What is everyone here doing to combat the potential onset of osteoporosis as we age? Does this affect how/how often you ride? Are you taking any specific supplements? Do you have any good tips on dealing with this day to day - not only as it pertains to riding?

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Hi Sabine, welcome! I find just getting out and moving, trying to avoid sitting too long at the computer or tv or reading. Get a fitness coach online or at a gym. Heather Sansom is great and she has a page here on Barnmice, even though she's in Ontario and I'm in B.C. she still can give me specific exercises for my fitness issues. I am a Melaluca believer and use their supplements which help both me and my husband. I make sure to stay away from fats and too much sugar, I have a lot more pain if I have eaten too much sugar because my body can't break it down as fast as it used to. Natural sugars in fruits and veggies are okay but I find for me I still have to limit. Hmmmm choices, choices, the older I get the more I have to make, such as natural sugar versus refined sugar, so more often than not those nice little cakes and squares I love so much are set aside for an apple or grapes, etc. By no means does all the above make me currently the poster girl for fitness but it does keep me moving and in the saddle, not competitive like I used to be but happy and content to be one with my horse again.
Being 65 years old and not getting any younger, I have tried for years to look after myself, and keep active and take all of the supplements that are on the market if I think that I need them. Some of those supplements are Calcium and glucosamine. In order for your body to take full advantage to these supplements Vit D is a must. I take Vit D also and a daily multi vitamin. Eating regularly is never on my schedule, so I try to eat good things when I do eat. Greens, veggies, fruits etc. and lots of water too. We all know that looking after the horses, barn, and all that inbetween sue keeps us in shape and our bones healthy. I think a lot of it has to do with the God give genes that we inheirited.
Vitamin D! It is a must for everyone! Also weight bearing exercises and, believe it or not, a bit of pounding. I have read that every woman should jump up and down 50 times a day. Seriously.
That would be hilarious - since certain parts of my anatomy have grown tremendously (why????) in the last couple of years I would likely knock myself out. Ha!
I have taken up power walking with intermittent jogging, and have been put on Actonel once a week. Apparently this has halted the progression somewhat and even reversed it slightly...pretty scary stuff, being afraid to do stuff because I could break all my bones! I actually broke 7 ribs a couple of years ago when I fell after my boxer took off after a squirrel during a walk (talk about painful!!)
that is a great picture! I hope I am that cheerful, and that well mounted, when I'm 67
WOW, jumping up & down 50 times!! I might have to try it!! I take multi-vit [when I remember ], try to eat healthy [when I eat] , and my big priority is getting enough sleep. I'm a bit of an overachiever, and cannot bear to go to bed before that one more task is done. I can feel it the next day if I don't get my "beauty sleep", and I won't ride as well. I'll also be drawn to those nasty sugars for energy. My current progect , health-wise is to cut out the coffee, which I love with globs of cream. This is NOT good. I am down to one a day, but as I have a big clinic tomorrow & Sunday, may put off the every 2 days until Monday!!
I see the younger ones at the barn glugging down the red-bull and other energy drinks. Anyone ever tried them? I am a nurse, and cannot conceive that they are remotely good for you. Probably no worse than a large Tim's...3 cream...yikes !!![ Canadian thing, half the country is addicted to Tim Horton's coffee, keeps us warm]
Some very good comments regarding bone loss as we age. I do beleive we can keep it at bay and continue riding by daily activity. Their are some very good "stretch" DVD video's that you can do at home. That's the hard part. I try to find time at the beginning of the day, or forget it. You really have to plan it, and have your own space, mentally and physically in order for this to work. I gives me a calming effect, and makes my day easier.
Yes stretching is supposed to be a good thing too Cathy, in fact my doctor just told me that this past week...he says do it every day. My one horse loves to stretch first thing after moving from a standing position especially when I go in to feed in the morning...and of course we see the cats and dogs do it all of the time, there has got to be a reason for it, besides feeling so good. So jump up and down, and stretch and take those calcium pills and we may have this Osteo thing beat. seems simple enough, lol
Hmm, calcium for osteo prevention..I know this is supposed to work but I can't seem to take for very long without getting nauseous. So I don't take it everyday, which I know I should. Does anyone know why it would make a person nauseous? I also take multi vitamins. I thought maybe it was because I already have enough in my system from other things
Hi, ladies! I've found you all again under another topic, and you are just as enjoyable and interesting as always!

I take calcum/magnesium and vitamin D twice every day, as well as a B complex and multivitamin. I am a non-insulin dependent diabetic (and determined to keep it that way) so I eat very carefully, very often, and at very regular intervals. It took some doing to get into the habit, as I was definitely one of those "forget to eat" types, but there is no doubt that I perform better and feel better in everything I do as a result of this regimen.

I started on Barry Sears' Zone diet 8 years ago to help control migraines, and it has helped enormously with controlling my blood sugar levels as well as the migraines. It does require some forethought and planning, but the results are worth the effort. I lost the migraines and 20 lbs, and gained a huge amount of energy. My cholesterol levels are extremely low also.

While I don't get to the gym often any more, I usually ride 3 - 4 horses per day, do barn/arena/farm work, and teach the rest of the time. I think low-impact exercise as well as resistance work and aerobics (all of which I get between the barn chores and riding) are really important as we age. I thought perhaps the reason I keep breaking bones was osteoporosis, but the orthopedic surgeons assure me that I just have small bones and keep playing with big horses!

Sabine, I have a stretching routine that I do every night, and it's become a real necessity as I've hit and passed 50. I can't ride several horses a day without it, at least not do the riding and still walk around afterwards. The series I do are piriformis stretches, and I have a number of post-menopausal clients who are benefiting from them as well. Search piriformis on Google, and try some of the stretches, or perhaps one of our physiotherapists can explain them...

Cindy, you need to add calcium and vitamin D to your regime. My gynecologist put me on both, and I have much less pain in my hips and back since starting them. You would probably find liquid calcium easier to handle, and it's absorbed much better in your system. It comes in various nice flavours, and isn't awful to take. The vitamin D affects many of our organs, but really affects the uptake and utilization of calcium. Living in northern BC you really need it, as you can't get enough sun exposure to make your own internally. Even living in the southern interior I can't get enough, and the supplementation has really helped me feel better and more productive.
The best prevention strategy against osteoporosis was to drink milk from childhood onwards! However, now that we are well past the start date for that we have to use other strategies. I take calcium supplements, eat yogurt daily and drink some milk daily too.

I think weight-bearing exercise is an excellent preventative, and it is never too late to begin that. I have a gym program that works for my achey shoulders (rotator cuff injuries + bursitis) and also includes the weight-bearing exercises. And..... cleaning stalls is a great method!
How many find it true that they didn't appreciate their health until they didn't have it anymore?
Gotta take care of ourselves before we have serious problems.

Has anyone tried the medical drugs that are suppose to help with bone density? I've read and heard mostly negative things but it would be beneficial to share experiences either way.

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