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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/2/2008 12:17 PM (GMT -5)
Of course exercise is always good for us.  I for one am not good about exercising.  However, w/ the weight gain from quitting smoking, my husband and I have decided to start walking every day.  Here is my question - for those of you that do exercise on a regular basis, do you find that it helps w/ your UC as well?  Just curious - I feel like crud today.

 

Gigi1227

Posted 11/2/2008 12:25 PM (GMT -5)
Go walking with your husband....it'll be a good experience and motivation for both of you..as well as "bonding" as long as he's not competative about the process.

I don't exercise daily....but I should. working on it (as I always say).

quincy
Posted 11/2/2008 12:45 PM (GMT -5)
When I work out 3-5 times a week, I feel the best. It's been a few month that I haven't been, and I feel like garbage. I have to force myself to go, and then I'll feel better.
Posted 11/2/2008 12:59 PM (GMT -5)

I regularly exercised even while in a severe flare.  I have always found that exercise helps my mental/emotional state so when UC was very bad the exercise helped me to deal with it better.  I don't think you would ever find a doctor that would tell you not to exercise.  Know your limits and start slowly but increase your distance and speed as you gain tolerance.

Congratulations on quitting smoking!

Sue

Posted 11/2/2008 1:50 PM (GMT -5)
I agree with Suebear, I exercise at least 4/days a week and there are even recommendations to exercise for those with IBD, it can help with proper colon function as well as the extraintestinal manifestations like arthritis and osteo, as we age our bones deteriorate and exercise aids with bone strength, not to mention what it does for us mentally/emotionally.

Do what you can, flaring or not, aquasizing, pilates, many forms of yoga are out there as well. Something is always better than nothing.

And Congrats on quitting smoking.


:)
Posted 11/2/2008 4:25 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for your input everyone - I felt the same, but just wanted to hear from those who do exercise on a regular basis.

Gigi1227
Posted 11/2/2008 8:25 PM (GMT -5)

Here, check out these links...

http://www.ccfa.org/reuters/excercise

http://www.remicade.com/remicade/cro..._exercise.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17066157

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search...ize=20&index=3

 The last link will have to be copied and pasted....I know these all relate to crohn's but I'm sure that exercise is just as important for UCers as well.

:)


Posted 11/3/2008 10:03 AM (GMT -5)
Weight bearing exercise will also help combat bone loss. If you get out and walk and get sunshine, you'll also be helping your vitamin D levels which is beneficial to IBDers.
Posted 11/3/2008 10:33 AM (GMT -5)
I exercise (elliptical and weights, lunges, crunches etc.) four times a week and have been doing that steadily for about five years. I also play golf. I think that must have helped with my bone density, because it is remarkably normal despite lots of prednisone over the years. Although my back is killing me again today...
Walks are terrific, for so many reasons. I'm jealous that your husband will do it with you!
Posted 11/3/2008 10:39 AM (GMT -5)
Don't be too jealous yet, Peety, my Jim didn't walk w/ me yesterday. But in his defense, we bought a new front door and storm door and it took all day to put the front door in! Tonight he plans to put in the storm door. Now tomorrow is Election Day so we will both be sitting in front of the television anxiously awaiting to hear the news we hope to hear! Soooooooooo, perhaps Wednesday he will walk w/ me. In the meantime, Gigi (who is the name of my precious mixed breed dog) and I will walk together. LOL this a.m. was my first time to do exercise here at home, you know leg lifts and such - Gigi was trying to help mom!

Gigi1227 - Real Name Holly
Posted 11/3/2008 11:59 AM (GMT -5)

Hi Gigi,

I used to be an avid runner before i got sick 2 years ago.  Ever since i can't seem to exercise at all without feeling awful afterwards.  It is so frustrating and i try to work through it but somedays i can barely get through the day, nevermind exercise....I am trying again to slowly build up my exercise by walking, but yes, afterwards into the next day i feel so sick cry

Posted 11/3/2008 12:33 PM (GMT -5)
Even when I feel horrible from UC I still push myself to hit the treadmill or swimming pool...it helps me feel better overall and to reduce stress.

Posted 11/3/2008 2:37 PM (GMT -5)

It's when I don't exercise that I feel worst.  So when I exercise on days I don't really want to, doing 30 - 40 min on my ancient stationary bike, I feel better just from the accomplishment.

The days I go to yoga class are even better.  I can feel horrible going in but I almost always feel good when I leave.  I take a class for beginners or people with any health challenges so it's pretty gentle and I sometimes feel like I've had a massage after class.  We have a new Ivengar teacher who teaches half the time now and she gave me a copy of a bunch of exercises for ulcerative colitis from some big book Ivengar teachers use.  It's pretty cool and I've been trying to do a few of them every day, too.

Try whatever exercise you can just for that sense of accomplishment.  It does feel great, doesn't it?   

 

Posted 11/3/2008 3:00 PM (GMT -5)
Exercise didn't help with my UC, but it did put me in much better shape to get through the surgeries. I was/am a regular lifter of very heavy weights and was back to work after two weeks the first time and three the second.
Posted 11/3/2008 4:20 PM (GMT -5)

Excersize is good but finding the energy to do it can be hard. I excersize about 3-4 times a week. I don't notice any improvement physically with my UC but my overall mood gets better. It's also a mood booster seeing things firm up and get back where they belong!

V

Posted 11/3/2008 5:38 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, it can be a catch 22, but the more you exercise regularly, the more energy you have (at least I do) even with flaring, and it varies from person to person on how it will benefit your IBD, afterall, I'm very particular about what I eat and I also do the natural route with my IBD, so compare that to someone taking meds that cause tiredness for example, will make it tougher, but overall, exercise is important for everyones health.

:)
Posted 11/3/2008 8:08 PM (GMT -5)
During remission I exercise about 4-5 times/week with high weight low reps, cardio 2X a week. I am a firm believer that the condition u are in pre-flare dictates how long it lasts and how severe the flare becomes. I believe in the strengthening of mind, body, and spirit thru exercise, education, and faith.

During flare, I only do cardio as I notice that it helps with my digestion when I consume solid food.
Posted 11/3/2008 8:26 PM (GMT -5)
You may not have noticed your UC getting better buy perhaps it kept it from getting worse...
Posted 11/3/2008 11:33 PM (GMT -5)
Excellent point bbc!!!!!


:)
Posted 11/4/2008 1:18 AM (GMT -5)
regular excercise can also boost your immune system (although over doing it can actually do just the opposite), I am also a big believer in light weight training and yoga, but you are right, it can be very difficult to do when flaring or when you feel "cruddy"

------------------------------------------------------------

yuckygut

diagnosed 1998

now off prednisone and colazal

drink 1 Haldi daily
Posted 11/4/2008 7:26 AM (GMT -5)
I smoked during and a little after college (didn't everybody?). Then I quit and started jogging 15+ years ago. Sometimes I do have to force myself, but I always feel good after a nice jog. This year has rough, but I still get out there and do it as much as I can. Exercise and a nutritionally rich diet do wonders! UC is enough to deal with...I don't want any other problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.).

I say do it!
Posted 11/4/2008 4:11 PM (GMT -5)
I feel so much better when I exercise. I try to go as much as I can because I find it is both a mood booster and an energy booster. :)

And sometimes you have to push yourself to go but I feel like it's worth it afterwards.

- L

2x Lialda daily
remission since Oct. 2007
Posted 11/4/2008 5:11 PM (GMT -5)
My doctor advised me to stop running after my first year with UC. I was a personal trainer and trained for fitness competitions so I was probably over-working myself I've learned to stick to walking, water exercise and moderate weight training. It's been hard because I LOVED to workout at a fairly high intensity.  
Posted 11/4/2008 7:48 PM (GMT -5)

madmanatsea said...
I am of the opinion that any fiber located near the drug section should be AVOIDED!
AND YOU DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT BE BLOATING YOUR COLON IF YOU HAVE UC!
DO NOT TAKE METAMUCIL OR PSYLLIUM

Get your fiber from beans/vegies/fruit/corn/etc.

Some people cannot tolerate natural fibre from foods, but are able to take supplement forms of fibre and do fine or even great with them...my GI told me to take fibre supplements daily and indefinitely, I use one called Prodiem (widely available in Canada) it has no junky fillers, sugars ect in it, I use caps, and this was the best advice any GI has given me...once my system adjusted (which is normal for it to cause excess gas and bloating during the adjustment period) then no more bloating and very little gas, not to mention, fewere daily BM's, completely formed stools and now I can tolerate eating fibreous foods as well...my GI is one of the top lead researchers for crohn's and colitis in Canada abd I have faith in his suggestion for me to take fibre supplements daily and indefinitely, it's been 5 yrs of taking it everyday and you couldn't pay me to stop LOL.

:)

Posted 11/4/2008 10:55 PM (GMT -5)

Pen Name said...
I smoked during and a little after college (didn't everybody?). Then I quit and started jogging 15+ years ago. Sometimes I do have to force myself, but I always feel good after a nice jog. This year has rough, but I still get out there and do it as much as I can. Exercise and a nutritionally rich diet do wonders! UC is enough to deal with...I don't want any other problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.).

I say do it!

There's growing highly credible evidence that what some may have inhaled in college,  helps to reduce inflammation in the mucosal linning of our intestines : )
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