Thursday, June 28, 2012

Strength—Fighting off Osteoporosis and Humiliating the Grandsons


A major factor in my mother’s death was osteoporosis. It caused her spine to crumble when she slipped and fell in water on the bathroom floor. I have osteopenia, that state when the bones are beginning to show porosity. I think that’s why my doctor doesn’t fuss at me about my weight. “I’d rather you be strong than thin,” she says, conceding that being both would be ideal.

I’m holding off osteoporosis with calcium, vitamin D, and exercise, waiting as long as possible to take the strong drugs drug companies want us to buy. I belong to a gym, which I visit too seldom. But I do yoga about three times a week, and I’ve figured out that though I can no longer do pushups, I can do about 35 “pushaways,” standing back from the cabinets, hands on the edge of the countertop, while my oats cook in the microwave. The exercise strengthens my arms, legs, back and abdomen, and my last test showed actual improvement in bone density. Also—I have visible biceps.

My two grandsons both top six feet now, towering above my barely-over-five-feet. Both are sweet and intelligent geeks with no interest in sports. I’m fine with that. Even happy that they haven’t fallen for the propaganda that insists all boys must be athletes. But I have learned the importance of strength, and I’ve tried to get both of them to take weight training to build theirs. Neither paid much attention to me.

Then one day we were sitting in a Denver restaurant, and I said, “I’ll bet I can beat you at arm wrestling.” I didn’t really think I could; I just wanted to get their attention. They didn’t believe I could either. They laughed.

I beat them both.

If they let me win, they put on a good act, and I must have put up a better fight than they expected. They’ve both promised me they’ll look into that weight training.

12 comments:

  1. That's awesome story you shared with us and I'm glad to have read this because I've been putting off going back to the gym. I guess I'll be hitting the gym soon.Thanks!

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    1. DON'T put off your weight training or your vitamins. Your life could depend on it. (She says as she sits at her computer. ( - : )

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  2. LOL! I love this post. It made me laugh pretty well (at work). Thanks Angela! Awesome!

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    1. Be careful. Wouldn't want to cause anyone to get into trouble. : - )

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  3. *chuckle* I can see it... and I can see their faces. A classic family moment! Also, this pushaways... does this involve placing hands flat on cupboard fronts and leaning in and then pushing away? If so, that is exercise I can do!

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    1. That's exactly what it involves. I put the heel of my hand on the very top front with my fingers over the top to make sure I won't slip and fall. You can start standing pretty close, then move out farther as you get stronger. It's surprising how much exercise you can get this way as you stand farther and farther away from the cabinets. You can also do it against a wall, which would exercise slightly different muscles.

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  4. This one made me smile...and also reminded me to keep active.

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  5. I am going to be giggling about that arm wrestling for a while...

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  6. Way to go Grandma! I love that you beat them. They might do a little work out now. I like that pushaway idea because it would also work on your core, which is vital as we age. The core keeps us upright and tall or as tall a barely over five feet can be.
    I might give that a try meself tomorrow morning. Not with the oats though, I can't eat until I've been up a while.

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    1. To tell the truth, I don't eat breakfast till about 11 for the same reason. Fold clothes, clean the kitchen (Hubby eats early), read e-mail and FaceBook, do Yoga.... But I love my oats no matter when I eat them.

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  7. ok, so I did read this one! I totally remember that. I laughed at work and my co-worker looked around the cubicle and asked, what's so funny. I looked at him with completely straight face and said, preparing for osteoperosis! He shook his head and sat back down with a bemused look.

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    1. Yes. I got a chuckle from your first comment, but more of a chuckle from this one. I can imagine the look on his face!

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