Welcome to Becoming Unbreakable. I’m Andrea. In a moment, I’ll tell you my story of how I became unbreakable. Before I do, if you would like to become unbreakable too, please subscribe for free here:
A little introduction
For around fifteen years, I was a full-time freelance journalist, substantially writing for the Guardian. I even had a 6 month column there on blogging.
I then spent many years as a funeral celebrant, and still love to do this. But my path changed dramatically after a medical diagnosis.
In September 2022, I was diagnosed with osteopenia - the precursor to osteoporosis - AKA ‘brittle bones’.
It was a baffling moment. I had been solidly into fitness for half a decade by this point. I did Zumba, STEP and SPIN each week. I went swimming. I did at least 10,000 steps a day. I hill hiked.
Frailty ain’t fitting…
I did not want to lose my independence to osteoporosis, and become fragile and fractured. But if I wasn’t already doing ‘enough’, what else did I need to do?
Note: No tangible guidance was offered by the medical professionals other than calcium supplements (which I didn’t take) and I was left to work out for myself how to change my outlook.
Upon learning that the kind of exercise I’d been doing wasn’t actually ‘weight-bearing’, I wanted to learn properly how to strength train.
Not one to do things by halves, I became a qualified personal trainer.
Gimme the low-down
I actually wanted the knowledge for myself. I was hoping that through training, I may in the least halt the progression of my condition.
Stabilising the osteopenia would have been a great result for me.
I didn’t just start strength training. I set about making some lifestyle changes - changing my diet, becoming more disciplined around sleep, and the biggie, mostly giving up alcohol.
Yup. That was a tough one! I had thoroughly rocked hedonism as a youth, and into my midife, I loved a weekend wine just like the next peri-menopausal woman relieved another week was through.
Guess what? Personal training became my career. But ‘bootylicious’ was out.
Glutes are for power, not pants
It dawned on me my real interest was in helping people with health conditions.
For me personally, I didn’t give a toss about training to look good in hot pants. I cared about making sure that my old lady body, when she arrives (not there yet!), can kick ass.
I then became even more qualified. I got all fancy obtaining a Level 3 Exercise Referral and a Level 4 low Back Pain Management Through Exercise.
I used to suffer incredibly with back pain with my butt at a desk all day in my journalist career, so I knew how valuable this knowledge-broadening would be.
Officially “unbreakable”.
In May 2026, I had a follow-up DEXA scan to see where my bones were at. I was astounded to discover that my bone density had returned to normal.
I had put in the hard work, and I won. My bones were strong again.
The training, nutrition and lifestyle programme I had designed for myself had done the job. It continues to do so, too - because this is a lifetime commitment. Ain’t never gonna give it up.
Which brings us here. Everyone should be unbreakable. And I am on a mission to teach others how to do this - whether it’s their bones or their backs. But likely - both - as if you work on one you’re usually working on the other.
Who is Becoming Unbreakable for?
My focus is both on bone health, back care, and muscle strength.
I teach back care classes in the community, and offer a back health programme for workplaces. I run commissioned sessions for local organisations, including a commissioned short course to a local council.
I offer bone strength programmes to individuals, and write guides and newsletters on osteoporosis prevention through lifestyle, exercise and nutrition.
Here on my Substack platform, I will be sharing helpful advice, education and information in these key areas - strong backs, strong bones, strong muscles.
These are the essential components to becoming unbreakable.
Whether you are an individual or an organisation, if health and wellness is important to you, then please subscribe here for free. Expect a weekly, informative article, and notes with useful tip and shares.
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Disclaimer and safety note:
This content throughout this publication is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for medical advice. I am not a clinician. Please check with your doctor before trying new exercises or taking health advice from within these pages; especially if you have osteoporosis, a diagnosed condition, or any concerns about your health.