My Story

I didn’t lose my life—I became more aware of it.

And that awareness changed everything.

When I learned that 1 in 4 stroke survivors will experience another stroke within five years, I didn’t feel motivated…

I felt like a ticking time bomb.

Let me ask you something:

If there were a machine that could tell you when your life would end—would you want to know?

Because that’s what it felt like.

Knowing something could happen…
but not knowing when.

So I started small.

I moved a little more.
I changed how I ate.
I educated myself.
I became my own health advocate.

Not in a gym.
Not in some extreme program.

At home.
In real life.

And little by little… I became stronger.

I didn’t just survive—I rebuilt.

Stronger.
More aware.
More intentional.

And I realized something powerful:

Many chronic illnesses—including strokes—are largely preventable or manageable through lifestyle.

That changed everything.

Hello! I’m Norma, and I’m a stroke survivor.

Today, I’m still healing.
I’m still learning.
And I’m still living.

I move my body. I take care of my health. I enjoy my life.
Not because everything is perfect—but because I made a decision not to live in fear.

There came a moment where I had to make a decision:

I could live in fear…
or I could start living with intention.

This journey didn’t magically end after my diagnosis.
I’m still on it.

This is part of that truth.

I’m still healing—but I refused to stop living.

And I didn’t do it alone.

My husband and my family stood beside me through it all—through the fear, the uncertainty, and the rebuilding.

Because healing isn’t something we’re meant to do in isolation.

Support matters.
Encouragement matters.
And having people who believe in you when you’re still figuring it out… matters.

That’s why I created Anything But The Gym (ABG). Because I know what it feels like to: feel scared, feel unsure, and feel like time isn’t on your side. I also know what it feels like to take your power back. ABG isn’t about perfection. It’s about building a system that fits your life—so you can actually stay consistent. I made a decision—and I’m inviting you to do the same. We are not ticking time bombs, We are still living! So instead of asking “what if…” let’s start asking: “What’s next?”

Norma