Client Success Story: Grace’s City2Surf

As the City2Surf is just around the corner, Longevity Exercise Physiology, Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Castle Hill, Randwick, Pymble, Kingsgrove, Neutral Bay, and Coburg, are taking the time to reflect on how we have helped some of our clients improve their functional capacity and cardiovascular fitness.

Grace’s Story

One stand-out story is Grace*. Grace is a 41-year-old woman who presented with Left Bundle Branch Block, Dilated Left Ventricle, Heart Failure, Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia. She was very exercise avoidant and worried that her health would only deteriorate in the future. Grace’s initial goal when starting at Longevity was to feel better.

Before attending Longevity Exercise Physiology, she thought completing a run again was impossible – Grace has now been training with Stefan at Longevity Coburg for 5 months.

Throughout the months of continued exercise, Grace began feeling fitter, stronger, and more confident with daily activities. Initially, Grace was only able to walk at 4kph and an incline of 2% on the treadmill for about 8 minutes. As Grace has been feeling better, she had a new goal – to begin running!

Grace has recently had a follow up appointment with her cardiologist and her Ejection Fraction has improved from 33% to 43% in just 5 months! AND her cardiologist has cleared her to run!

Grace now has a goal to complete a 5km run. Additionally, Grace’s most recent physical assessment has shown an increase in her 30 second sit-to-stand test from 6 reps to 14 reps in only 8 weeks!

Stefan is slowly progressing Grace by incorporating different cardiovascular fitness protocols such as interval training as well as progressive resistance training to improve muscle strength and support her running endeavours.

Grace is attending 2 supervised gym sessions with Stefan per week and is more confident in going out for a walk and completing other exercises and activities on the days she doesn’t see Stefan.

What is your ‘City2Surf’?

City2Surf – 14km, including Heartbreak Hill – can be daunting to some. However, at Longevity we want to support you with whatever goal you may have.

Do you want to be able to run the City2Surf injury free? Do you want to be able to walk the City2Surf with your partner? Do you want to be able to run around the park? Do you want to be able to chase after your grandkids? Do you want to be able to walk across the pedestrian crossing quicker?

You don’t need to feel like you have to compete against others. Instead you can accomplish things you never thought you could by following a gradual, progressive exercise program prescribed by an Exercise Physiologist, a specialist in exercise. Longevity Exercise Physiology and Personal Training will conduct an individual assessment, help you create some specific goals for you and design a plan on how you can achieve those goals.

All you have to do is make the first step and call 1300 964 002 to book an appointment. We offer free 15-minute consultations with an Exercise Physiologist to help answer any questions you may have.

Longevity Exercise Physiology has multiple locations across Sydney; Drummoyne, Edgecliff, Marrickville, Castle Hill, Randwick, Pymble, Kingsgrove, Neutral Bay, as well as in Coburg, Victoria. Telehealth consultations are also available.

*Name changed for privacy

Written by Angela Vitucci.