A brief shiny moment

Well I wouldn't say I'm a gym rat. I'm not even a gym mouse.  What I can say is that I went to the gym today. 

There was a brief shiny moment last week when Antonia, my five year old daughter, and I were walking Cassie, our six month old Chocolate Lab.  When we got to the end of the block the three of us turned and started to run back home.

I saw Antonia's beautiful brown eyes look up at me with amazement.  I answered her unasked question with, "yea, were running, what do you think of that?"  She smiled widely and stepped it up a notch.  Unexpectedly, instead of stopping in a heavy pant, I went stride for stride with her thinking, "oh my gosh, I'm actually running, what is going on here?  Could it be that I'm getting in shape?"  It is amazing how quickly the frontal cortex can execute executive functions when it receives a healthy supply of blood. Immediately after I asked myself the second question, I rapidly supplied an answer, "yes," and promptly downgraded to a walk thinking, "but that is enough."  For a moment there was spontaneous, albeit slow, running with my daughter and puppy.  How delightful this glimpse of me-past was and how promising too.

I started last week strongly with visits to the gym on Monday and Wednesday.  My timing was great since Vicky was in mid training both times and was able to witness me in action.  I have to admit I was self-consciously waiting for her to come and correct my form.  Thankfully, she was too involved with her current trainee to come over.  Or, perhaps I was paying particular attention to my form.  All I know is despite the uncomfortableness, it was great to be seen in the gym by my trainer.

I had to cancel last Friday's session with Vicky because my endoscopy was scheduled close to the same time as the training.  As difficult as the training is, I seriously would have preferred it to the endoscopy.  When I called to reschedule, Vicky said, "it looks like you have been hitting the gym pretty regularly, I'll see you next Friday."  My timing had payed off.

The endoscopy was quick and painless, except for the sixteen hour fasting.  I know, we should all know what starvation feels like.  Or, perhaps we should all be so lucky not to know what starvation feels like.  I didn't come close to starving, but I was getting a bit cranky by show time.  In the waiting room, I was salivating as I read recipes out of Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives:  An All American Road Trip. . . with Recipes!  I absolutely love his show.  Hmm, not so sure it fits with my training regiment.  Pass the barbecue, Mahalo!

This was my second endoscopy.  The first one, a few months earlier, came with a bonus colonoscopy.  My doctor has been searching for a reason my hemoglobin is hovering around 10.5.  Good news, on the second go around, my recently found eroded esophagus was nicely healing.  Thank you Prilosec. I sure the heck wasn't ready to cut back on the espresso. One thing I can say about Friday's procedure is that the photos were more pleasant to view.  You know that great timeless philosophical statement, "opinions and ____, we all have one?"  Well, after my two-fer three months ago, I actually had photographic proof.  It is just something I would rather assume I had based on daily use. But, no. As I was coming out of anesthesia, the doctor pulls out an eight-by-ten glossy and points to it and says, "looks good."  I said, "would you like me to sign it?"

By this morning the shiny moment was a distant memory.  I was eager to get back to the gym last Friday, because I was feeling the benefits of routine.  However, four days off and I felt like I was starting from square one and once again, needing to pry my arse out of my chair.  Thank goodness it was sunny today.  As I watched my window for working out gradually get smaller, by the grace of the sun, I was able turn my chair away from my computer, stand and walk to my front door, open it and leave.  And to my delight, when I get to the gym, there was Vicky.  She was without a trainee and stopped by and mentioned something about having eyes in the back of her head.  When she was leaving, I looked, but couldn't see anything but hair.

I have to go to the gym tomorrow to get in shape for tomorrow night's Daddy Daughter Valentine's Dance.  Gosh, I hope I can fit into my suit.  It is time to go upstairs and dialyze.  I'll see if I can remove four to six pounds of water tonight.  That should help with the suit.

On a healthy community corner note:  It is nice to see that my local Kroger's has traded in its healthy Mediterranean olive bar for a fried chicken bar, complete with sauces that can be tossed on top of the fried chicken and shaken in a bucket - not.