Whole30 & Crossfit reversed my diagnosis of osteopenia

Heck yes! Crossfit & Whole30 VICTORY!

I guess the best place to start is March 31st 2010. I was with a group of friends at church directing a skit. I got up to show them what I was thinking in terms of blocking for a certain part of the skit and...well, I am a self admitted klutz and I tripped over my purse, fell backwards, catching myself with my right hand and POP! I felt something and heard something that I knew was UGLY. Here is what I saw when I looked at my wright hand...



At the time I was 39 years old. I was considered healthy. I ran several times a week and was training to run my first half marathon that June. My doctor was surprised that I had such a severe break based on all this information. I had surgery the next day and live w 1 plate  and 6-8 screws in my wrist. NOTE: I WAS NOT A CROSSFITTER YET! I had several friends that did Xfit at Canyon Crossfit and I was definitely intrigued by it but had not taken the leap yet.

My doctor prescribed a Dexascan (bone density test) because he thought there might be a concern there. The results came back and I was diagnosed with Osteopenia. The doctor explained that this was pre-osteoporosis and that we could begin to treat it with vitamin supplements that included extra calcium as well as a multi-vitamin. He said to keep running and being active but suggested that the osteopenia could possibly get worse over time but hopefully with the supplements as well as continuing to stay active and run, we could slow down the process.

So, there I was...39 years old, I ate well (or so I thought) and I got regular exercise (cardio-only). I guess this was just going to be "my thing." I mean, we all have a thing right? And being that I was a positive person and I did what I was told, I stayed the course he prescribed and moved forward.

Fast forward to June 2011, I was able to join Canyon Crossfit! Loved it immediately! By that point I had just ran my first full marathon that February. I had ran another half and was signed up for 2 more in the coming months. Running was a place I could sort of getaway-getaway from the hustle of the day,  get time alone with God to pray, praise and worship w the songs on my iPod and when I ran I was always smiling. I was also still taking my handful of vitamins.

Then came the introduction to Whole30 in January 2012 and with that MANY changes. Whole30 said don't take vitamins or supplements (the food you would eat would give you plenty), remove dairy from your diet (the food would provide plenty of calcium, also)...so there I was committed to trying this and I am so thankful that I did. I completed my first Whole30 (actually went 45 days) and then remained eating a very clean paleo from that point on. AND I NEVER WENT BACK TO TAKING THE VITAMINS OR SUPPLEMENTS!

Several months later when the book "It Starts With Food" was released I read that Whole30 has reversed numerous health issues...INCLUDING OSTEOPENIA! I wondered...could I have those results? I wanted to know...I asked my doctor if he would order me a follow up Dexascan to see if the osteopenia had progressed and last Saturday I went in to have it done. Later that week, the call came..."Your Dexascan is normal, there is no osteopenia!" HECK YES!

I like to say that Crossfit and Whole30 have enhanced my life and in this case they have changed it!