Another fitness blog?? Well...yes...and no. This blog IS about fitness, but it also deals with some very intimate details of a time in my life when I was going through cancer. Hopefully you will be able to find something useful in my blog, whether it be related to fitness or maybe even some motivation. Feel free to take a look around and also feel free to leave your thoughts if a particular blog touched you in some way. Thanks for stopping by!
If you watch this video, you may find that the speaker is talking to you personally because I knew it felt that way for me! After watching this video, it became clear to me that a lot of what was said is in fact pointed towards me. There have been times in my life when I was more concerned about how others viewed me that I totally neglected how I viewed myself. I never took the time to fully realize that I needed to work on me. I never realized that I had to "invest in me"!
Now that I'm a little bit older, (and hopefully more wiser), I can look back over my life and see the missed opportunities I had to make that investment. I see some decisions in my life that were easy decisions to make, but yet I didn't make the best decision. I should have started getting fit and healthy a long time ago...but I never did! I should have made better financial decisions...but I never did! I should have done this and that...but I never did!
So now is the time! Now is the time to look at the past and learn from the past. Now is the time to get priorities in order and forge ahead with my future. Not only is it my time to get busy living...it can be yours too! Take the time to look deep within yourself and find that little spark that can get you to think how to invest in yourself. Take action now...don't put it off any longer! You have put it off long enough....just go after it and don't settle for anything less than what you have set out to do!!!
One of the greatest gifts we possess is the ability to push ourselves into being something bigger and better than we ever imagined! There are many people in this world who have realized they have this gift and have used this gift to transform their lives into something extraordinary Some people don't even realize that they have this gift and so they wander through life wishing they could do something to change their life. They spend their days looking at others who have used this gift and and sometimes they become jealous or sometimes envious or angry that they can't be like those people.Well guess what??? You are one of those people who posses that very same gift!!! The only problem is that you don't realize it yet! Contrary to popular belief...you posses this gift too!! Sometimes you don't realize that it is there because of those little voices inside your head that tell you that you will never amount to anything. Sometimes it's those fears that are deep within you and you feed those fears by thinking that there is no way you can live a life full of positivity and substance! Well I'm here to tell you that you have greatness inside of you. You have an inner strength that you need to tap into because once you do, you can transform your life into something beautiful and spectacular! All it takes is a willingness to change. Once this willingness is in place, then take that first step (even if it is an itty bitty step) and start your transformation to greatness! To quote a motivational poster that used to hang in some of my high school classes, "YOU ARE A WORTHWHILE PERSON!"Once you start believing in yourself, you will see you own worth and you will want to nurturethat worth and take care of that worth! Once that happens, you will have found your wings and you will be ready to fly!!!
We, as human beings, are a strange lot sometimes. Somewhere in the depths of our brains we sometimes get stuck in the daily routines of our lives.
Tell me if this sounds somewhat familiar to you...
Get up in the morning....get ready for work...get in the car...go to work....take off for a lunch break...go back to work...work a few more hours...go home...have some dinner...watch some TV...go to bed and do it all over again in the morning...
Other than the occasional change in those plans, this routine probably holds true for most people and there are variations in those plans, like kid's sports practices, other obligations, etc. For many, this seems like bring stuck in a rut. Like being in a hole that they can't get out of. Well..I have news for you...things don't have to stay that way for you!
The fact of the matter is that at any time you can make a decision to make changes in your life! At any time you can make even the smallest decision that could have a positive impact on the rest of your life. If you want better health...make that change to do something about it. It could be as simple as taking a walk around the block. Maybe start with once around the block, then maybe two times the next day, and then slowly building up how many times you walk around the block. That is just one example of how you can make a positive change to your life that can change how you feel about yourself and your life.
That old saying that it's never to late to make changes in your life is true. Life is full of all kinds of twists and turns, BUT...you are the navigator of your journey. If you don't like the road you're on now...you CAN change your course of direction. FORGE AHEAD!!!!
(When I first got out of the hospital in Albuquerque, this song came on the radio and I honestly felt that this was God's way of telling me that everything was going to be ok. We had some pretty big giants to face, but His voice of truth was right...we would be ok!)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."- Jeremiah 29:11
(This particular scripture also helped us get through our journey. I offer it as a prayer for anyone who is currently struggling with their own adversities...may you be encouraged and lifted up like we were by this verse!)
I remember it like it was yesterday (even though it's already been a year ago).
The conversation went a little like this: DOCTOR: "Mr. Mecale...we got the results back from pathology and the biopsy shows that you have esophageal cancer."
ME: "But what about the other biopsy that was done at the hospital in Gallup?"
DOCTOR: "We haven't got the results from that test, but chances are it's going to show the same thing...I'm sorry"
From that point on, the whole conversation was kind of a blur. I remember the doctor saying something about the various doctors that would come to talk to me about what would happen next as far as my treatment for the cancer.
After he left, while sitting with my wife, we both were reeling from the news that we just received. It was shocking, scary, but most of mind numbing. I mean honestly, who expects to go into the hospital one day to learn that they have a sickness that could potentially kill them? It was quite a shock. As a matter of fact, it was so shocking to both of us that I remember that we didn't even cry when we first found out. (Although the tears would come later.)
We sat in that hospital room and pondered what would happen next. We knew that we would have to discuss treatments and all that other medical stuff that comes from a diagnosis of having cancer. We also had to discuss what we would have to do as far as personal matters. How would we handle the doctor's visits? How about the time away from work that would be missed because of this? How are we going to provide for Kateri during this time? How do we explain to Kateri that daddy is very sick and that he is going to be going through treatments that are going to make daddy feel even more sick? How am I going to provide for my wife while I am sick? So while all these thoughts raced through my frenzied mind, there was also a moment of calmness and peacefulness that I felt within me. On one hand I was scared out of my mind, but on the other, I was ok with what I had been told. (Even though my wife was terrified beyond belief!) With all the questions that we were facing, my answer for all those questions were answered with, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there," or "We'll worry about that when we have to...there is no sense in getting worried about things before they occur."
So here we are, it is August 1, 2012, exactly one year from the day we received the news that I had cancer. It's hard to believe that it's already been a year. In retrospect, there were things that I learned while going through cancer. The kind of things that are life changing! I learned that the things that I used to think were important, no longer were that important. And the things that I took for granted, I no longer wanted to take for granted. It's like I had been given a new outlook on life. People say that going through something like cancer makes one a different person. Well that definitely holds true for me, It forced me to slow down and really take a look at my life. It forced me to take a look at the life I was leading and it made me realize that I had to make some changes. In order for me to live life to the fullest, I had to realize that I needed to be fit and healthy. No. I HAD to be fit and healthy! I faced something that could have taken my life. Only by the grace of God am I able to still be here! No more taking life for granted! I want to live each day to the fullest! I am grateful and thankful for my "new life" that I have been given. I have a loving wife and daughter who need me now more than ever. I have my health back (thanks be to God) and I have been blessed with my family and my friends who supported me (and still support me) to this day...and also by the kindness of many people who we didn't even know. I thank everyone who has been there for us!!
Now that I have looked back on this past year and I've had time to reflect on the things that happened in the past year, I am grateful that I am alive! I have my wife and daughter by my side. I have my health. I have faced the beast that is cancer and I came out clean on the other side. So in some ways, it's like I got a new life because of what we have gone through. Some might ask, "If you had to it to do all over again...would you go through it again?" If this was a part of my journey, and it took this battle with cancer to get me to the point that I'm at now in my life, then of course I would go through it again, I wouldn't have traded this experience for anything!
We all have fear in our life! That's just the way it goes. Some people are afraid of heights and some people are afraid of insects. Some are afraid of dying, while others are afraid of the dark. Most of us (myself included) have fears in us.
It seems that since we were children we were taught to live in fear. We were afraid to mess up or do something wrong because we might into trouble with our parents or other authority figures. This fear continues all the way through adolescence and on through adulthood. However in adulthood, we sometimes learn that the things that used to frighten us as children are no longer valid reasons to be afraid. As adults, at some point, we should lose certain fears. But usually what happens is that we replace those old fears with new fears. These adult fears often can cripple us as these fears deal with more realistic things, like the fear of dying of the fear of not being able to provide for a family. In as much as these fears can hold us down, should they?
We often feed into the thought that our fears dictate how our lives are lived. When we give our fears that kind of power, we are not living our life to the fullest!! But imagine, if you will, that we took that power away from our fears. What if chose to think of those fears as opportunities? What if we conditioned ourselves to take that negative force in our life and turn it around into something that could be used as positive motivation? When we choose to really live instead of living in fear some amazing things can happen. So I challenge you to take a look at what you think is a negative situation and try to see the positive side of it. I challenge you to take that fear you hold inside and turn it into a tool that you can use to better yourself!!!!!
If you're like most people, you're pressed for time. We all have jobs, families, and other commitments that take up our time. Between work and family and other things in life, how can one even 30 minutes out of their day to even think about exercise. Well according to the video below, 30 minutes a day of exercise could probably be the best spent 30 minutes of your day that can be so beneficial to you (and to those you love too!)
Check out the video...
Now what do you think? If someone told you that you could increase your quality of life by doing a physical activity for 30 minutes...would you take their recommendation? If you really think about it, what is 30 minutes out of your day to do some sort of physical activity to make you feel better? Instead of sitting on the couch and watching re-runs, go outside and take a 30 minute walk. Take the family with you and spend that walk as family time. It doesn't have to be strenuous or grueling...just enough to get the heart rate up a little bit. Those 30 minutes a day could add years to your life! So what are you doing still sitting there reading this?? Get up...get moving...and take that 30 minutes to do something that will have a positive impact on your life!!!!
No matter what it is we do in life, we aspire to be successful. People in all walks of life work towards success. The thing about success is that it is usually defined by the individual. For one person, success can mean having lots of money. For another person it can mean being the best parent that they can be. Still for others, there are numerous other definitions of success. But the constant in all these scenarios is that there was a desire to want to succeed. There is that something extra that pushes us to give our all in order to succeed. Being a Beachbody coach, we call that desire to want to succeed our "why".
The "why" I'm talking about is that bit of inspiration that drives me to want to succeed at the goals I have set for myself. We all have a "why"...even those people who don't realize it yet! The "why" basically is the reason why we do the things we do to reach our goals. For instance, my "why" is my family. My wife and my daughter mean the world to me and I would do anything to make sure they are taken care of. The thought of my family is what drives me to keep working on getting fit and healthy and it also drives me to build my Beachbody business. When I get discouraged, all I have to do is think of my "why" and that motivates me to keep moving forward!
In closing...I challenge you to find your "why" and use that as motivation to drive you to your kind of success!!
PS...please leave a comment...I would love to know your "why" and what drives you to be a success!!!
I still remember that time right before I was diagnosed with cancer. For two nights I really struggled with my workout. That second night I had Plyometrics! For those of you who have never done P90X, let me tell ya...PLYO X is a mutha!!! Most exercises are only 30 seconds each, BUT... jumping around like a mad person for about an hour would put anybody in their place! At the end of my first 90 days of P90X, even though the workouts were still challenging, I was able to get through them without feeling like I was going to die. But on that night, it was so hard and I felt so bad that I only made it through the first ten minutes of the workout.I had to quit! Even though I felt bad that I had to quit the workout, I was worried because I couldn't finish a workout that I was able to finish just a week before. My thoughts were that I should be kicking this workout in the butt, but physically I just wasn't able to do it. Because I wasn't able to do it physically, it forced me to look at myself mentally and say, 'WHY CAN'T I FINISH IT?" It was discouraging to say the least, but I knew that I had to figure out why I felt so bad. It was about a week later when I found out I was bleeding internally from a tumor that turned out to be cancer....
So fast forward to a few days ago. I was doing Plyo X again and it felt great. As a matter of fact, for some of the moves, I moved from the modified versions to doing the actual moves. I was able to keep up "with the kids" and it felt good. I kinda mentioned this to my wife and told her, "Hon...do you remember when I barely could do this workout right before I got sick?" She shook her head and said "Yea!"
It made really think about how far I have come since I made the decision to get fit. I did one round of P90X and was in the best shape I have ever been in. My diabetes was under control and other health factors such as high blood pressure was also in check. But as I got those things under control, the cancer diagnosis turned my world around. After going through chemo and radiation and going through surgery I knew that it would probably be a while before I could get back to P90X. I was told that I would have a 6-8 week recovery period after the surgery. I waited eight weeks and than it was on!!! I started my second round of P90X and it was R-O-U-G-H! After not doing any kind of physical activity for about 6 months, P90X was even more of a challenge than it was the first time I did it. BUT...I kept going...I kept pressing play!!! At the end of the day I know that I have come along way...but I also know that as far as I've come, I also know that I still have a ways to go. Now that I have come out clean on the other side of cancer, my priorities have changed when it come to fitness and health. At first I was happy just to lose some weight and get my diabetes under control. But now, there is always a chance that the cancer can come back. So now my focus is still to get healthy and STAY healthy, but I also know that everyday that goes by is a blessing and I owe it to myself and to my family to keep on pressing forward. I have come a long way...but I still have a ways to go....
There is no better satisfaction than knowing that I was able to help someone! I think most of us can agree that there is something gratifying about being to help someone who needs it. It can be as small a gesture as holding the door open for someone or something more elaborate such as giving someone money to purchase a car. Having gone through cancer, I was so humbled by the tremendous amount of help that me and my family received during that time. It was the help offered by so many that made me realize that people are willing to help when someone else is in need.
Because of that, I feel that it's my turn to pay it forward! Enter the world of Beachbody!
People have asked me what exactly is a "coach". People envision a someone who has a great physique and can bench 350 pounds. For others, an image is conjured up of someone who is in tip top shape and is leading the a Zumba class at the gym. And while Beachbody does have coaches that could fit that description, there are plenty of Beachbody coaches that are regular people who are just like me.
You see, right before I was diagnosed with cancer, I had gone though my first round of P90X. What made me decide to order P90X was the fact that I was earlier diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Because I had a wife and daughter now, I decided that I needed to do something about my health. At the end of the 90 days, I had lost 30 pounds...I truly was in the best shape of my life!! After I was diagnosed with cancer, I decided to become a coach because I was living proof that Beachbody products work AND I wanted an opportunity to share this new, healthy lifestyle that I discovered. Basically, you benefit from helping other achieve their fitness goals.
So you're probably wondering where this idea of helping people comes from. Well for one, a Beachbody coach is more than someone who "sells product". A coach helps people by motivating people to get fit and healthy. By doing this you are doing a couple of things...you are helping others achieve their fitness goals while also keeping yourself fit, which ties into the theme of being a Beachbody coach who is "a product of the product." By embracing this idea of being a "product of the product", then not only are you getting into the best shape of your life, you are setting an example for others to join you to help them get in the best shape of their lives!
Now I could go on and on about what Beachbody coaching is for me. But check out this video ->>>>>>>
and let others tell you what Beachbody coaching is.
If this sounds like something that interests you, then by all means let's get together and talk. If you know someone who may be interested in an opportunity like this, then have them contact me as well. I can even set up an at- home presentation for you and/or your friends who want to know more about helping others achieve their fitness goals!
You may have seen my posts on Facebook talking about "Challenge Groups". You may have asked yourself, "What exactly is a Challenge Group?" Here is an overview of what exactly a Challenge Group is and what it entails.
A Challenge Group is a group of like minded people who are committed to getting physically fit and changing their lives for the better. A group is made up of five or six people who are doing the same workout. Ie. P90X, Insanity, Power 90, etc. This group is set in place to encourage one another, motivate each other and keep each other accountable for working the program. This is part of the Beachbody Challenge contest that is currently going on. Here is a brief video that explains what the Beachbody Challenge is all about.
So how does one get into a Challenge group? That where I come into the picture. First, the purchase of a Challenge pack is a good start.
The Challenge packs range in price from $160 to $305 + tax ( the price includes free shipping), depending on which program you choose. So what all comes in a challenge pack? Here is what you get:
The exercise program of your choice (Nutrition plans are included with every workout program)
Your first 30 day supply of Shakeology Home Direct (Home direct is Beachbody's auto ship program)
30 day trial membership to the Team Beachbody Club membership (As a member of the Team Beachbody club, you also get a 10% discount on all Beachbody products.)
As a side note, if you decide to sign up as a coach (like me), then the initial coaching fee of $39.99 is waived and the Business starter kit is also included. (Beachbody coaches get a 25% discount on ALL Beachbody products)
In addition to the items in the Challenge pack, you also get:
Personalized coaching by me that will help you succeed!
Invited to be part of an exclusive, private accountability group on Facebook
So this is what a challenge group is in a nutshell.If you are interested in joining one of my Challenge Groups, you contact me at:
I am committed to help anyone get into the best shape of their life and I want to help YOU succeed!!! Contact me to start on your path to a successful fitness journey!!
"The pathology report came back...you have esophageal cancer."
That was one thing that I never thought I would hear in my lifetime. But on that day it was real...I had cancer.
My wife told me that I had this look of shock all over my face when the doctor told me what the problem was. I mean really... how does one take the news that they now have a disease that could ultimately kill you? Needless to say I was worried, but not overcome with panic. Which in itself may seem weird to people, but at that time I didn't allow myself to get caught up in unneeded emotions. Now don't get me wrong...I was worried. As a matter of fact, the first thing that came to my mind was my wife and daughter. If cancer decided to run it's course and decide to take me down with it, then how would my wife and daughter go on without me around? So after absorbing the news of I now had cancer, it was a matter of accepting it and moving forward. My wife and I cried for a little while and then regained our composure with this pattern repeating itself over the course of that first day.
I remember one of the first questions my wife asked me was...
"How am I going to get through this? How am I going to be strong enough?"
I basically told her...
"There are days when I will be strong and I will lift you up, but there are going to be days when I won't be strong and you are going to have to lift me up. As long as we get through this together, we'll be fine."
So next came the questions of what are we going to do about this, what are we going to do about that, etc. My answer had always been, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there...let's not worry about it now." And as much as it frustrated my wife, I explained to her that this is a stressful enough situation and we shouldn't make it more stressful by worrying about things that were out of our control for the time being.
After that first day of many questions that were met with uncertain answers, I told her her my philosophy during this whole ordeal, which we adopted and shared with our family members. The first thing we did was give the whole situation over to God and allow Him to work his miracles. Next I came up with three phrases that helped my wife and I (and hopefully my family) get through this. They were:
This is NOT a death sentence...
This is just a bump in the road that we have to get over...
From here on in, we fight like hell to get rid of this....
Thankfully we made this our anthem before the oncologist came to see me, because this put us in the right frame of mind for when the oncologist came to see us.
The oncologist came in the room, introduced himself and asked us, "How do you feel about this whole thing?" I told him we were optimistic about it and that we were relying on God to help us get through it and that I was going to be okay. And as much as I know he meant well, I also knew that he was trying to be realistic about the situation and told us in not so many words, "This cancer can kill you!"
It was August 1, 2011. To most it was any other day, but for me and my wife, it wasn't just another day. You see, for the previous week and a half, I was admitted to two different hospitals at that time. The reason I ended up in the hospital was because after doing my workouts for a couple of days, during the workouts, I just didn't feel right. I had just completed one round of P90X so I knew the workouts shouldn't be as difficult as they were for me for two nights in a row. I was feeling weak, really fatigued and just plain tired. I also noticed that I was extremely out of breath and my heart rate was WAY above normal. Even to the point where I could workout for about five minutes and then need to literally sit there for another ten minutes just to recover and catch my breath again. The first night this happened I thought to myself that I just needed some rest. So I went to bed early that night and woke up feeling pretty good the next morning. Later that night I had Plyo X and started my exercise when I started to feel the way I did the night before. I stopped my workout about ten minutes in because I just couldn't do it.
The next morning I woke up and told my wife that I needed to go to the doctor to find out what was going on with me. We got to the hospital and they did some blood tests, an EKG and other tests to see what was going on with me. I told the doctors that that morning, I noticed I had dark stools (Sorry about this part). So they checked me and confirmed that I was bleeding internally. Based on that finding, they admitted me to the hospital. The next day they scheduled me to have an endoscopy. The results from the endoscopy showed that I had some sort of "growth" where my esophagus meets my stomach and that growth was what was bleeding. As part of the procedure, they took a piece of the tissue and sent it for a biopsy. Because the local hospital couldn't do anything to stop the bleeding, they decided to fly me to Presbyterian hospital in Albuquerque, NM. I arrived in Albuquerque in the evening sometime and got checked in. They scheduled a second endoscopy and Presbyterian confirmed what the local hospital found...a "growth" of some sort. This time though, they stopped the bleeding and took another tissue sample to send to pathology.
I stayed in the hospital over the weekend while we waited on the results of the biopsy. During that weekend, I really wasn't worried about the results of the biopsy, but that was a pretty long weekend just due to the fact that it was spent in a hospital room.
August 1, 2011...what started as an ordinary day, didn't quite end that way. My doctor came into the room around 2:00 PM with a somewhat concerned look on his face. Even though I didn't realize it until afterwards, I should have known it was something serious. He came in the room, closed the privacy curtain, and sat down at the foot of the bed. He then told us that they got the biopsy report back and the growth was malignant...which meant, "You have esophageal cancer."
I was up late one night when I watched the informercial too. At about that time I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, so I realized I needed to do something about my health issues. After all, I had a wife and a daughter that needed me around as long as possible. So one day on a whim I went to the website and ordered it. I told my wife, "By the way, I ordered that P90X program I've been watching on TV." (I had watched the informercial more than once!) So I ordered it and waited....
P90X- Round 1, Day 1
I got home from lunch one day and it was sitting on the porch. I opened the box and opened the kit. I looked at it and I was like, "Ok...there's no turning back now." I took the fitness and nutrition guides to work and started reading...preparing for my first 90 days. At that time I weighed 250 pounds and I was in some terrible shape. So after buying the necessary equipment, I started.
Now I'm not going lie....those first couple days were HARD!!! Heck...that first month was hard. (I guess it didn't help that I was EXTREMELY out of shape too!)
But as hard as it was, I stuck with it. I trusted in the system, I did the exercises and I followed the nutrition guide. Before I knew it, 30 days were done, and then 60, and finally 90 days were done. I had reached the end of Round One.
P90X- End of Round One
Now I know, some may say, "There really isn't much of a transformation," after all, I don't look like Mr. Olympia or nowhere even close to it. And that's fine if you think that. But I will tell you...I HAD NEVER FELT THE WAY I DID WHEN THAT 90 DAYS WAS DONE!! I truly was in the best shape of my life. I was never in that kind of shape, even in high school! My clothes were starting to get bigger on me and physically, I felt tremendous. I could walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded! As much as this may seem insignificant to some, to me, it was amazing! I had started on an exercise program that was WAY out of my comfort zone and I had completed it!!
P90X- End of Round One
I just want to say that if I could do it...then YOU or anyone can do it! Step out of your comfort zone and reach for greatness...or at least a better and more healthy you! If you think that you can't do P90X, then get with me and let's talk. If you need more info about P90X, then contact me! By the way...check out the video link below!
I know many people who have started something in their life and even
though they started with the best of intentions, they end up quitting.
(This includes myself at various points in my life!) But every now and
then you run across a story or an individual who doesn't give up. Watch this...
As you can see, here is an example of someone who didn't give up. For all intent and purposes, this man had nothing to lose. I'm sure he felt like his life was at an all time low. BUT...the thing that made all the difference in the world is that he reached out for help. So many times I've seen people who need help, but they are either in denial, or "too proud" to ask for help. They are content in their complacency! The man in the video kept searching and searching until he found someone who was willing to help.
HIS ACTIONS TOOK COURAGE!!
Anytime anyone wants to make a positive change in their life, it takes courage....and TONS of it. All the naysayers will tell you that it's not possible to change. Friends, acquaintences, even family members will tell you that the change you are making won't happen. They will try to discourage you from making those positive changes that you desire to make. But, as you start making those changes, people will start to see you meant business by your actions. The conscious decision you made by not giving up. When all seems lost and it seems like you can't go on anymore....DON'T GIVE UP and realize the power in NOT giving up! After all, you have nothing to lose and SO much to gain!!!
HELLO EVERYONE!!! I just wanted to introduce myself and my blog.
Welcome to Survival Fitness- My Journey of Health & Fitness. In this blog I will be offering several things.
1. My story on how I arrived at making this particular blog.
2. Fitness and health related articles
3. Motivation and encouragement for all who are making their own journey or who are thinking about starting their own journey.
*DISCLAIMER* I am an Independent Beachbody Coach and I REALLY would like to help you get started on your journey. Being a coach is my way of paying it forward to others that were like me and needed a positive change in their life. To learn more about Beachbody, feel free to contact me.
That is all for the time being. I will try to post something everyday. Please subscribe and check back often!
