Appearances can be deceptive


Hello and how are you? Have you had a good weekend? This is Fiona my new swimming buddy. We had a dip together last week not long after she arrived on the island to take up her role in the accounts department. According to her, an office job isn't too bad if you live on a beautiful island like this.


And who am I to argue with her? Fiona is finding it tough to acclimatise to the sea temperature here, but that may have something to do with the fact that she's lived in Australia for the past two years. She'll be fine in a month or two ...


 What did you think to your first sea swim on Green Beach, I asked?


"It was okay. A bit too cold to get my face and head under though." was her response. In the past I've prided myself in helping friends and sometimes mere acquaintances to brave the chilly island waters - mostly with a resounding success rate - but with Fiona I felt I maybe needed to allow her to do it her way.  She's going to try a spell in a wetsuit, which sounds like a good idea.


I really like this photograph. Don't we both look brimming with health and vitality? But appearances can be deceptive. You may recall I had a bone density scan in March. Well, the results are back and it turns out that I have osteoporosis in the long bone in my left thigh. Two bones in my spine and my pelvis are in the osteopenia range too. In one way I was surprised as I have this notion of myself being very fit due to all of the cycling and swimming I do. However, I know that I've been calcium deficient for years thanks to my allergy to dairy products. It's so long since I ate dairy that I've completely lost track of how many years.


When we talk about osteoporosis I imagine a frail old dear, maybe with a dowagers hump, but certainly underweight and looking fragile too. I never considered that an active 60+ woman such as myself could be harbouring this condition. Look at me - I run, I beetle about wherever I go, I spend most of my day at work dashing up and down the stairs - I thought I was fit as a flea, fit as a butcher's dog, however you want to say it. 


The combination of a calcium poor diet, being post-menopausal, as well as being over 60 have compromised my health picture, but it's not irreversible. I've been prescribed supplements (a stronger dose than the ones I've been buying over the counter) and then I'll have another bone scan in a couple of years time to see if the five year recovery plan is working. So, it's not a big deal. But I wanted to share my news with you in case you too are living under the illusion that you're healthy just because you look fit and are well. If you too are lacking in calcium in your diet along with the other contributing factors like me, then it might be worth chatting to your GP to see what they think. I'm currently reading up about bone health on the Royal Osteoporosis Society website which is teeming with information.


The final part of the health jigsaw is for me to include more weight bearing exercise regularly. So lots more of me running (not necessarily along the beach), getting my yoga mat out again and using my gym membership to lift some free weights would all go a long way to rebuilding the strength of my bones. Perhaps giving the bike a rest too in favour of walking briskly to and from the beach might be an easy way to incorporate exercise into my daily life. Seemingly we lay down the foundation for strong healthy bones in our 20's, but that's not the end of it. Our bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding as we age: we can always work to strengthen our bone density, so don't wait until you're my age - address it now, before it becomes a problem.



                                                                                    Anna x

Share:

13 comments

  1. A good reminder for us to take care of our bone health, Anna - just because we can't see 'em, doesn't mean our bones should be neglected!

    Love the pics of you frolicking on the beach in that glamourous duster! Good for Fiona for braving the ocean water - I've swum in the Pacific off the coast here (many years ago) and brrr! it is COLD.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sheila. It just goes to show how faddy diets or in my case food allergies can impact on our health in the long term. I thought it important to share my news as bone health wasn't something that even crossed my mind until recently. I wonder how many of us are like that?

      Delete
  2. Good thing that they discovered it now, while you still can change things. I didn't use dairy too and I exercise a lot too. But my muscles couldn't grow or develope, but I because of lack of proteïne and carbs, didn't eat bread too. It's interesting what food means for your body

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Food is our vital fuel and yet we have become so wrapped up in diets and fads that we seem to have forgotten the basic requirements for good health, including healthy bones. I somehow didn't consider the lack of calcium in my diet and am paying the price now. It sounds like you've had a difficult health journey too Nancy x

      Delete
  3. I'm glad to hear it is reversible and won't limit you in anyway. That would be too sad to even think about! I love dairy and don't have an allergy so I think I'm good. Plus, whenever I'm carrying a heavy bucket to the horses or a heavy bag of grain I say "bone density. bone density. bone density" to help me bare the weight in a positive way. I love seeing your island in the summer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My 60 year health MOT threw up this alert and I'm really grateful for that. Your horses are doing a great job to keeping you fit Julia; how luck for you.
      The island is looking lovely at the moment - hurrah for the summer!

      Delete
  4. I've been in holding pattern with osteopenia for almost 10 years (not getting better of worse) It's in my genetics so I'be geared my fitness routine to weight bearing exercise (treadmill and Yoga).
    It's definitely disheartening to encounter ANY health challenge but this one seems manageable if you're proactive.
    I LOVE seeing you with a new fitness buddy! Fiona has a great smile and you are so wise to let her find her own way acclimating to the brisk waters you love so much. How nice to share the sea swimming passion!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's good to hear of someone else coping with this. At least you're not getting worse Judy, that's all that can be said I suppose.
      Fiona has a super smile and a warm personality to match. I do hope we can do some longer swims together once she's gotten used to the temperature.

      Delete
  5. Anna I have borderline osteopenia and did a lot of research on it. Have a look at my blog post on it. Vitamin D is also important, but I presume you have no shortage of it with your outdoor lifestyle, unless you are slathered in sun cream. I take a supplement but recent evidence states we need more of the sun without sun cream..

    ReplyDelete
  6. The prescribed supplement does have Vitamin D as well as the calcium, but I do have that half an hour a day without sunscreen when I'm on the beach. I need to take a look at your blog post to find out more about the condition.

    ReplyDelete
  7. very interesting post, as we can't take health for granted, all we have to take care of ourselves (more and more as we age!). Thanks for sharing info about this issue too, as it's something we women have to watch out particularly!
    I'm intolerant to lactose but glad that there are more lactose-free products everyday so I still eat dairies. I have to work on my sun intake, as my skin is too fussy to be in the sunshine without protection!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I've been guilty of believing that I was more healthy than I really am. The swimming and cycling make me feel fit and well, but there's clearly more to good health than just that. Always wear sunscreen is turning out to be not always the best advice - 20 minutes a day without it would give us all the vitamin D we require. It's all so personal that we do have to juggle our personal quirks with all of the guidelines and requirements. Thanks for your input x

      Delete
  8. That swimming is doing wonders for you Anna - you look fabulous. x Jacqui Mummabstylish

    ReplyDelete

Created by bo design