The Humbling (& Hilarious) Road From Lung Cancer to Fitness | Nov 24 2021

November 24, 2021

A ten-minute chest and back strength training session on Peloton was a recent source of hilarity. The instructor, Matty Maggiacamo, is great. Plus he’s just fun– I’ve never been part of a body party before, but Matty’s “How are we doing, body party?” always makes me smile.

At the start if this workout, Matty described a circuit of three sections, which we would move through several times. The process of going through the first and third sections was typical for me when starting a new class– I could do a few of the exercises in each section, in between breathing hard and stopping the video so I could figure out what the hell he was talking about. It was the middle section that cracked me up.

Equipment needed: heavy weights (15-20 lbs.);  mat.

Here’s what we were supposed to do.

1. Put the heavy weights down in front of us, hands on the weights. Get into a plank position:

2. Row on the right, row the left (multiple times over the course of 50 seconds):

Next: “Then you’re going to give me a pushup, hop the feet together, then hop the feet apart.”

3. Lower the body. His knees on the mat is a demonstration of a modification to make it easier. (Trust me– it didn’t.)

4. Push up:

5. Hop feet in and out. Below is out.

Then back to the start: plank, row, pushup, hop in and out. Each individual move is repeated as many times as possible within a 50 second timeframe, followed by a 10 second rest, then to the third section of the circuit, then the whole circuit of three sections starts again.

Here’s my experience of this second section.

Mat: Check.

15-20 pound heavy weights: Sort of– mine: 5 lb.

First circuit

• Plank: Yay– I can do it!
• Row: Yay– I can do it!
• Lower the body: Get halfway down; fall over on my left side.
• Pushup: Make it up one inch, collapse onto my chest, panting.
• Catch my breath. Get back onto the weights. Complete two hoppings-in-and-out.

Second circuit

• Plank: Yay– I can do it!
• Row: Yay– I can do it!
• Lower the body: Get halfway down; collapse onto my chest, forehead  down and and resting on the mat, a half-circle of moisture forming as I pant, curse– and giggle. I leave a circle of sweat on the mat when I sit up.
• Push up: Lying face down on the mat, I press my hands down hard on the weights and pretend.
• Catch my breath. Get back into plank position on the weights. Do one hopping in-and-out.

Third Circuit

• You have to be kidding.
• Get in position, attempt each movement, curse Matty for trying to kill me.
• Lie down on my back, alternately shaking my head in disbelief at how far I have to go, panting, and giggling.

The next time may be different, but it will probably take many weeks for me to pull it together. 🤪😆🤣

(Wait until you hear how bicycling is going.)

Here’s hoping you experience a body party today, without leaving any sweat stains behind.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Dumbell image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay

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