Osteostrong: Improve Your Bones

In 2017 I went for my first bone density scan. I was confident it would be fine, I am an optimist and I was only 53 years old. While running errands one day I received a call from the OBGYN doctor's office with my results...osteoporosis! What? It was like I had slammed into a wall. After going AIP/Paleo in 2016 I had never felt so amazing. I felt and looked better than I had in over 20 years. The news scared me. My paternal grandma had a fall at 94 and died due to complications of hip fracture...my overactive brain went to fear.

The nurse on the phone told me she would make an appointment for me to come in and get a shot of Prolia. It is a drug that is designed to help treat osteoporosis and lasts 6 months. My immediate response was "No". I am adverse to taking medications as a first line of treatment. I have a life long history of trying other approaches before taking medications. I believe there is a place for medications and if it is to save my life or in acute situations (like when I had shingles on my face) then yes, give me the meds! The nurse was taken aback and told me that "There is nothing you can do to help reverse your diagnosis other than medications." - That was her mistake because my brain switched from fear to stubbornness and I told her "No". She was shocked. I said thanks but I was going to reverse this without meds. And I have.

But I had not gotten osteoporosis overnight, and I knew in my gut that if my body could reverse and heal from two autoimmune diseases, maybe it could do the same with osteoporosis. Bones are negatively affected by poor diet and lifestyle so why can't they be positively affected by the same?

At the time I was seeing an amazing chiropractor to help with maintaining my flexibility due to years of poor diet (far too much sugar and refined carbs) one of my autoimmune diseases is mixed connective tissue and presents in my body as joint pain and muscle tightness. Going to the chiropractor helped support my freedom of movement I had worked so hard to achieve. Anyhow, I asked him about this new company I had recently read opened a location in our town called Osteostrong. It sounded amazing, you go once a week for about 15 minutes. No sweating, no pain, yet it was supposed to help reverse my osteoporosis naturally...too good to be true?

He said he had checked it out and knew the owner of the franchise. It was legit. He felt it would be a great addition to my health care routine and could in fact help reverse my diagnosis. So, I called and made my free appointment to check it out myself. Then I started doing that rabbit hole of an activity and researched it online.

From https://osteostrong.me website they say:

A Unique System For Developing Your Skeletal Strength

OsteoStrong^® is not a gym, diet, supplement, pharmaceutical, or a medical treatment. OsteoStrong^® is a unique place where you can go to improve your overall health by focusing on the one thing we all have in common: a skeletal system.

The skeletal system is the foundation for your body and provides more than just strength and protection. It is arguably one of the most critical systems of the human body, and by implementing a strategy to care for and strengthen it, many experience the following results:

• Improved Bone Density
• Improved Posture
• Improved Balance
• Improved Athletic Performance
• Less Joint and Back Pain

OsteoStrong^® works for people at all ages and levels of activity to promote skeletal strength which impacts the entire body in many ways using a process known as Osteogenic Loading. Sessions are quick, painless, and results are measurable and happen quickly. There are a few things to know prior to coming in your first time so that you can make the best of the experience.

I went to Osteostrong for 10 months in 2017-2018, then we moved back to Hawaii in 2018 where at the time there was no Osteostrong franchise. But happily in November of 2020 one opened up and I became a member before they opened their doors. When reviewing my results please take in to account that there was 2 years and 5 months I lived in Hawaii and did not go weekly for my session as there was no Osteostrong. I believe in this and that even with my large break of time I have still seen positive results. I plan to continue.

Each week I do the 4 machines and in 14 months I have seen anywhere between a 27% and a 153% increase in my strength. Overall I have a 62% Improvement in my strength. I know I am stronger. But it isn't even all about the bones. That is my main concern but I appreciate that doing the machine/exercises also improves my balance and posture. My balance is very good but hey, it can always get better. And my posture could definitely use the support.

Here are my DXA scan results.

2017 -2.6: Osteoporosis 2019 -2.2: Osteopenia 2021 -2.0: Osteopenia

Our bones turn over at about 15% each year. We can either improve them or diminish them as they renew. 99% of the calcium in our body is in our bones. Calcium levels in our blood affect our skeletal maintenance, regulate hormone secretions, help transmit nerve impulses, and support vascular activities. But for calcium to be properly absorbed and utilized our bones also need vitamin D and K, and magnesium. This is where eating a nutrient dense diet will help support your bone health.

We have osteoblasts: bone builder cells that help build new bones. We have osteocytes: the primary bone cells. And we have osteoclasts: bone chewers that help break down and absorb old bone structure. Like much of life healthy bones are about balance -each of these three cell types must be functioning optimally for us to have healthy strong bones.

If you are interested in an alternative to pharmaceuticals then I highly recommend Osteostrong. My goal is -1.0 for my next DXA scan. Stay tuned...