I haven’t always been in tune with my health. Hell, at times I didn’t give it a second (third, fourth, fifth) thought (and actually challenged it with the things I would or wouldn’t do. If you don’t know any of my history, and want to, take a read here.)
here’s an old pic of some Costa Rica sushi along with a pack of ciggies. Way back in the day, this was my balance š
This year, I decided to take a good, hard look at my health (again). I did this about 15 years ago when my kids were little, and I needed to take a very difficult look in the mirror and make some serious changes to my lifestyle (along with learning how to be a better role model to my kids).
This time around, I was feeling the ill effects of 4+ years of ordering foods like cheesecake, pad thai and burgers weekly, along with nearly zero physical activity. This all started during the pandemic and ended with an ACL surgery. Add to that a very emotionally draining and stressful divorce (after 15 years of marriage), the upgrading of careers (twice), and the entrance of what I can only guess is peri-menopause, all while single-parenting 2 teenagers š .
So what actions did I take to make health my focus, and was it worth it?
The first thing I had to do was figure out a plan. I’m a busy girlie, and to be honest, I didn’t have time to mess around. So I went back to my nutrition notes and old blog posts to review the steps I took during other periods of change. I had a history of my trials and errors. Proof of what I did and how. What worked, and so on. I had a blueprint! So, I was able to remind myself daily that I’ve turned my health around once, and I can certainly do it again.
My 2010 notes clearly indicated that I needed to return to basics and keep things simple. I needed to create a routine for all the new habits that I needed wanted needed to create again (basically my 7 steps to selfcare found here). A planned-out routine, written in my day planner, on my dream board and in my phone, meant I didn’t have to think or remember any of it, something that can be difficult (for me) when there are so many things to remember!
Once I had some nutrition, hydration, movement, and solid sleep habitualized (which took a few weeks, again, I’m a busy person), I booked myself in for a full set of blood work. And I mean all the markers, including the ones I needed to pay for (like vitamin D, T3 and T4, etc). Thankfully, my family doctor agrees to my yearly request for blood work, and because I have a history of bloodwork to look back on, I can see if and where any changes occurred, and then I can work on diet changes and/or adding supplements to get back to a good level. If you don’t have a history of bloodwork to look back on, I suggest it’s even more important to get every test you can and then to get it every 6-12 months for a few years until you can see patterns and recognize where you need extra support (with diet or supplements).
I also booked myself in for a DEXA scan. Being in the age bracket that I’m currently in (40ish), losing bone density is a real possibility, despite being as active as I am was am. And there is no better test to check on these matters than a DexaScan. A DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) is a medical-grade test that measures bone density and body composition (including bone mineral content, fat and lean muscle mass)! It’s considered the benchmark, it’s painless and uses a low-radiation method to diagnose conditions like osteoporosis and assess future fracture risk.
Coincidentally, while at a friend’s BBQ one night, I met a new friend (hi Stace) who was doing these exams locally. The timing was so perfect, and it was so nice to know I would have a friendly face there for the procedure and to analyze the data I would get. The scan took 10 minutes, and I was able to look over the results right then and there. We went through all the data together, and Stace was so sweet to listen to and answer all my questions. I got to see how much of the different body fats I had, where it was, where I should work a bit more diligently on muscle building, and better yet, I had a baseline to compare to when I go back (planning a return trip in 6-9 months).
If you’re in the process of transforming your body (weight loss, working out, etc), I would 100% recommend a DEXA. If you’re entering peri-menopause, I would 100% recommend a DEXA. If you’re just curious where your body is at, I would 100% recommend a DEXA! ā„
Lastly, as part of this health journey, I booked an appointment for a 45-minute Prenovou scan in Vancouver. Maybe made famous when Kim Kardashian had one done a while back, it’s been on my mind for at least 18 months. I don’t have any serious medical concerns or diagnoses, but I do have unexplained symptoms, and I wanted to, at a minimum, clear my mind of anything serious going on and, at worst, find anything unknown early so that it could be treated.
By far the most expensive test I had planned, but one that tests for over 500 possible medical conditions, including many stage one cancers, neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s, aneurysms, and so so many others. This scan provides a comprehensive, radiation-free, and non-invasive whole-body MRI. It creates a personalized health baseline and will allow me to track changes over time.
I realize it is certainly a privilege to be able to have this scan, but I wanted to get a real look inside my body and see what only an MRI can show. If you are at all interested in booking in, Prenovou was kind enough to pass along a 300$ discount to all my readers. It’s good for anyone booking their first full-body scan, just use this link!
So there you have it, the back-to-basics steps that I’ve taken to take control back of my body, mind and lifestyle, along with some super cool extras on the side. To date (it’s been 3 months and counting), I have to admit that while I still need the daily reminders to rest, take my supplements, stretch, move, hydrate, etc, I am feeling more energetic and less fatigued. My sleep is deeper, and my pants fit a bit looser than when I started!
Do I still have further to go? You bet, but having this momentum and being able to see results really helps. I hope you found something interesting here, because we all deserve health!
