Of what am I really made?

It is testing female athletes ages 18-35 who train in a sport fairly intensely (>10 hours a week) on a regular basis and compete. Since I’m 34, I made it in just in time!

On my lunch break I headed to the UCCS campus and met Jade, who is conducting the study. Then I had to borrow some change – the parking meters only take quarters and I only had a dollar bills. We scrounged around for some change and I got four quarters, which was enough for 35 minutes. I was going to have to take the risk of a parking ticket, but I’d do that in the interest of science!

Once the meter was fed, the next step was to fill out a questionnaire for the study. Lots of questions regarding my eating habits, my exercise/training habits, and my thoughts on body image and my personal image and how I approach eating. Some medical history questions in there too.

Then came time for the DXA – or Dual Energy x-ray Absorptiometry.  

The machine looked like this:

Then I got into one of those fun hospital gowns to get scanned. I hopped onto the table and Jade scanned my hips and lower back area. I had to have my feet strapped in some funny angle (flexed and rotated inwards) about 12″ apart. A little awkward, but it didn’t take too long for the scan. Next up was a full body scan. This time I got to keep my feet together and to make sure of that, my ankles and knees were each tied together. Almost like a swimming drill…

It took about five minutes of laying still and she got the following image:

Then I was done for today! There will be three additional days where I provide them information. I will have to document everything (and they mean EVERYTHING) that I eat and drink for three, not necessarily consecutive, days. I will be taking a lot of pictures!

The benefits I get is

1) learn my current risk of osteoporosis. Since there is some family history of this, it is good to know. 

2) I get to learn my body composition (it’s probably more accurate than the scale I have) and area-specific compositions (not sure I really want to know that, though!)

3) access to Sports Dieticians to answer any questions I might have about my nutrition plans. Not to shabby of a resource – her advisor is in Vancouver as the team dietician for the USA Speed Skating team!

4) I get to help a research study.

When I got back to my car to head back to work there was no ticket! Guess they parking staff either didn’t want to get out in the cold and snow or it was their lunch break too.

I’ll follow up later in the week when I do my first eating log.

Also, if you live near Colorado Springs and want to participate in this study, email me and I’ll get you the contact information.