Here at Beckwith Health Club in Harrogate, we love celebrating our members’ successes. It’s what makes our community so special.
Today, we’re thrilled to share the incredible story of Lyn, a truly inspiring member who, with dedication, hard work and a little support from our brilliant team, has taken control of her health in an amazing way! This is her journey from a shocking diagnosis to a triumphant recovery.
What is Osteopenia?
Osteopenia is a condition where your bone density is lower than the average for your age, but not yet low enough to be classed as osteoporosis. It’s essentially the stage before osteoporosis, meaning your bones are weaker and more fragile than they should be, making you more susceptible to fractures.
How did Lyn first come to learn about her diagnosis?
Back in 2019, Lyn was on a hike in Santorini, a path she’d walked many times before, when she suddenly felt the most excruciating pain in her back. She hadn’t tripped or fallen – she was just walking.
On return to the UK, she had some scans done which revealed she’d fractured one of her vertebrae and that she had Osteopenia. Whilst this news came as a real shock to her, she recalled that she’d broken bones in her foot from just walking a few years earlier, and there was a family history of osteoporosis on her mother’s side.
How did life change after the diagnosis?
For a long time, Lyn was really cautious. She avoided any exercise other than gentle walking. She wouldn’t go on hikes anymore, something that she used to love.
She also became dependent on medication that was meant to slow down the bone density loss. She felt a bit stuck.
What brought Lyn to Beckwith Health Club?
Lyn had a trip to Canada planned and she really wanted to do a hike that she’d done 15 years ago. She knew it had been hard work back then, and that she would need to build up her stamina. That was her initial, sole purpose for joining Beckwith —just to get her fitness levels up for that one hike.
But it was through talking to our friendly Beckwith team that everything changed for Lyn. She started with her own self-made exercise programme, but then with help from Miles, one of our Personal Trainers, she developed a more personalised plan.
The real turning point, however, was Lyn’s decision to embrace the group classes run by Sara after repeated encouragement from Rik.
How did exercise classes help with Osteopenia?
Lyn listened to her body to know what she could and couldn’t do, but by attending the classes, she really started to push her limits. Working with Beckwith’s instructors who kept a careful eye on her, she had the confidence to try harder.
She aimed to attend at least five classes a week. Her favourites became SOULfusion, SOUL Kickboxing, Pilates, and in particular, LIFT well which included basic strength training exercises with barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and bands, intermingled with short HIIT-type cardio bursts.
Outcome: A reversed diagnosis!
The fantastic results came from a follow-up bone density scan. The scan revealed that Lyn was no longer on the scale that would lead to a diagnosis of osteopenia. It had effectively been reversed!
Lyn is now coming off the medication, but she fully intends to keep up the classes. She feels she’s gained strength and bone density from all classes, but LIFT well in particular has been transformative. Without the classes, Lyn believes she would not be where she is today.
Watch Lyn’s full video about her experience on YouTube here!
Are you hesitant about starting your own fitness journey?
Come visit us at Beckwith Health Club in Harrogate. We’re a friendly health club that caters to each member’s individual needs. No equipment or fitness regime fits all, so we cater to all abilities with our vast range of equipment and on-hand support. Our team and members create a genuinely welcoming space for all fitness levels.
Additionally, we have some of Harrogate’s finest, fully qualified fitness instructors and personal trainers. Each with their own specialities, from injury rehabilitation to athletic performance and nutrition, we are confident that we have the best personal trainer to help you achieve your goals.
