A BRIEF Q&A TO MEET SAM DITZELL

WHAT LED YOU DOWN THE LONGEVITY PATH?

I HAD A SEVERE HEALTH SCARE IN MY 30’S, RESULTING IN BACK-TO-BACK SURGERIES AND A LENGTHY AND DIFFICULT RECOVERY. IT WAS DURING THIS STRUGGLE THAT I COMPLETELY SHIFTED HOW I TRAINED BOTH MYSELF AND MY CLIENTS. I WANTED TO KEEP US ALL IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL, KEEPING OUR BODIES CAPABLE AS WE AGED. I BEGAN TO PRIORITIZE INJURY PREVENTION, FUNCTIONAL QUALITY OF LIFE, AND TRAINING SMARTER.

WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF SHIFTING YOUR APPROACH TO HEALTH?

AFTER MY SURGERIES I WORKED WITH A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE M.D. SHE HAD ME BACK WAY OFF THE VOLUME AND INTENSITY OF TRAINING THAT I THOUGHT WAS NECESSARY. THE RESULTS WERE SHOCKING. MY INJURY FREQUENCY DROPPED CONSIDERABLY, AND MY MENTAL HEALTH AND SLEEP IMPROVED. I WAS FINDING BALANCE IN MY LIFE FOR THE FIRST TIME, GIVING ME MORE ENERGY FOR WORK, MY MARRIAGE, AND EXERCISE. SINCE I WASN’T KILLING MYSELF IN THE GYM, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE PLAYING BASKETBALL AT A HIGHER LEVEL, AGAINST MUCH YOUNGER ATHLETES. I HAD BEEN TERRIFIED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THE SPORT I LOVE AS I GOT OLDER, BUT ALL I HAD TO DO WAS CHANGE MY APPROACH.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THIS NEW PATH?

I WANT TO STAY FITTER AND HEALTHIER FOR LONGER, AND I WANT TO HELP MY CLIENTS DO THE SAME. MY GOAL IS TO FURTHER REFINE THESE LONGEVITY PROTOCOLS INTO AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN FOR EACH CLIENT. I HOPE TO HELP GUIDE CLIENTS BY: COORDINATING WITH THEIR DOCTORS, KEEPING THEM HEALTHY, AND ENSURING THEY DON’T LOSE ABILITIES AS THEY AGE.