The sofa or life that is the question

I was at a memorial for a husband of  a  friend of Susan. A parent of one of my former students came up to me to talk. We chatted for a while and she then asked me "So do you have to decided to get up of the couch everyday?"  Wow what a good question!

I do not remember what I told her but I had to think about that question for a while. How have I decided to live with cancer? hmm

Well , a friend of mine Dave Briggs started coming up last July from The Phoenix area. He comes up once a week and we workout together.  When he first started coming up I had just finished cardiac rehab. I started going to the rec center in cottonwood and doing my cardiac rehab program. Only now I was doing 20 min. on the treadmill in addition to my cardiac rehab routine.

Dave suggested  I try doing some of the weight machines.To a guy who was a free weight person this was a big step down. But at Dave's suggestion and instruction,I tried the weight machines. And guess what? I liked it. It was painful but I had an idea on how to deal with the pain.

On my next appointment with my primary health care provider, Sue Albright THE BEST,  I asked her if it was alright if I had to take 2 percocet to be able to workout? She replied " I would rather you take to percocet to workout than to sit on the sofa. OK insert the alleluia music here.

Now I was off to the races. I set a goal to lift ,aka, workout 3 times per week for six weeks. I made a chart on my computer and  completed my goal. I set a new six week goal and started to include more free weights.  For those of you who do not know free weights are the weights you add to a bar and use to lift. So I completed the second six week goal. Now I am doing bench press, curls, reverse curls, tricep extensions, deltoid raisers, bent over rowing and dead lifts with free weights. Still some weights machines but a good mix.

I have to be honest with you all. The pounds I lift are no where near what I used to lift back in the day. Mary has her name on the Mingus wall with records that I cannot do. But I am lifting. Some days I cannot do as much as other days but I am lifting. Some days I am to nauseous but I am lifting.

I also do cardio on my off lifting days. And my good friend Dave Briggs has payed my rec center membership for months now. We have known each other since 1970 through good times and  bad times we have remained friends. After we workout we head for Brandies for breakfast and conversation. Talking about those glory days.

So as I have thought about it. I do not decide everyday to get out of bed or off of the sofa. I decided once to do it as long as I can.

Tomorrow my dogs.