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. WITH AN APPROACH SIMILAR TO ATTIA’S. 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 ABOUT DR. ATTIA’S WORK, IN PARTICULAR, APPEALED TO YOU?
WHEN ATTIA FIRST APPEARED ON LIMITLESS, AND FOLLOWED UP WITH HIS BOOK, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HOW HE HAD GALVANIZED A SIMILAR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY INTO AN ORGANIZED AND EXPERT APPROACH. I COULD THEN TAKE ON THE ROLE OF HELPING MY CLIENTS NAVIGATE THE NEWLY DEFINED LONGEVITY WORLD. HE MADE “SMART” TRAINING AND NUTRITION CREDIBLE TO A WIDE AUDIENCE. HE MADE IT COOL TO TRAIN FOR THE LONG HAUL, TAKE CARE OF OUR BODIES, AND DEMAND BETTER SERVICE FROM OUR PHYSICIANS.
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.