Diane says "I feel great, look great and owe it all to exercise and my great personal trainer, Sara."

     January 15, 2001 I was diagnosed with stage 3B breast cancer.  I have spent the past almost five years successfully battling this disease.I endured 64 weeks of chemotherapy, 5 weeks of daily radiation and 10 major surgeries, including a radical double mastectomy and reconstruction.

Then, just this past December 2004, after having some chest pain at night I went to see a cardiologist. He told me that my extremely high cholesterol numbers (330 on 80 mg. of Zocor-a cholesterol fighting drug), my family history (my sister died at the age of 54 of a heart attack and my father had a major heart attack at 50 that left him totally disabled until he died of heart disease at the age of 62), my chemotherapy which damaged my heart, all suggested that I probably had a blockage in one or more of my arteries leading to the heart and might need by-pass surgery.

Since I was just recently (finally) finished with my reconstructive surgery, of course I didn't want my beautiful new chest cut open. I asked the cardiologist if there was anything else I could do to prevent having to need surgery. He said he wanted to treat me medically for 12-16 weeks - in other words, change my medication and diet and add exercise to my daily routines. He then wanted me back to his office for an echocardiogram to see where and how bad the blockage was and if the blockage and my cholesterol levels were responding to the changes he was recommending.

     That visit with the cardiologist was on a Friday morning. That same Friday afternoon I decided to call Harbor and get myself a personal trainer. I've been a member at Harbor for years, but because of my cancer and the subsequent surgeries I hadnЃft actually been in the club for over four years. I knew that the only way I would be able to motivate myself to come to the club on a regular basis was if I had a trainer. Well, just by chance I was fortunate enough to call when Sara Johnson was at the front desk and so she became my personal trainer.

We started out slowly - 3 times a week for an hour. Eventually we went to 1/2 hour every weekday since I was able do my one-hour of cardio on my own (20 minutes each on the treadmill, elliptical, and bike) followed by 30 minutes of weight training with Sara.

That was then.