A Story of Strength and Survival
Out of respect for the privacy of our clients, their real names have been changed for this story.
It started in 2001. Allen and his wife, Ava, were living in Palo Alto, California. They were 61 years old at the time.
Allen had realized that he was losing strength and needed to do something about it so he joined the YMCA and started to train himself. After a short while, he became aware that he needed more guidance on how to strength train. He came across the book "Power of 10" by former SuperSlow Master,
Adam Zickerman. The book showed him what exercises to do and the optimal way to perform them but he still felt like he wasn't quite doing it correctly.
In 2006, he and his wife moved to Sonoma County. They purchased a home in West County and spent some years doing a complete remodel. Allen continued to work himself out but felt strongly that he needed more guidance in the SuperSlow technique. He began researching and asking around to see who, if anyone, was specializing in this protocol in West County.
In 2011, he inquired at Sebastopol Physical Therapy to see if they offered SuperSlow training. They did not but they suggested he go across the street because they had heard that someone on the opposite corner of Pleasant Hill and Bodega may offer this service.
Bingo.
Allen walked into what was then called, "Unico Duo" and met Hector. Hector informed him that yes, he was, in fact, SuperSlow certified (triple certified to e exact!) and that he could help him. Allen enrolled in training right then and there.
About 6 months later, Ava enrolled as well to build up her strength.
We could end the story there and say that as they approach 80 years of age, they are still training and living happily ever after but there's more to tell.
Around 2016, Ava was in her kitchen when she felt something unusual happening that made her knees buckle. As she felt herself falling, she braced the kitchen counter. Her legs had completely given out and she was having a hard time seeing but still she held onto the counter and called as loudly as she could for Allen to come. As soon as he heard her, he rushed over. She was using her strength to hold herself up on the counter. He then helped grab her torso and helped her safely to the ground. Having worked as a scientist during his career and having some familiarity with different conditions, he recognized immediately that she had had a stroke.
Because they live some distance out in West County, he knew time was of the essence and he would have no time to wait for an ambulance. He also knew he needed to get her to the one hospital that carried the specific drug that would dissolve the blockage causing the stroke. Using his strength, he helped Ava get into the car. Keep in mind that she could not fully walk!
He called the hospital and explained that his wife had had a stroke and he was en route to Sutter hospital and to be ready for them. They were prepared when he arrived, gave her the medicine and she survived with no lasting damage from the stroke.
That week, Allen called Hector to report what had happened. He related that had Ava not been strength training, she certainly would not have been able to support all her weight using only her upper body on the counter. It is also possible that she would not have grabbed for the counter at all or that she could have hit her head on the way down even if she had grabbed for the counter but had not the strength to hang on until he got there. "Strength training literally helped save her life."
That could be the end of an even more impressive story but it doesn't stop there.
In 2018, despite having strength trained, Allen's hip needed replacement. He had been an avid cyclist and had lost a lot of cartilage before he even began training. Hip replacement became his best option at this point. To prepare for surgery, he worked even harder at each strength session to ensure the best possible recovery.
In 2019, he got his hip replaced. The doctors had told him that it was a 4-6 week recovery period and that it could be several days before he could do a short walk to the bathroom.
Several hours post-surgery, he got up and walked himself to the restroom. The nurses and doctors were stunned.
Most patients needed to be able to walk before they could release them from the hospital. By day 2 the doctors were preparing the discharge papers. Allen was ahead of schedule and they remarked that he must have an incredible amount of strength to be able to walk and be as well as he was post surgery. They anticipated that he would recover about 2 weeks faster than the average person. They were right. About 5 weeks post surgery, Allen was cleared to begin strength training again and that is what he has done ever since.
Now, Allen has just turned 80 and his wife will turn 80 later this year. They have been able to enjoy the last decade traveling, hiking, surviving illnesses, and living their best lives. They attribute much of this to having a strong skeletal muscular system. If you were to see them, you would also never guess that they were 80 years old. They look like they are in their late 60s at most. This is not a fluke -- the majority of our clients who have done this protocol for more than 2 years look on average about 10 years younger than their biological age. This is due in part to muscle mass providing a fuller look but it is also due to having more mitochondria in the body since muscle tissue is the greatest reservoir of mitochondria in the body. Mitochondria is the body's energy powerhouse and assists in cell function. Having optimal energy levels and cellular function is the very definition of the fountain of youth.
And that is where we end this story...for now.
It started in 2001. Allen and his wife, Ava, were living in Palo Alto, California. They were 61 years old at the time.
Allen had realized that he was losing strength and needed to do something about it so he joined the YMCA and started to train himself. After a short while, he became aware that he needed more guidance on how to strength train. He came across the book "Power of 10" by former SuperSlow Master,
Adam Zickerman. The book showed him what exercises to do and the optimal way to perform them but he still felt like he wasn't quite doing it correctly.
In 2006, he and his wife moved to Sonoma County. They purchased a home in West County and spent some years doing a complete remodel. Allen continued to work himself out but felt strongly that he needed more guidance in the SuperSlow technique. He began researching and asking around to see who, if anyone, was specializing in this protocol in West County.
In 2011, he inquired at Sebastopol Physical Therapy to see if they offered SuperSlow training. They did not but they suggested he go across the street because they had heard that someone on the opposite corner of Pleasant Hill and Bodega may offer this service.
Bingo.
Allen walked into what was then called, "Unico Duo" and met Hector. Hector informed him that yes, he was, in fact, SuperSlow certified (triple certified to e exact!) and that he could help him. Allen enrolled in training right then and there.
About 6 months later, Ava enrolled as well to build up her strength.
We could end the story there and say that as they approach 80 years of age, they are still training and living happily ever after but there's more to tell.
Around 2016, Ava was in her kitchen when she felt something unusual happening that made her knees buckle. As she felt herself falling, she braced the kitchen counter. Her legs had completely given out and she was having a hard time seeing but still she held onto the counter and called as loudly as she could for Allen to come. As soon as he heard her, he rushed over. She was using her strength to hold herself up on the counter. He then helped grab her torso and helped her safely to the ground. Having worked as a scientist during his career and having some familiarity with different conditions, he recognized immediately that she had had a stroke.
Because they live some distance out in West County, he knew time was of the essence and he would have no time to wait for an ambulance. He also knew he needed to get her to the one hospital that carried the specific drug that would dissolve the blockage causing the stroke. Using his strength, he helped Ava get into the car. Keep in mind that she could not fully walk!
He called the hospital and explained that his wife had had a stroke and he was en route to Sutter hospital and to be ready for them. They were prepared when he arrived, gave her the medicine and she survived with no lasting damage from the stroke.
That week, Allen called Hector to report what had happened. He related that had Ava not been strength training, she certainly would not have been able to support all her weight using only her upper body on the counter. It is also possible that she would not have grabbed for the counter at all or that she could have hit her head on the way down even if she had grabbed for the counter but had not the strength to hang on until he got there. "Strength training literally helped save her life."
That could be the end of an even more impressive story but it doesn't stop there.
In 2018, despite having strength trained, Allen's hip needed replacement. He had been an avid cyclist and had lost a lot of cartilage before he even began training. Hip replacement became his best option at this point. To prepare for surgery, he worked even harder at each strength session to ensure the best possible recovery.
In 2019, he got his hip replaced. The doctors had told him that it was a 4-6 week recovery period and that it could be several days before he could do a short walk to the bathroom.
Several hours post-surgery, he got up and walked himself to the restroom. The nurses and doctors were stunned.
Most patients needed to be able to walk before they could release them from the hospital. By day 2 the doctors were preparing the discharge papers. Allen was ahead of schedule and they remarked that he must have an incredible amount of strength to be able to walk and be as well as he was post surgery. They anticipated that he would recover about 2 weeks faster than the average person. They were right. About 5 weeks post surgery, Allen was cleared to begin strength training again and that is what he has done ever since.
Now, Allen has just turned 80 and his wife will turn 80 later this year. They have been able to enjoy the last decade traveling, hiking, surviving illnesses, and living their best lives. They attribute much of this to having a strong skeletal muscular system. If you were to see them, you would also never guess that they were 80 years old. They look like they are in their late 60s at most. This is not a fluke -- the majority of our clients who have done this protocol for more than 2 years look on average about 10 years younger than their biological age. This is due in part to muscle mass providing a fuller look but it is also due to having more mitochondria in the body since muscle tissue is the greatest reservoir of mitochondria in the body. Mitochondria is the body's energy powerhouse and assists in cell function. Having optimal energy levels and cellular function is the very definition of the fountain of youth.
And that is where we end this story...for now.