the golf course, planning active travel adventures that would take her and her husband to beautiful locations and some amazing hikes.
Kim was at the top of her fitness game when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was a shock to her, to her family, to all of us. Luckily, it was discovered early so a treatment plan was quickly put into place.
“I had been seeing Nicole for a few years when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout my chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and immunotherapy, I considered Nicole a key part of my healthcare team.”
Even though Kim faced a lot of unknown’s, she chose the path of action. She was not going to sit by and wait and see. She was going to overcome this as she had overcome health challenges in the past, and continuing to care for her physical health was part of the plan.
“Nicole researched how to work with someone going through these treatments and developed a training approach that addressed my specific needs. She provided support on nutrition as well as physical conditioning. As a result I was able to stay relatively active, which is very important during cancer treatment, and it certainly made my experience more tolerable.”
After almost a year of treatment, Kim received the exciting news that she was cancer free. She had beat it! She didn’t let cancer own her…She owned it and overcame it.
Today, Kim is as active as ever. Playing tennis. Hiking. And continuing to strength train. She is living life on her terms. She has enjoyed some amazing travel adventures this year, including a recent trip to Croatia and Slovenia, hiking to waterfalls and touring the cities by foot and bicycle.
“Nicole’s help made my recovery far more successful than it would have been otherwise. Almost two years later, I am healthy and even stronger than before my diagnosis. Thank you Nicole!”
Being fit and healthy isn’t a guarantee that we will never get ill or injured. But a fit and healthy body and mind is insurance that we will bounce back. It allows us to be resilient, mentally and physically, when we face the storms of life.
It has been an honor to support Kim in living her best life. She is an inspiration to me, and I hope maybe even to you.
Photo Credit: Client Kim “The picture is from our hotel balcony in Hvar, Croatia.”