Playing With a Full DEXA
Me near the end of the scan. Possibly asleep.
Two weeks ago, Lorraine and I went to DXA BodyComp NC to get DEXA scans.
“Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA) is a technological method of measuring a person’s bone mineral density and body composition with precision accuracy.”
We wanted to get information to help us better be able to focus our diets and workouts. The amount of information we got was overwhelming. I’m still not sure what most of it means, but there are some easy-to-pinpoint health markers we now have great data on.
As we age, our bones stop growing and begin to lose density. This can lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis and those can lead to easily broken bones and loss of mobility. The most effective way to counter those potential problems is with weight and resistance training.
The scan showed that my bones were healthy, except for my spine. This was eye-opening! Not to the point of major concern, but out of the “normal” range. As I think about my workouts, they have tended to focus resistance training on my limbs more than my torso.
So now I’ve started to add exercises and modes that will strengthen the spine. The simplest is wearing a weighted vest and now I’ve added rucking to my weekly workouts. (More about rucking in an upcoming blog.)
The scan also showed a breakdown of the different types of fat in my body. We need some fat, but too much leads to major problems. The worst type of fat is called “visceral fat” and it tends to cluster around organs. The more visceral fat, the higher the chance of all kinds of diseases.
I was again surprised to learn that I am carrying a little too much visceral fat. Right in the place most men carry it - the belly. In men, this is the worst place to carry visceral fat, and it is the easiest place to grow it. That’s pretty annoying.
So now I’m back to tracking my nutrition (I use this app) with a focus on getting enough protein to sustain muscle growth while making sure to be in a calorie deficit so I can lose weight. The goal is to drop ten pounds over the next two to three months.
The plan is to go back for another scan in about six months to see what kind of progress has been made.
DXA BodyComp NC is in Durham, and costs just $99 for a scan. The scan itself takes 4-6 minutes depending on your body type. The operator is a former bodybuilder so really understands not just the numbers and data but what they mean in terms of overall well being.
As a bonus, it’s on a fun street with lots of shops and restaurants so you can make a day trip out of it.
I can’t recommend enough getting a scan so you can have some workable data to be able to make changes to help improve your life.
