Heather Dziczek
 | I was a chubby kid, often praised for being a "good eater." I grew from being a "soft" teenager to a fat college kid. By the time I graduated from college, my 5-foot-4-inch frame was carrying close to 200 pounds. Though I did enjoy an occasional pick-up game of basketball when the weather was nice, my motto was "run when chased." Over time, I started exercising, made small dietary changes, and reaped the rewards of these changes: less fat, more energy. Five years ago, just as I had shed the last of the pounds that needed to go, half a year after I reached my 5K time goal of less than 30 minutes (29:58), 10 months after I started training with a personal trainer, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The prescription? Six months of chemo and 3-1/2 weeks of chest radiation. Fortunately, my body withstood the chemo fairly well. My oncologist attributed it to my excellent physical condition. Two months after treatment started, I had a PET scan: NED. I was thrilled! Treatment continued anyway, to be cautious. Chemo ended just before Thanksgiving (2007). I had just turned 32 and had just beat cancer. Give thanks indeed! Getting back on the exercise wagon was difficult, and my body resisted progress. I persisted, started working with a trainer again, and began to regain my strength and endurance. Two years after my diagnosis, I completed my first triathlon. It was incredible. My pride in training for it and completing it was overwhelming. I teared up during the run. To help others who are struggling to reclaim their bodies, who want to change their lives by changing their lifestyle, I opened Second Chance FitCenter. It’s easy to find a jock trainer. It’s not easy to find a been-there-done-that trainer. The latest piece to the story? Despite infertility being a possible side effect of the chemo, I was able to get pregnant. We added our wonderful son to the family in October, 2010. Signed, |
