Re: Strong Women, Strong Bones was Re: Newly diagnosed and frightened

The time to build bones best is in childhood.  Sadly, we feed out children as a nation
soda pop and other things horrible for bone development.


I highly recommend "The Bone Density Diet" by George Kessler, and it should be required
of every parent.

Bob

Françoise wrote:

> Art S wrote:
>
> > "Françoise" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> >
> > Don't confuse age with a permanent lack of strength.
>
> Sad though it is, as we aged all parts of our body wear out. This includes our bones 
> and muscles. Most people do not notice any
> changes even if these changes exist, until they are in their 50s or 60s. Some men 
> may be partially bald in at 30s or have a heart
> attack before 40, but it is hard to think about it. A person of 80 having a heart 
> attack does not surprise anyone. After 30, we all
> are slowly dying. For some the process is faster for others it is longer. A woman at 
> 65 may have a healthier skin than some at 40.
> It is important for women with osteoporosis to realize that as they age, they absorb 
> less vitamin D from the sun.
>
> All of this is to show that age plays an important role in everything we do 
> including the balance, the strength or the speed with
> which we can do anything.
>
> I want to add the difference between men and women. As soon as a girl arrives at 
> puberty, she knows soon enough that the boys would
> be stronger even if a few years before she could win at almost every physical 
> activity.
>
> > Better sports stores carry weights with magnets, so the weight lifter can add 1 
> > lb.  Or you can make your own by going to a
> > hardware store and buying metal washers with the right diameter.
>
> Very good. I should look into it.
>
> > > > 4)  There are better exercises than the ones she lists. Squats, for
> > > >      example, let you hold more weight than lunges or step-ups.  If
> > > >      you are concerned with increasing bone density of your spine, this
> > > >      is important.
>
> I forgot, but in her book: "Strong Women, Strong Bones", page 184, she has an 
> exercise called "Wide Leg Squat", where we use a
> chair to end the squat. We squat with a low chair under. To begin we can chose a 
> normal chair with no weight just hands on opposite
> shoulder. Then with weights and a lower chair. I do not do this exercise because now 
> that I have no pain in my knees, I find it too
> easy even with bigger weights. And I do some squat in our class anyway.
>
> > First, did she publish the studies anywhere?
>
> She did, but I have not read them and I do not know where they are available. Being 
> at university, she would have to publish to
> stay there.
>
> > Third, some people's knee problems go away when they add squats to their routine.
> > Bodies differ.  But if you don't know about the exercise, you can't try it.
>
> Not true from experience.
>
> > Listening to our body is way up there in importance.  But we can't afford to say
> > "I'm old.  I can't do this now.  I'll never be able to do it."  Or "I'm afraid to
> > try this - it sounds dangerous." because, if we do, our bones won't receive the
> > necessary stimulous to increase density.
>
> True
>
> Anyway, as I said I had success with these books and for now I will continue doing 
> what I did till now. Maybe one day, maybe soon I
> will introduce some other exercises taken from some other books or video like the 
> one of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. I
> may have a look at it. It is good to have a change and come back again to the 
> currant exercises. I wanted to go back to Tai Chi in
> September but I could not. Maybe next year.
>
> Françoise.