I recently celebrated my 65th birthday, and I’ve been fighting an incurable  blood cancer - multiple myeloma - since 2013. Ongoing, monthly chemotherapy keeps the cancer in check. This cancer begins in the bone marrow and weakens the immune system. If left unchecked, it damages kidneys and other organs, thickens the blood with ‘junk’ proteins while robbing it of oxygen, and eats holes in bones - that’s the short list. At diagnosis, 80% of my bone marrow was cancerous and I was rapidly fading. There were holes in my clavicle, humerus, femur and ‘scattered lucencies’ (weakened spots) throughout my skeleton. My kidneys were severely damaged, I had lost over 30 pounds. I was constantly out of breath and weak. I remember choking back tears as I walked into the gym to cancel my membership. I was sure I’d never workout again - I could barely walk up the steps to my bedroom! Ten years later I’m in the best shape of my life, working full time and traveling internationally in  difficult, high-risk places. 

Photos: Top right, me in 2013. Bottom right, me in 2023.

What turned things around? There was no magic fix or extreme diet, but I can’t rule out miracles. Three things have been crucial:

• Faith which enabled me to face this battle with a positive attitude and gratefulness. 
• Great advances in medical research and new treatment options like immunotherapies. 
• A proactive approach to fitness, including educating myself on the scientifically proven benefits of resistance training. 

I had been working out - but not with any real dedication - for years, and my oncologist remarked that I was amazingly healthy for someone so sick. That seemed like a gross contradiction! I didn’t feel healthy - I thought I was going to die. But his point was, I didn’t have any of the common ailments that plague people who live sedentary lives and don’t exercise. Lesson: if you maintain even a basic level of physical fitness, your body is much better prepared to endure and  overcome when challenged with serious illness. I embarked on 16 weeks of chemotherapy. The cancer retreated so rapidly and I improved so dramatically with each treatment, the oncologist came in smiling each week saying, “We don’t normally see results like this!” 

Halfway through those 16 weeks, I was feeling better than I had in a year, and decided to restart the workouts. I was still weak and underweight, so I began with body weight routines at home: push-ups, body-weight squats, crunches. After a few more weeks I returned to the gym, adding pull-ups, squats with kettlebells, bicep curls, etc. The increase in energy, coupled with muscle gains and improved mood, launched me into a new level of commitment to fitness. Scientifically proven benefits like increased bone mass, stronger muscles which protect bones and joints, improved immune function - these are the exact benefits that are keeping me a step ahead in the fight against multiple myeloma. These days, working out is a privilege, not a chore. It’s the single best thing we can do for our health and wellness. If you put in the work, results will follow, and you’ll be creating the foundation for a healthier future. You can literally begin at any age and reap the benefits! I’d love to chat with you about those benefits, answer any questions you may have, and help you to make fitness a regular part of your life. Just fill out the form below for a no-obligation consultation. Wishing you health and longevity!

Paul