My Health Report Card with Sprout Family Health
Today I'm getting real and personal on the blog. Maybe I'm sharing a little too much information, but I know I'm not the only woman—or parent—who feels like they could feel better. Not just physically, but mentally too.
Two years ago, I woke up and collapsed. I couldn't walk, and it was terrifying. My ferritin (a protein that stores iron and releases it as needed to help maintain iron balance in the body) was extremely low, and my serum iron (which measures the amount of iron currently circulating in the blood) was at a 4. Ideally, it should have been above 20 for my age and gender. I didn't realize I had been depleting my body for months to get to that point. I remember feeling like my brain wasn't functioning properly, and I was so frustrated. I kept asking myself, “Is this just normal? Am I just a tired mom trying to work, parent, and do all the things?”
Since that recovery, I've been on a health journey to better understand what's happening inside my body, what it needs to feel its best, and how I can optimize my long-term health. My goal is prevention, not reaction.
I've been taking part in the Sprout Family Health Program, and I wanted to share a few things about the care and testing I've done to focus on longevity and feeling my best every day. If you learn one new thing—or even decide to join this program—I consider that a win!
Extensive Blood Work
Over the years, I've had the "normal" blood work done through my doctor, but I'm usually told everything is "in range," and I'm not always tested for additional markers that may be important as a 38-year-old mother of two. Cortisol, iron, ferritin, and B vitamins are some of the more important markers to check, along with others depending on your family history.
Through Sprout Health, I completed extensive blood work to ensure my markers aren't just "normal," but are in an optimal range for my age, height, weight, and overall health. These factors can make a significant difference in how you feel every day. Taking targeted supplements and focusing on a diet based on my actual blood work has been incredibly helpful for my mood and overall well-being. I stopped guessing what my body needed. I've now had blood work done every three months to track my progress.
DEXA Scan
One of my favourite parts of the program was the DEXA scan, which is typically valued at under $200 and is included in the membership. It's a non-invasive, painless scan that measures your body composition, body fat percentage, bone density, bone mass, lean muscle mass, visceral fat, and even muscle imbalances between your limbs.
Having this complete picture of your body allows you to track changes in muscle and fat over time. I learned where I could improve and discovered how balanced my muscle mass is. This information is especially valuable for maintaining strength and helping prevent future issues, such as hip problems.
My husband's scan actually showed that one of his legs is 10% stronger than the other. That's a significant imbalance and something he can now work on to help reduce his risk of future injuries or joint issues.
This test allows you to see, not guess, what's happening inside your body. After my scan, the technician took the time to review my results, explain everything thoroughly, ask questions about my health and lifestyle, and answer my questions about strength training and more.
Health Report Card
I truly believe parents deserve their own health report card. Through Sprout Family Health, my report card included all of my testing, meetings with a nurse practitioner, and even an X-ray of my shoulder, which has been bothering me for years. They combined everything into one comprehensive report that gave me an overall picture of my health.
Not only does this report show me where I am today—both mentally and physically—but it also gives me a benchmark to compare against during future assessments. Without a benchmark, how do we really know if we've improved or declined over time? The nurses were wonderful to work with. They took the time to review my results thoroughly, answer my questions, and explain what everything meant in a way that was easy to understand.
You can join Sprout Family Health for a monthly fee for the whole family or just yourself. You can learn more about it here, plus, my community gets 30% off the first 4 months of their membership with code PURPOSEFULYOU – just mention it on your sign up form, and they’ll apply your discount! I encourage you to click the link to learn more and see if this is right for you! Currently it’s available in the greater Victoria area on Vancouver Island. I hope I can inspire you to take a step closer to living your best life inside and out!
* Note: Some links featured in the above post are commissionable/affiliate links. This blog is in partnership with Sprout Family Health.