Olympic Figure Skating Champion Answers Some Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question for Peggy, send it to:

Dear Peggy
1010 E. Missouri
Phoenix, AZ 85014

Q: I eat a healthy diet, but I can't eat dairy products. Am I getting enough calcium and Vitamin D?
A: It can be tough. Vitamin D fortified dairy foods are some of the best sources of calcium and Vitamin D, and, even if you could eat these, it can still be hard to get enough Vitamin D from the food you eat. It gets even harder for people like you who can't eat dairy foods. You should talk to your doctor. Together, the two of you can look at your diet and sun exposure to see if you're getting enough calcium and Vitamin D. If not, remember that the four brands of Os-Cal offer two levels of Vitamin D to make sure you get the D you need.

Q: I was surprised to learn that heart disease is the #1 killer of women. Do you have friends or family members who smoke?
A: I lost a sister, who smoked, to a heart attack at age 50. I lost my father, who also smoked, at age 41 to his third heart attack, and my youngest sister, who used to smoke, had a triple bypass at age 47. Smoking was the worst thing my loved ones could have done to damage their hearts. Luckily, my younger sister, Cathy, has turned her life around. She quit smoking, improved her nutrition and exercises daily. When my older sister, Maxine, died, it was a wake-up call for the whole family

Q: Many women underestimate their risks for heart disease and stroke. How do you keep your heart in "tick-tock" shape?
A: I've had two stress tests in my lifetime, and I go to my cardiologist every six months because I'm on a cholesterol-lowering drug. High cholesterol is inherited in my family, but my cholesterol is now at a very safe level.

Q: How do you deal with stress?
A: When you've got a lot of stress going on, prioritize and take one thing at a time. Take time for yourself. For me, it's going out into my garden and clipping roses or planting new flowers. Take a warm bath right before bed. Find what works for you. If you can delegate some of your workload and errands to trusted people around you, do it!

Q: What advice would you give people who have resolved to lose weight?
A: Change your lifestyle. Quick-fix diets don't work. Stop procrastinating and do something — anything! Whether you walk two miles a day or cut back on fatty foods or stop smoking, it all makes a difference. But you have to start somewhere. It shows if you smoke or eat too much or don't get enough sleep.

Q: Many people in colder climates still don't realize that late-winter and early-spring sun is just as damaging as summer sun. As a skater who spent a lot of time in cold arenas and outdoor rinks, how do you stay so young?
A: Always moisturize after your bath or shower, and cover up in the winter. Sunscreen is one of the most important things we can do for our skin. I wear sunscreen every day under my makeup and on my neck, chest and arms. We also all need to visit our dermatologist every year to be checked.

Q: What's the most important thing you learned from being a breast cancer survivor?
A: That we should all pay attention to our bodies, to ANY change. And I've always been vigilant about my check-ups. I never leave the office without making my next appointment.

Awareness is so important because early detection can sometimes save our lives. It can help you avoid drastic measures because the early-stage treatment may not be as severe. Work as a team with your doctor. You've both got the same goal of keeping you healthy, but you have the advantage of seeing your body every day.

Q: What do you do to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer?
A: I never miss a check-up. I do my breast self-exam every month, and I get a mammogram every year. I also am careful about eating a low-fat diet and getting plenty of exercise.

Q: What's the most crucial type of support you can offer a friend or family member who's diagnosed with cancer?
A: Let them know you're thinking of them, but let them guide you as to how much they want you to do. Still ask them out to lunch or for a walk, but be understanding if they just want to be by themselves that day. It helped me to feel normal when I would go for a run or meet up with friends, but my treatment wasn't as difficult as some patients'. Let them know you're there to talk when they feel like it, too.

Q: What are the three healthy lifestyle resolutions you would recommend?
A: Cut your portions of carbohydrates in half. Aim for exercise five times a week; then if you make it three or four times, that's great. And for your emotional well-being, find some quiet time for yourself each day, even if it's just 30 minutes of reading a book outside.

Q: How can people use goals to help themselves stay committed to a healthy lifestyle?
A: Don't set your goals too high in the beginning. With each success you'll find more motivation. When you lose 10 pounds, see a new muscle in your arm or feel rested each day when you get up, those rewards are huge.

Q: What's your favorite way to exercise now that you're no longer competing? Aerobics? Weight training? Jogging?
A: Moderate exercise, especially weight-bearing exercise, is critical to bone health. As we age, we lose bone mass, and exercise is one of the keys to strong bones, along with good nutrition and a good calcium supplement like Os-Cal.

I enjoy weight training, but my favorite workout day is a good run in the fresh California air. Exercise has always been my tool to gauge myself. It tells me how strong I am, and how much endurance I have.

Even when I was going through my breast cancer, running was the way I tested myself. After morning radiation treatments, I would run up my favorite mountain trail with friends. At the end of the six weeks of treatment, I could still do it!

Q: Like you, I'm a fairly active grandmother and like to participate in my grandchildren's activities. But I must admit, it's harder for me to get around as actively as I'd like. How do you keep up with your grandkids, and what's your regimen for staying so strong?
A: As I've said many times, a healthy lifestyle will keep you active. It takes a lot of work to keep the machine going as it ages. Be honest about how you live. Are you exercising enough? Are you eating a low-fat diet? Do you smoke? All of these elements add up to staying active. See your doctor every year and ask lots of questions. Don't just sit back and say, "I'm older, I need to slow down." You have so much to look forward to!

Q: My husband was diagnosed several years ago with osteoporosis and takes a prescription drug for it. We heard through our bridge club that he should also take Os-Cal®. Shouldn't his prescription be enough?
A: This is something your husband should discuss with his doctor, but it is known that taking a calcium supplement along with an osteoporosis prescription is recommended.

Q: I am of Asian descent and was told recently by my doctor that I may be in a higher-risk group to develop osteoporosis. But I'm only 32 years old. Should I be taking a calcium supplement already? What are some of the risk factors for osteoporosis? How early did you start taking Os-Cal?
A: Women of Asian descent, Caucasian women, people who take calcium-depleting medications such as corticosteroids, small-boned women and smokers are just some of the so-called "high-risk groups" for developing osteoporosis. Though you reach peak bone mass in your 30's, I started taking Os-Cal in my early 40s, but you should ask your doctor for his advice on this.

Click here for more information on who is at risk for osteoporosis.