Page 42 - HCPVitalityChronicles

A Love of Swimming Keeps Lyle Nalli, DPM, in the Game

If it wasn’t for swimming, Lyle Nalli, DPM, HCP pool every day. I knew I had to be pa-
Long Beach Plaza, said he would feel like “a tient,” Dr. Nalli said.
walking potato with two legs.” Throughout
the years, he tried all sports and always fell His patience has paid off. In 2014 he
back to swimming, which he excelled at. In plans to compete in the World Champi-
medical school, swimming was an excellent onships in Montreal, and he will swim in
way to stay in shape during all of the studying. the US and French Nationals as well. He
usually swims five times a week, some-
So when Dr. Nalli was forced to take a break times seven, and uses software that
from swimming a couple of years ago, it was a counts his swimming mileage. His goal is
true test of patience for him. One day when to swim 500 miles this year; thus far he is
he got out of the pool, he felt that there was at 412. “I need a goal just to keep going,”
maybe some wax in his left ear. However, explained Dr. Nalli, who has been a
when there was a sudden hearing member of Vitality for three
loss out of the same ear, he knew it years.
had to be explored further. An MRI
indicated that it was a large mass, in- Dr. Nalli, who also is a swimming
side the cranium, between the inner coach, realizes that some days are
ear and brain stem. Although it was easier than others. “Some days
benign, after much research, Dr. Nalli you push more, other days you
opted for surgical removal. just have to try to get through it,”
he said. “The main thing is you
Taking things one step at a time was a have to be willing to do it, to push
test for Dr. Nalli, who has placed in yourself, to keep swimming even
the World Masters Championships when you’re tired.” The Vitality
and was on the record-setting Above: Dr. Lyle Nalli pictured with his girlfriend, who program serves as the perfect
helped to take care of him during his recovery.
Catalina Channel relay with Long Dr. Lyle Nalli pictured with Olympian Rebecca Soni, complement to his lifestyle. “Vi-
Beach Swim Focus. After the surgery, gold medal winner in London in the 200 breast stroke. tality goes hand in hand with
he stayed at the hospital for a week. They were with several others preparing to swim the what I do: staying physically ac-
three miles from Sunset Beach to Seal Beach.
“When I first got up, I was wobbly like tive to stay healthy and maintain
a newborn colt,” Dr. Nalli recalled. He couldn’t get his head my vitality,” he said.
wet for two weeks, and even turning his head was initially a
challenge. He has noticed on days he does not swim, he feels lazy and
lethargic, “so I might as well swim anyway,” he said. He also
“When I could, I went in the pool very cautiously,” he said. does cross training once a week and, believe it or not, some-
He couldn’t push off very well because of the pressure this times take a break from it. “A healthy balance of work, exer-
would cause in his head. “I just wanted to slowly get in the cise and good friends is what I seek.”

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For more information about Vitality, visit www.powerofvitality.com. Contact Janet Galli for further program information.