Check in--cheerleaders wanted

Posted by janism @janism, Jul 27 4:42am

I am trying to force myself to exercise because I need it for my osteoporosis and I am finding myself getting perceptibly weaker as I age. I'm not at all sedentary; I probably walk 2-3 miles per day just getting around and do lots of household stuff as guardian of a 6 year old and 16 year old, and I'm an elementary school teacher during the year on my feet all day. While that was fine when I was younger, my body is telling me that I need to be more systematic now. I want to keep being able to do the things I love, and exercise is clearly one of the ways to do that, but I hate it.

I want to start this thread as a place to check in with the things we find hard--exercise, nutrition, human relations, whatever--and a place to cheer each other on.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 2 12:32pm

In reply to @janism "@janism did it! Got back on my mini treadmill this morning. Weights tomorrow." + (show)

@janism

Bravo. Meantime I dragged myself, whining, through my little routine. I'm better for it today....emotionally.

summera1 | @summera1 | Aug 6 7:47am

In reply to @shocknot26 "What a good thread! I will jump in. Full disclosure: I am dreading this necessary change..." + (show)

@shocknot26 an you share what types of exercise you do with Nationally Certified Bone Fit? Do you do weight lifting, like hip hinge and dead lift? Thanks!

summera1 | @summera1 | Aug 6 7:52am

I am a retired teacher. I did and still do 10,000 steps. I thought all the standing and carrying notebooks back and forth to my car would help. I was shocked to find out I have severe osteoporosis. So, I am now doing weight lifting and taking Tymlos. I get a DEXA late Sept. I had to stop weight lifting for one month, due to an injury (not related to the weight lifting). I had P1NP and CTX tests every month, so I will know if weight lifting is making a difference.

osteopatient2026 | @osteopatient2026 | Aug 6 6:01pm

In reply to @summera1 "I am a retired teacher. I did and still do 10,000 steps. I thought all the..." + (show)

@summera1
Could you share what your dexa was and you current blood test pinp CTX etc. thx
I’m also on Tymlos 9 months now.

summera1 | @summera1 | Aug 7 11:21am

In reply to @osteopatient2026 "@summera1 Could you share what your dexa was and you current blood test pinp CTX etc...." + (show)

@osteopatient2026 My p1NP went from 74 to 119 and CTX from 946 to 665 for three months on Tymlos. Month two the P1NP went up to 147 but a month later dropped down to 119 since I stopped exercising. Oddly, CTX continued to drop even though I was not exercising. I guess the Tymlos stopped bone breakdown, so CTX kept dropping. I will get CTX and P1NP and DEXA and REMS all end of September. My last DEXA was Sept 2025, but did not start Tymlos until April 2026. T score L1 -3.4, L2=-2.9, L3=-3.6, L4=-3.9 Hip neck -2.4

gravity3 | @gravity3 | Aug 7 12:14pm

In reply to @summera1 "@osteopatient2026 My p1NP went from 74 to 119 and CTX from 946 to 665 for three..." + (show)

osteopatient2026 | @osteopatient2026 | Aug 7 12:18pm

In reply to @summera1 "@osteopatient2026 My p1NP went from 74 to 119 and CTX from 946 to 665 for three..." + (show)

@summera1
Gee…you are in my territory…my spine was -4.8 and -5.1 hip was -3.1. Hoping for some improvement from Tymlos …others have reported the numbers are a general guide and helpful to a point…too much or too little. Even if the dexa BMD doesn’t show huge improvement your trabecular bone (bone strength) may have improved…picture a structure of steel rods vs the same structure of styrofoam…looks more dense but what you really want also is increased bone strength…

summera1 | @summera1 | Aug 7 1:10pm

In reply to @osteopatient2026 "@summera1 Gee…you are in my territory…my spine was -4.8 and -5.1 hip was -3.1. Hoping for..." + (show)

@osteopatient2026 How long have you been on Tymlos? When is your next DEXA?
Keep me posted:)

osteopatient2026 | @osteopatient2026 | Aug 7 1:16pm

In reply to @summera1 "@osteopatient2026 How long have you been on Tymlos? When is your next DEXA? Keep me posted:)" + (show)

@summera1
I started November 2025…9 months going on 10. Will get my next dexa in October…

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 7 3:01pm

Great discussion @janism! I have osteopenia and am concerned about bone health along with my other autoimmune conditions and neuropathy. I've been trying to improve my balance because my walking has suffered due to spine issues and not being able to stand up straight. Mostly have to have a shopping cart or something to push in order to walk any distance without great discomfort. I'm afraid about losing my mobility so I try to exercise 30 to 45 minutes a day 4 to 5 days a week along with normal house and yard chores. Most of the exercise time is spent on a Teeter Free Step Recumbent Cross Trainer but I also have a stepper and some hand weights that I try to use for a portion of the time. 4 or 5 years ago I ran across a Sand Dune Stepper after watching a couple of videos of how it could help with balance for older people. @ray666 and @njed also were discussing using one in another discussion. I had not used it for a few years and someone ran across an old post I made about it so I pulled it out from behind my couch and dusted it off to give it a try. Yikes! I had to grab my trekking poles so I could steady myself while walking in place. You have to be barefoot or just wearing socks as shoes will destroy the foam blocks. The first thing I noticed was how good it felt on my feet. I'm hoping to use it at lease 10 minutes a day to start and maybe longer to see if it helps with the toe and ankle strength as well as helping with the legs.

Here's a couple of videos that I originally saw before buying it - https://originalsanddune.com/geriatrics/