Transformation happens. My seventh anniversary of being diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer was Aug. 28, 2014. On that day I decided to celebrate life.

That evening I decided and knew in my heart that I could go through my own transformation. I can’t control cancer or many other things in my life. But I can control my lifestyle. I can control how I eat and my exercise and activity level. At 290 pounds, I knew that night that I could and was going to change my life. I decided I wanted to lose 100 pounds in a year. I met that goal in 11 months. In early August of this year I weighed in at 189 pounds as of last wee, I am currently 176 pounds.

The first three months I worked by myself, changing my eating habits and trying to become more active. I had started in routine physical therapy earlier that The combined effects of past brain surgery plus lymphedema, chemotherapy and my morbid obesity had added up to a number of physical weaknesses and I had been about to start walking with a cane. My physical therapist helped me to learn to walk on a treadmill. Around that same time, I finally dared a few times to use a YMCA membership I had had for years. At my weight, it was too embarrassing. I was afraid of people’s judgment.

In December 2014, my transformation journey took a different turn. I met and started working with a personal trainer. I shocked myself that I had the confidence to let anyone know I wanted to lose weight. Dec. 8, 2014 I started working with my personal trainer, Nneka. I was so glad she trained out of her home. There was no way I would have had the confidence to train in a gym. In the privacy of her home, I started gaining both physical and emotional strength as I trained. In physical therapy that year my goal had been to enjoy a five minute walk.March that next year I walked my first 5k in the Kirkland Shamrock Run. Earlier that month, when on a family trip in Oahu, Hawaii I hiked up Diamond Head Crater. That hike was a true milestone for me as I faced my fears of failure and judgment. I finished it with renewed determination to transform.

I am a caregiver. Often, caregiving takes over the majority if my life. There have been constant changing challenges as I have learned to balance caregiving and my transformation.
I now value nutrition and healthy eating. It is a daily challenge to eat right. Through the year, I have found that nutrition is the basis for the healthy lifestyle I have adopted as my own.

Losing over 100 pounds and dropping six and seven clothes sizes in a year is absolutely amazing. But most amazing is that I feel like I have found a new life. Last month I not only tried zip lining for the first time, but Nneka and I celebrated my 100 pound milestone by skydiving. When I was first diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, I was scared. I wrote my final bucket list. Now I am writing a new list of things I have never had the confidence and fitness to do. I know I can now. Transformation has happened.

I want cancer and other survivors and anyone who feels much of their life is out of their control to know there truly is hope. We can control what we are able to. Transformation happens.

Tina Norsworthy, Kirkland