PD Opinion

GUEST OPINION

February 7, 2010

Three weeks from the day

By Joe Leonardi

Today, the day I am writing, is Friday February 5, 2010.

Today is three weeks from the day that I had last gone for a run.

Today is three weeks from the day that I had last been in the gym.

Today is three weeks from the day that I received the call from my cardiologist that there was an abnormal finding on my stress test and we would need to do a more invasive test.

Yesterday, I was given the okay from my doctor to go back to the gym, all is good. I was to go easy for the first two weeks.

I have healed up from my procedure and there were no restrictions, just words of caution: “take it easy.”

The alarm was set for 6 a.m., but I was awake by five; my heart was pounding, it was beating with excitement. Today was the day I was going back to workout.

I entered the gym doors, gym bag tight in hand. I swiped my card, greeted the woman working the desk and headed to my locker.

I put my gear away, went up stairs to the cardio area and hopped up on the treadmill, in my head I heard the words, “take it easy.” I did, an easy 1/2 mile run. I was barely breathing heavy and I wasn’t even sweating, but I “took it easy.”

I went down to the weight area. I made a bee line to the shoulder press machine. I loaded it up, one 45 pound plate on each side, three weeks ago there were two +25, but I was to “take it easy.” The weights rose up and down with little effort, I did my supersets and fought the urge to add more weight. I moved from exercise to exercise, resisting the desire to go heavier. I barely worked up a sweat, but I “took it easy.”

It was three weeks ago today I was last in the gym.

It was three weeks ago today I last felt cold, unrelenting iron in my hands.

It was three weeks ago today I wasn’t sure if I would ever be back.

If all goes well, two weeks from today, I will no longer be “taking it easy.”

If all goes well two weeks from today I will no longer fight the urge to add more weight.

If all goes well two weeks from today I will be running further and harder.

If all goes well two weeks from today at the end of my workout my clothes will be soaked in sweat.

Today is three weeks from the day that my life changed.

Today is three weeks from the day I promised to help others avoid the pitfalls of obesity.

Today is three weeks from the day that I knew my life’s work was to spread the word of fitness.

Today is the day I start that work.

Dr. Joseph Leonardi is an area chiropractor who writes in this space from time to time.

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