Voice of the Athlete: Ben Lovell
We had the opportunity to interview Ben Lovell, an amputee who lost his leg due to a blood clot. With the ultimate grit, he battles to keep blood flowing to his stump using extensive physical training. He dedicates his life to helping other amputees rebuild their confidence. Let's listen to the voice of the athlete: Ben Lovell
Question: In 2017, you lost your leg below the knee due to an undiagnosed blood clot. After suffering from depression and isolation, you were able to gain mental strength and commitment to jumpstart a new journey. Can you share what triggered this change of mindset?
Voice of the Athlete: It was a combination of a few things. After suffering mentally for over 12 months and not coping well with how I now looked, I was then told my femoral artery is completely blocked to my stump. The doctors said that without blood flow, it would only last another 6 months.
Question: What inspired you to start developing a training regimen to maintain blood circulation in your leg?
Voice of the Athlete: The doctors told me that there is a little blood getting through tiny blood vessels. So I started training again with the idea that exercise would push blood into my stump.
Question: How did you develop your training regimen, and what does it consist of?
Voice of the Athlete: I don’t really have a set regimen. I train in the gym 4-5 times a week, then indoor climbing 2-3 times per week. I walk a lot with my family, and every Sunday we go to a mental health group where we all meet and walk Scammonden Dam steps 3-4 times (there are ~500 steps on a very steep incline).
Question: What is your biggest source of motivation on days that you don't feel like training?
Voice of the Athlete: There aren’t many days where I’m not doing some form of exercise. Exercise for me has been about a lot more than keeping fit. It’s helped me with my mental health problems. Any form of exercise makes you feel better as it releases endorphins.
Question: How do you stay focused on your exercise regimen when you are in pain?
Voice of the Athlete: I know if I don’t do any exercise for one day, my mood can drop massively. On the days I don’t train, I help other amputees at the start of their journey. I talk to them all over the world. If they are local to me, I will go visit them. I know from experience that the first 3-4 months are the worst, mentally and physically, so I try to lift their mood.
Question: What actions do you take daily to be the strongest and most resilient version of yourself?
Voice of the Athlete: My day consists of helping amputees. I’m on my phone anything between 9-12 hours a day (my wife’s not happy), but I don’t mind as I know that what I’m doing is making a difference in other people’s lives.
Question: Can you tell me about Amp Camp Tenerife fitness boot camp, and how it helps amputee athletes?
Voice of the Athlete: I set this camp up more to help build the confidence of amputees that struggle, but even the more confident would still benefit. My idea behind it was to give amputees and their partners or family a holiday that they can truly relax on. Everyone there will have the same understanding of being an amputee. For instance, if my leg wasn't fitting that day, I could still take it off and not feel uncomfortable. I really wanted to include partners as my wife struggled too at the time, but couldn’t talk to me as I was going through my own things. My first Amp Camp Tenerife in January 2021 is fully booked, and I have one in June that Kenneth "Flex" Wheeler, an American IFBB professional bodybuilder, will be attending. People get to spend a week with Flex in a luxury villa.
Check out Amp Camp Tenerife, a fitness escape with amazing luxury among other amputees and their spouses, partners, or family members to build confidence, fitness, and stamina: https://tenerife-retreat.com/ampcamp.
Question: How did you get involved with Amp Camp?
Voice of the athlete: Tenerife Retreat was looking for someone to promote their business, so I got in contact with them and explained my idea about a camp for amputees. I asked if they could help me get it started, and two weeks later, I had my first date booked. Four weeks after that, it was sold out.
Contest: Ben Lovell is holding a contest where the winner and a guest get free attendance at the April 9-16, 2021 camp. To enter for a chance to win, write a short statement describing who you are and how you think Amp Camp can help you break through barriers, overcome your fears, and strengthen your mind and body.
Submit your statement by September 1, 2020, to: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCDpaXvJjAG/.
Question: How long have you been active in the program, and what roles have you had in the organization?
Voice of the athlete: I'm the owner and founder, and I will also be there to offer support and motivation when we have one.
Question: What brings you the most joy in this role?
Voice of the athlete: This was really hard for me to say at first, as I lost a lot of confidence. The thing that brings me the most joy is seeing people leave the camp with a smile on their faces and the realization that they can do more than they ever thought possible. The impact on their mental health is significant, and it's why I do what I do.
Question: What is the best piece of advice that you would give other amputees that have helped you manage the mental and physical struggles of having a lost limb?
Voice of the Athlete: You have to stay positive. Until you get your first prosthetic, it will be hard. It is the hardest stage for amputees because you feel like you can’t do anything or that everything is harder. It is harder, but the legs are not coming back, so you need to just get on with things.
Question: What legacy do you want to leave? How do you align your priorities with this legacy?
Voice of the Athlete: I just want to make the journey of an amputee as easy as possible. I have ideas that I still want to do and start away from the amp camp, maybe a charity that gives one amputee a chance to help someone with the same limb loss.
Question: What advice would you give your 12-year-old self?
Voice of the Athlete: Don’t take life for granted, make sure you live your life to the fullest and always give your best in everything you do.
Question: Who inspires you to be your best self?
Voice of the Athlete: My wife Laura and my two children, Midas and Twinkle.
Question: Can you share what your motto means to you?
"I lost my leg, not my life. If anything, it gave me my life back."
Voice of the Athlete: The reason behind that is my life really never had any meaning. I was a guy that worked all week and lived for the weekend. And not really doing anything productive. Losing my leg was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with, and still is. But it also gave me a new life, a life with meaning. I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I lost my leg to help other amputees.
Ben has unbelievable grit. Learn more about grit: https://mentalaccelerator.com/resource/grit
Takeaway #1: Ben has an amazing motto. “I lost my leg, not my life. If anything, it gave me my life back.”
Takeaway #2: Doctors delivered the bad news that he would lose his stump within 6 months without blood flow. He never gave up hope. He uses extensive physical training to keep blood flowing into the area.
Takeaway #3: His life has been transformed with new meaning. He has dedicated his life to helping other amputees build confidence and regain a new sense of meaning in their lives.
Thank you, Ben Lovell, for being the Voice of the Athlete and giving us a glimpse into the mindset of a champion inspiring so many amputees around the world. Follow Ben @just_the_one_leg.
To listen to the voice of other athletes: https://mentalaccelerator.com/resource/voice-of-the-athlete
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If you want to be featured in the Voice of the Athlete series, DM us on Instagram, or email us at contact@mentalaccelerator.com
Question for you: Sometimes in life, the unexpected happens. If doctors gave you a diagnosis that would leave you physically impaired, how would you take control of your motivation and confidence?