John Hielckert knows how important it is to be active and fit. The sporty seventy-something once even ran the Rotterdam marathon. But sometimes life has unexpected challenges in store for you. A day before John turned 65, he was diagnosed with Waldenström disease, an incurable form of blood cancer. Due to the neuropathy that caused the disease, John was at one point only able to stagger around the house for short distances. Walking, let alone running, was a daily struggle. By chance, John ended up at Happy Bodies in Lisse and John is now enjoying life to the full again. In this blog John explains how Happy Bodies and the Milon circle have contributed to this.
Stumbling through the house
I have been active all my life and even ran the Rotterdam marathon a few times. Around 2010 I started to suffer more and more from fatigue. The GP did not take me seriously for a long time, which is why I was only diagnosed in 2013: Waldenström's disease, a rare form of blood cancer. With the knowledge of an incurable disease at the time, the doctors gave me another ten years. After a few years I started to suffer more and more from shooting pain in my feet and also mild pain in my hands. It turned out to be neuropathy, a nerve disorder that caused pain, tingling and numbness in my extremities. At one point all I could do was stagger around the house. I really felt invalid.
Fantastic result
In 2022 it really didn't work anymore and I started chemo. I was really dreading this, but after five rounds of chemotherapy my IgM, a type of antibody that plays a crucial role in the body's immune system, had already dropped from 26.69 to 9. And that value is still falling. A fantastic result. I turned 76 in March, so I have now more than achieved the number of years they gave me at the time and I hope to add a few more years to it.
Training with physical complaints
In 2018, my wife Carla and I moved to Lisse, to a so-called sustainable home, near our children. It took a few more years, but in mid-2023 we - by chance - ended up at Happy Bodies in Lisse, our hometown. They work there with the Milon circle. Before you start, the Milonizer scans your body based on biometric markers. Super convenient, because all devices are always set exactly right for you personally, even if you suffer from physical complaints. My muscle and fat mass was also measured. The devices then track your progress with each training session and you receive support from well-trained professionals. This way, progression is really demonstrable, which is very different from the average gym. My wife and I now go to Happy Bodies every other day and also follow the Happy Bodies nutrition program. My muscle mass visibly improves and my fat mass decreases. From the very first intake at Happy Bodies Lisse, Carla and I felt enormously supported. The careful guidance, removing the fear of injuries and feeling confident that you are in good hands is invaluable to us.
Intensive recovery process
These chemotherapy treatments have a drastic effect on the body. It not only destroys cancer cells, but also impacts healthy cells. The recovery process after such a course of chemotherapy is intensive and requires that your healthy cells become active again and help the body recover. This is a tough task for the body, and any support is welcome. I find that support at Happy Bodies. The painful neuropathy caused by my disease has been reduced to a level that I consider tolerable thanks to my training at Happy Bodies. In short, my quality of life has improved enormously.
On to the ten years
My aim is, with strength training, to postpone my next chemotherapy as far into the future as possible. According to my hematologist this could be three to four years. Due to the proven growth of my muscle mass, I am going for ten years. Is that realistic? Time will tell. For now we are enjoying life to the fullest. I still have a big wish that I want to share. It would be wonderful if our patient association Hematon and the UMC Utrecht embraced the benefits of training at Happy Bodies with the Milon circle. In addition, I see a great opportunity for this OncoFITness. It would be a valuable addition for people who, like me, are looking for ways to improve their strength and fitness during or after their medical treatment. Through this training you will not only improve your physical health, but you will also make a positive impact on your overall well-being and quality of life.
Knowing more?
Curious how you too get more energy by training twice for 35 minutes every ten days, under the guidance of your own personal lifestyle coach? Even if you have physical complaints? Then do the membership test and sign up for a free personal introductory meeting and tour of the club. Want to bet that you are immediately sold?
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