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Here is a story that has a lesson in it.

My sister in law called me the other day. She was a bit concerned because she had just received a report from her doctor about her bone density. Her spinal bone density tests had shown a 10% loss over the last 8 years and she was finally motivated to do something about it. She is only 48 btw.

Last Wednesday she came down for our first session, and I tested her strength and flexibility.

Now she is pretty active, with a tall thin build. Burns calories quite well it seems. However she has one chronic problem which is currently in remission - rheumatoid arthritis.

Hillary was a sporty type, but like all mothers is busy busy busy, and didn’t put much stock in looking after her own needs when everyone elses came first (she and my brother had their children fairly late).

She also trained as a PE teacher in her earlier years. Despite the lack of regular structured exercise she thought she was reasonably healthy and strong because of her day to day activities.

Our tests proved otherwise and she was quite shocked. In fact next day she complained of muscle soreness, and that from doing minimal work, not even a proper training session.

Needless to say I gave her an in home program to get started using minimal equipment. Luckily her son wants to do it with her, so that will help keep her on track and less likely to backslide.

Here is the point.

Instead of waiting to lose 10% of her spinal density before doing something about it, (and sorry to say, despite all my efforts over the last couple of years to get her involved with weight training…)

Wouldn’t it have been better to do the strength training to prevent the loss instead?

The risk of spinal fracture at the age of 48 is bad news from a lifestyle perspective, especially for a busy mum.

However this does bring up another point I have to belabour over and over again. Why are some of you so resistant to getting tested for various things? Such as bone density, hormone levels (thyroid, estrogens, androgens, insulin etc).

Lots of folks go onto a weight loss program blind. Wouldn’t it be better to know where any imbalances lie, then take appropriate action?

And for heavens sake don’t wait til a doctor tells you you are a wreck before trying to reverse the problem.

Doesn’t it make more sense to take preventative action instead?

Food for thought…

Live life - it’s the only one you’ve got.

Rick