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Weight Lifting & UC

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/10/2012 1:35 PM (GMT -5)
Hi,

I'm in remission but whenever I do any muscle building exercises I immediately relapse into symptoms, usually abdominal pain.
By muscle building exercises I mean push-ups, situps, and weight training.
Pure aerobic activities like running to do not upset me at all.

Has anyone else found a connection/problem with weight training and UC?
Posted 1/10/2012 1:42 PM (GMT -5)
The only weight/resistance training that sometimes bothers my gut is a lot of abdominal work, like twisting sit-ups. It doesn't cause me to flare though, just kind of hurts while I'm doing the exercise.
Posted 1/10/2012 1:44 PM (GMT -5)
I avoided abdominal work when I was flaring, but otherwise I enjoyed weight training. It helped me regain lost weight and bone mass.
Posted 1/10/2012 1:54 PM (GMT -5)
Ive been lifting for 11 years and didnt let uc stop me. Of course while flaring bad i take it much easier. When feeling good i kill the gym for a good hour 3-4 x a week. Are you taking creatine or any supps? Workout supps have put me in flares. Before uc i weighed 210 an had alot of mass. Now days i stay around 180 and do more "cut" lifting. I lift a lot slower these days too, dont try to rush everything an put stress on myself. Hope you figure it out!
Posted 1/10/2012 2:21 PM (GMT -5)
I have not had any issues with my workouts (weights, cardio which include the mini trampoline *so jumping up and down*and 100 stomach crunches daily -5 days/week-) but everyone is different, maybe try some yoga instead, there are many forms of it from high intensity to low, pilates is good too, or even a combo of a few different things until you find what suites you best. I am female and in my 40's and besides my IBD, my overall health is quite good, I've been working out for 10 yrs now of the the 20 yrs that I've had IBD for and for the most part my IBD has been more on the severe-moderate side.

Best of luck!
Posted 1/10/2012 3:27 PM (GMT -5)
I have been seeing a personal trainer since Sept 2011 and am doing strength training with weights, sit ups, abdominals, etc. The first couple of weeks I felt a bit "flarey" after work outs. Since then I have felt great and I feel like the remicade is working better or I am getting better b/c of working out.

Can you try to ease yourself into it very slowly?

Best of luck!
Posted 1/10/2012 5:09 PM (GMT -5)
I was in training for most of my adult life up until 8 years ago when I had a real bad flair, every time I did anything from pull ups to dumb bells after that flair I would get symptoms and bleed. My doc's dident know what to tell me, but my cardiologist says it made cents to him, its all about inflammation and back pressure. lol. It took a cardiologist to let me know about my A-s. lol... Anyway Im still trying to get past not being able to train, I have had to let go of one thing after another because of this disease. It makes me crazy! Very best of luck... Jeff
Posted 1/10/2012 5:42 PM (GMT -5)
When your healing bending over to do yard work makes things worse.

With UC I stopped lifting weights every day because the total body inflammation is too high. This could be why aerobics are not as bad for you as weightlifting.

1.5 years into a really good remission I can do any lifting I want.

During the summer some young girls approached at the pool with my daughter and asked me if I had just competed in a body-building contest.

I was shocked, at 48 to hear that kind of feedback told me I am doing as good as can be expected with UC.
Posted 1/10/2012 9:12 PM (GMT -5)
When I was first diagnosed I completely stopped wieghtlifting, too much work on my body that was working for massive amounts of drugs.

Now that my immune system (feels) like its going in a great direction, i continue to weight lift 3-4 times a week, but still maintain the weight i've had for about 5 years, i'd say 140lbs. :( Such a bummer, that was my goal this year, to really gain muscle.

Since i've completely cut out gluten, I also got a new protein supplement I take before and after workouts, by Warrior Blend. Gluten free, dairy free, all natural, made from Pea protein and Cranberry protein. Smells amazing, tastes like poop.

I dont do abdominals either, I feel like too much twisting can cause tears where the inflammation is. I can't really tell if I get flares from working out though. ;/
Posted 1/10/2012 11:32 PM (GMT -5)
i haven't noticed any connection between symptoms and exercise. i run, do yoga, and bodyrock. i feel a lot stronger now than i was before i got really sick in 2011. i think because i had to start at square one again (92 lbs of bones and no muscle mass anymore) my muscle gains happened really quick.
Posted 1/12/2012 1:47 AM (GMT -5)
I notice that exercising can make me have a BM, but I think thats normal for people w/o UC so i dont think that much of it. I dont really notice any other connection between exercising and UC. Ive stopped taking supplements just cause its processed foods and thats what I try to avoid mostly. Too much protein in one sitting really gives me BMs and gas and D so i really avoid shakes. The best and simplest way of being healthy is just diet and exercise. Im able to get enough protein in my diet from foods and am definitely seeing results from just that.
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