Three years ago this past weekend…

This weekend I was in Chicago with the Perform Better team. Saturday was June 13th.

At 10am on the 13th, three years ago I was hooked up to IV bags, a ventilator and with tubes (connected to my heart) hanging out of my chest.

I was on the tenth floor of the UCLA medical center having just finished my last week of intensive chemotherapy that brought my blood count close to zero.

At 10am the medical team performed a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.

They call it “Day Zero” – the day you are literally “reborn” from a cellular level. They call it your “re-birth” day — and even give you a cake.

Saturday was “Day 1097″ — my “rebirthday”. My reborn cells have turned three years old.

It’s been quite a few years. I was back exercising about a month after the transplant (I was discharged one week after the transplant which at the time was the fastest recovery in UCLA history).

Until this year I still had a hard time with energy levels — and the struggle back to fitness has been challenging most of the time. I’m not complaining though, it is an enormous privilege to be able to even exercise at all after my diagnosis. It can get depressing at times, but only for a second — as the alternative is much worse

As Lance Armstrong says:

“I take nothing for granted now. I only have good days and great days”

I can relate completely. For me, the glass will always be half full from now on.

Thank you all for joining me on my journey over the last three years. It had it’s ups and downs and it has been both challenging and grueling at times.

Two years ago I launched www.liftSTRONG.com.

To date we have raised over $150K for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Thanks for your support but we need to raise more! Make sure your friends know about the site.

Thanks again. And thanks to all my friends at Perform Better who hung out with me on Sat.
This weekend was a special day for me.
–
AC
www.alwyncosgrove.com

Punch Gym Newton has now been open for over a year

Boston Magazine’s BEST OF Boston is currently accepting nominations for everything from restaurants, to hotels and even GYMS )))

If you don’t mind helping us out please click the following link

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_of/index.html

all  you have to do is…scroll halfway down, look to the right side of the page and find the Nomination section. Then select Services and type in(or copy and paste)

Punch Gym Newton: Best Boutique Gym

Kevin McCarthy and Stacey Schaedler: Best Trainers/Personal Training

Tell your friends and family to vote :0

Here is a review posted back in March, from one of my clients Deirdre Cassidy.

I’ve been working with Stacey for 1.5  years. She’s made a huge difference in my life.

I have a medical condition that had really affected my perception of what I could do physically. I became a couch potato! Stacey has helped me tremendously by dealing with the challenges this condition raises but also pushing me to accomplish so much more than I imagined possible. She’s helped me improve my strength, general fitness and attitude.

I love my kettlebell work out and look forward to going unlike other workouts I’ve done in the past. Stacey’s helped me lose about  25 lbs and countless inches! I look forward to reaching another weight loss goal soon. Stacey is the best.

Wednesday June 10th I got this email from her :0

Hi Stacey,

Dee

Tomorrow I see Dee and we are setting new goals

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/diet-fitness/2009/04/08/fish-oil-supplements-epa-dha-and-ala-does-your-omega-3-source-matter.html?s_cid=related-links:TOP

A: So much that it sounds cliche to title my post with it.

My real question to those with this advice is…

How can I follow my heart when I haven’t uncovered it yet?

Opening my heart to others and being happy with myself is what I want.  I want to live this life with complete confidence and know that I am responsible for creating the world I want to see around me.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-2.html