By Henri Schmidt, CEO & Founder of Vbtec/Visionbody, Muscle Expert and Cancer Survivor
Hearing that I had cancer was one of the hardest moments of my life.
Like anyone receiving that kind of news, I needed time to process it. I thought about my family, the years I still wanted to live, and everything I wasn't ready to leave behind. I knew the road ahead would be difficult, but I also knew I wanted to face it with as much determination as I could.
Having spent much of my life working in muscle science and human performance, my instinct was to think about what I could do to help myself stay as strong as possible throughout treatment. I wasn't searching for a miracle or a shortcut. I was searching for a routine that helped me maintain my strength, my energy, and a sense of purpose while following the medical care recommended by my oncology team.
Finding a Routine That Worked for Me
Over time, I experimented with different approaches to nutrition, movement, and recovery.
My routine changed depending on how I felt, where I was in my treatment, and the conversations I had with my doctors. Some periods looked very different from others. Rather than following one fixed diet or schedule, I adjusted my daily habits as my situation changed.
Nutrition became one part of that routine. So did movement. I continued using my Visionbody EMS system and regularly spent time in an infrared sauna because, personally, those activities helped me feel engaged in taking care of myself during an extremely difficult period.
Looking back, I don't believe there was one formula responsible for getting me through my cancer journey. It was the combination of medical treatment, family support, determination, and the daily routines that helped me feel physically and mentally stronger
My Experience With Different Eating Approaches
One nutritional approach I explored during my journey was metabolic cycling.
For me, that simply meant experimenting with different ways of eating over time rather than following one eating pattern continuously. I paid attention to how I felt, how much energy I had, and how well I was maintaining my strength while going through treatment.
This was never something I viewed as a treatment for cancer. It was a personal experiment that reflected my own background in fitness and muscle science, combined with guidance from my healthcare team.
Every person's medical situation is different. What felt appropriate for me may not be appropriate for someone else.
What Helped Me Stay Consistent
When I look back today, I don't remember one breakthrough moment.
I remember the routines.
I remember trying to preserve as much strength as I could. I remember continuing to move even when I had to adjust my expectations. I remember choosing habits that helped me feel engaged in my own recovery rather than giving up when life became difficult.
Those routines gave me structure during a period when very little felt predictable.
Whether it was paying attention to my nutrition, staying physically active in ways that felt manageable, or making time for recovery, every small decision helped me maintain a sense of purpose throughout the journey.
The Role of Visionbody EMS in My Routine
One part of my routine that remained important throughout my cancer journey was using my Visionbody EMS system.
During periods when conventional workouts felt more challenging, EMS gave me another way to stay connected to movement and continue engaging my muscles. Personally, that mattered because maintaining physical activity, in whatever form I could manage, helped me feel stronger both physically and mentally.
For me, preserving as much muscle as possible became one of my priorities. Throughout my career, I have believed that healthy muscle plays a fundamental role in supporting strength, mobility, and overall quality of life, especially during physically demanding periods. Using my Visionbody system became one of the ways I worked toward that personal goal.
My Visionbody system became part of my daily routine, not because I believed it could treat cancer, but because it supported the active lifestyle I wanted to maintain during treatment.
My personal experience should not be interpreted as evidence that EMS treats, cures, or changes the course of cancer. It was simply one element of how I chose to stay active while working through an incredibly challenging period in my life.
The Role of Recovery
Recovery was another priority for me.
I regularly spent time in an infrared sauna because I personally enjoyed making it part of my overall wellness routine. Alongside nutrition, movement, and rest, it became another way of slowing down, recovering, and maintaining habits that helped me feel better throughout treatment.
That was my personal choice and should not be interpreted as a recommendation for people undergoing cancer treatment.
Looking Back
Cancer changed my life.
It changed the way I think about strength, health, and what it means to keep moving forward when circumstances are far from ideal.
Nutrition, movement, EMS training, and the routines I built around them became part of how I chose to live through that experience. They helped me maintain a sense of purpose and normality during one of the most difficult periods of my life.
If there is one message I hope people take from my story, it is not to copy what I did. Every cancer journey is different, and every treatment plan should be developed together with qualified medical professionals.
What I hope my story shows is that even during the hardest moments, there is value in continuing to care for yourself, preserving your strength where you can, and refusing to lose hope.
Henri Schmidt
Disclaimer: I wrote this article not as medical advice but to share my personal experience as a former athlete, fitness specialist, and EMS innovator while living with cancer. My experiences should not be interpreted as recommendations or evidence that nutrition, fasting, EMS, or any lifestyle practice can treat or cure cancer. If you have cancer or another medical condition, always speak with your oncologist, oncology dietitian, or other qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine.
