Leg Presses; The New Valium
There was an old movie in the 70’s with Burt Reynolds and Jill Claybourn called Starting Over about a man going through a divorce and trying to find a life. It is a very funny movie and in one scene, a character has a panic attack in a crowded department store or mall. A crowd gathers around trying to help and the poor soul hyperventilates and someone shouts, "Does anyone have a Valium?" At this point, every person in the crowd reaches into their purse or pocket to pull out there prescription bottle of Valium to offer up to the patient.
It seems that everywhere people are taking more and more drugs just to remain calm. Lexipro, Wellbutrin, Paxil, Zoloft. I do not know them all. While my job became more stressful, my doctor suggested Lexipro and I took one and was sick to my stomach all day. I was disappointed that it didn’t work. After all, all the cool kids are doing it.
But today was a stressful day and I was prescribed the remedy. I hit the leg press machine with 20 forty-five pound plates, four 100 pound plates and one 148 pound Mexican National who works out at my gym. I worked hard tonight and my mood improved dramatically, as it always does. I was a sweating, stinky fool but I sure did get a better attitude.
Tonight’s workout was heavy and crazy: leg presses, heavy and crazy Romanian Deadlifts, some kettlebell work and some ab training. Upon returning home, I followed that treatment up with some medication (a glass of Pinot Grigio) and some dinner. Time to hit the hay and start again tomorrow.
If I saw some guy having a panic attack in the mall, I won’t have anything in my pocket to give him for relief, but I would have some advice. And I would have a little prayer, "There but for the grace of God and a leg press machine goes I."
February 16, 2007 at 4:25 pm
That was wonderful!