Training basket of Bobby Mottola

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This article was published 07/11/2015 (3981 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Strapped to a gurney flying through the long corridors of St. Boniface Hospital, Bobby Mottola had time to contemplate what got him there and time to throw out a couple of foxhole prayers.

“Get me through this one and I’ll change…,” he told himself and whoever might be listening.

The day, July 23, 2014, started out like any other. He worked out in the morning, went to work — Mottola owns and operates two restaurants, Pizzeria Gusto and the Merchant’s Kitchen — he took down some Christmas lights, finally, and fixed a lock on the back door of his home.

On his way to Rae and Jerry’s Steak House that night, Mottola felt a searing pain in his jaw and throat. By the time he got there, the pain had moved into his arm and chest and sweat had soaked through his shirt. He thought he was getting sick, and he was. He just didn’t know it was a heart attack.

“At the time, and even sometimes now, I can’t really come to grips with it being as serious as it was,” Mottola said.

His life changed that night.

Instead of a sitting down to a nice sirloin and mashed potatoes, Mottola was getting three stents put into his heart so maybe one day he could enjoy steak again. He felt guilty. His life choices haunted him. He was five years sober from a bout with alcoholism, but was sure it played a part, as did the drive-thru food on a lazy day.

“I wasn’t good to myself for a number of years,” he said.

Mottola survived to tell his tale and make good on his promise to change. He got hooked up with Richard Burr Fitness after going through a cardiac re-fit program.

Now, Motolla sees Burr five days a week. Every day is different — no workout is the same. And if he doesn’t show up, Burr hounds him. Texts, phone calls, email reminders with pictures of his kids, you name it.

“Sometimes, the hardest exercise is getting from the front door to the car, but it’s probably the best money I’ve ever spent. I allocate a lot of time to it. I’m in constant contact with him about my diet, Mottola said.

That diet has become plant-based for the most part, but Mottola indulges in some of his own food from time to time. It’s tough to blame him, either, owning a pizza joint and all.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, but I’ve been told many times that a plant-based diet can reverse the effects of heart disease,” he said. “It’s not perfection, but it’s all about the journey.”

Mottola goes as far as saying that, in a way, his heart attack at 40 years of age was a small blessing.

“I’m doing all this for the right reasons now,” he said. “I want to be here for my family. I want to be here for a long time. And I also want to be healthy for that duration. That’s what is important to me.”

Favourite workout:

I’m a big fan of chest, shoulders and arms. My trainer might be upset at that, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t.

Favourite workout song:

Anything by the Dropkick Murphys.

Fitness tip:

Make sure you go. Less routine inside the gym as well. Keep it fresh and interesting.

What’s in your fridge:

Whole milk, grapes, homemade salsa, tomatoes, raw veggies, Greek yogurt, tomato sauce, fresh herbs and about 58 bottles of water.

Guilty pleasure:

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Premium Plus crackers.

Got an idea for the Training Basket? Email Scott at scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca