Hi Reader,

This is an email I have been meaning to write since March, but life.....

I finally had my first DEXA scan, and I want to share my results and thoughts with you.

But first, the background!
Sometime around 2018, I noticed bone discomfort at night. This was concerning, as I have a history of breast cancer, twice! You can imagine that bone pain is a big RED🟥 FLAG when you have had cancer.

My doctor was great. We quickly looked into it and realized I did not have metastatic cancer (yay), but my bloodwork did show extremely low levels of Vitamin D.

How low?
I was at 15 ng/mL—well below the normal range of 30–100 ng/mL.
Repeat testing over the next few years continued to show low scores, hovering around 19 ng/ml. It wasn't until 2024, when I started taking a once-a-week dose of prescription Vitamin D, that I finally achieved a level of 37 ng/ml. My most recent check had me slipping back to 35 ng/ml. But at least I am in the normal range, even if just barely!

This was just one of several risk factors for bone loss I had.

Back to my DEXA scan.

Because of my low Vitamin D levels, a family history of osteoporosis, and being post-menopausal, I was pretty sure my bone density was not where I would like it to be. Although I have been very active my entire life, I was never a weightlifter. In my 20s, I was a vegetarian and did not watch my bone-building nutrition the way I could have.

So, here it is, confirmation of osteopenia. You can see that my T-score, which comes in below -1.0 at each site tested, is as follows:
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Am I upset? No.
Am I motivated to keep going and do more? Absolutely!!!

What is my area of greatest bone loss? The neck of my femur. This is, not surprisingly, the number one area where fractures occur due to bone loss.

💡I believe I have made significant improvements in my nutrition and weight training over the past 5 years that have landed me in the upper range of osteopenia.

I genuinely believe I would be closer to osteoporosis if I hadn't made the changes I made. This is exactly why I created Strong Women, Strong Bones—because we can build better bones, even after diagnosis.

I plan to keep these numbers right where they are, and maybe even see improved numbers the next time I get a scan, which is in three years.

What I am happy about is having this information at age 56. I feel like I have so much time to change my lifestyle to focus on building bone. I can lift heavier weights, I can eat better-quality food, and I can fuel my workouts with protein, all the other good stuff I know my body needs.

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What I won’t be doing is obsessing over losing belly fat or trying to lose weight. I don't actually own a scale. If my pants feel snug because my legs are stronger, then I will buy bigger pants. I will confidently throw around the 50# mulch bag, dog food bag, or compost, and know that what I can DO is so much more important than what size I am.
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As always, thanks for reading this far.
I did receive a trabecular bone score with my report, and I will address that another day. And I also want to tell you about how this DEXA scan compares to the one I got at DexaFit (hint, not even close).

If you would like to get started with me this fall and join a group of strong women as we lift, balance, and stretch, I invite you to sign up for my waitlist now (see below). Fall dates will be coming to you next month!

All my best,

If you’re looking for a structured plan to keep your bones strong, join the waitlist for Strong Women, Strong Bones. We’ll work together to build strength, balance, and confidence—all in a way that feels good and works for you. I will get the specific dates out to you next month, but by being on the waitlist, you will receive the information first, along with additional details on bone health and staying strong.

🔗 Join the Waitlist Here​

The information provided is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical or physical therapy advice to any individual. Please consult with your physician before starting any new exercise program. Any exercise has the potential to cause injury or physical problems.

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