It turns out that all those hours I spent in the gym doing workouts weren’t just for building muscle; they were actually preparing me for one of life’s toughest fights: battling cancer. It’s truly an intense journey, from hearing the diagnosis to navigating treatments, countless doctor visits, and finally, working toward recovery. Life really does throw you curveballs when you least expect it. I vividly remember coming back from a tour in Afghanistan, only to be told weeks later that I had Hodgkin’s disease, a type of immune system cancer. It had spread to my chest and abdomen, and just like that, I was thrown into a whole new world of chemotherapy, strong pain meds, sedatives, and even bone marrow extractions. It felt like everything was suddenly about me, but definitely not in a good way.
My cancer treatment lasted nine months, and there was so much to deal with. But I realized I could use the same mindset I’d developed from all my gym training to help me through it. After the initial shock of the diagnosis, once my doctors and I had a plan, I knew I could channel all that discipline I’d built over years of working out into fighting this unexpected enemy. Of course, doctors, nurses, and chemotherapy are absolutely essential, but it also takes a special kind of mental strength to push yourself all the way through.
Here are a few of the principles I developed in the gym that helped me beat cancer:
Patience
When you’re trying to change your body at the gym, like building muscle or losing fat, it takes a lot of time and patience. You have to keep showing up, workout after workout, week after week. Some days you’ll feel amazing, like you can do anything, and other days you’ll feel like you’ve gone backward. But consistency and patience are the real secret weapons. Changes happen slowly, and those who stick with it are the ones who succeed. Cancer treatment is exactly the same. You’ll have good days and bad days, feel like you’re making progress and then feel like you’re not. It all boils down to trusting the process and being patient. When you’re dealing with a serious health issue, it feels like a never-ending journey, and you often don’t see much progress day-to-day. The trick is to always keep that end goal in mind. You know that eventually, you’ll finish treatment, and you’ll get back to doing all the things you couldn’t do during chemotherapy. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for all the hard work you’re putting in.
Obstacles
If you’ve ever tried to get fit or stick to a healthy diet, you know all about overcoming obstacles. They’re just part of the deal. Things like busy schedules, family duties, temptations with food, or just general life stress—they’re always there. Even the workout itself can be an obstacle. You have to figure out what works, stay motivated, and try not to get injured. That’s just how the fitness journey goes. If you want results, you have to get good at dealing with challenges. Cancer treatment is a massive obstacle all on its own. Add in declining health, constant sickness, pain, and never-ending nausea, plus the struggle to keep any kind of routine, and it can feel totally overwhelming. But you have to shift your mindset and accept these challenges. Facing them head-on makes the whole journey more manageable. Once you embrace that, you can concentrate on pushing through and getting stronger mentally because of it.
Pain now, reward later
This is a big one in training, and sometimes misunderstood. If you want to achieve anything significant in life – whether it’s earning a degree, getting fit, or improving your focus – it’s going to involve some discomfort. Naturally, we try to avoid pain because it’s a survival instinct. But when it comes to transforming your body or building strength, feeling uncomfortable is part of the deal. I’m not talking about bad pain like joint injuries, but rather the good kind of discomfort that comes from pushing through reps and sets, knowing it will pay off later. There’s absolutely nothing comfortable about cancer. From throwing up and aching bones to long four-hour treatments, bone marrow extractions, and a never-ending stream of medications and chemotherapies – pain is a massive part of the process. But very early on, I decided to accept that pain for the reward I’d get later. Every time I went for another treatment, endured a sleepless night, or couldn’t eat for a whole day, I kept my eyes on the finish line. That pain was worth the ultimate prize: getting to live a normal life again.
Planning
I’ve always been big on tracking everything when it comes to my workouts and diet. When I was competing in bodybuilding, it was crucial to write down every detail: exercises, sets, reps, weights, how I felt, calories, protein, carbs, fats—anything that contributed to my success. All of this information helped me create a solid plan of action, which I’d adjust as I learned what worked and what didn’t. Without a plan, I’d feel completely lost. So, when I was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease, it wasn’t just a shock; it was incredibly frustrating. I had to wait about a week before seeing my oncologist, and during that time, I felt frustrated, anxious, and truly lost because there was no plan. I was completely in the dark about what to do next in this terrifying new situation. But once I finally met with my doctor and we put a game plan together, I felt so much more at ease. It was like I had a little bit of control back. I could look at the plan, start figuring out my daily schedule, and understand what to expect from my treatments. I had to trust that plan.
Recovery
While having the right mindset is super important in the gym – you need a clear vision of your goals – recovery is a very close second. I’m talking about things like good nutrition, enough sleep, proper rest, and sometimes supplements. Training hard every day takes a lot out of you, so you have to be serious about recovering. I always made sure I got enough protein, carbs, and healthy fats to support muscle growth, and I prioritized sleep and rest so I could bounce back stronger for my next workout. Recovery is just as critical during cancer treatment. The whole idea is to get through a treatment and then recover as much as possible before the next one. Of course, with chemotherapy, you’re not gaining strength; it’s more about trying to limit the decline in your health since it attacks both good and bad cells. You just hope it gets the bad ones before too many good ones are gone. But those recovery habits I learned from bodybuilding really helped me prioritize my own healing, focusing on good nutrition, sleep, and even some light exercise when I could manage it.
Support
My teenage years in the gym were pretty special. I’d meet up with friends after school, and we’d all train together, spot each other, and just joke around. It was a fantastic atmosphere of camaraderie, encouragement, and positive energy. Honestly, I don’t think I would have pushed myself as hard without their help, or even felt the obligation to show up every day. I cherish those memories of how I first got into training. That feeling of support, whether it’s from friends or trying new techniques together, is truly one of the most important things you can have. I was incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful support system during my cancer treatment too. My parents, friends, and coworkers made sure I never felt alone in my battle. There was always someone with me during treatments, taking me to and from the clinic. My workplace was amazing; my coworkers rallied around me, always checking in and offering help if I needed anything. Having that kind of support, and being able to accept it, is absolutely priceless.
The long game
Finally, and very importantly, is understanding the long game. When you’re training, eating right, recovering, and working on building yourself up, it’s a never-ending journey. There are no quick fixes or overnight miracles when you’re trying to change your body, get stronger, or live a healthier life. You really have to think long-term. This means building positive habits and practicing them every single day, week, month, and year. These habits need to become a core part of your life, not just something extra you have to do or a burden. Once you truly believe this, it becomes much easier to stick with it. My diagnosis was a huge shock, but once we had a treatment plan, I quickly realized I needed to adopt a long-term perspective. At the time, I was actively competing in bodybuilding, so I had to accept taking a break from competitions and focus entirely on surviving and getting healthy. Of course, I concentrated on the immediate tasks: treatments, medications, and recovery. But I was also constantly thinking about life after cancer. I imagined how I’d get back into training, how I’d adjust my nutrition, and eventually, how I’d step back on stage to compete. I was always looking beyond the current struggles, keeping my eyes on the bigger picture.
So, the gym isn’t just about getting bigger muscles or stronger. It’s truly a place where you build mental toughness, resilience, and the ability to face down challenges far beyond lifting weights. No matter what tough stuff life throws your way, these principles I learned can really help you get through it and come out on top.