Starting exercise after flare advice?

[guest78]

Hi guys,
I have been really unwell for the last four months ish, with a severe crohns flare up, a small peri anal abscess and fistula. I also suffered from acute arthritus in my knee and ankle. Before I was unwell I was going to the gym and doing fitness classes 3-4 times a week.
I am currently on 10mg of pred and feeling a lot better than I was. But not completely back to normal.
I really want to get back to exercising but unsure whether now is a good time to do it? I don't want to exhaust myself or make myself unwell again. I was doing a range of classes from Pilates to high impact body attack/pump classes.

Does anyone have any advice? Or have been through similar before.

Thanks!

 

[mbishop]

I did a quick posting on that couple weeks ago. Bottom line is to start slow, but don't hold back from doing something you enjoy and is active.

http://evidencebasedibd.blogspot.com/2012/12/exercise-and-ibd.html?m=1

 

[guest78]

Ah I didn't see it. Ill check it out thanks so much!

 

[rygon]

start off slowly, even if you feel like you can do more (or used to do a lot more).

Im exercising at home 1st before going to classes, but if you to classes be sure to tell them that you may have to leave some exercises out.

 

[guest78]

Just read your blog post mbishop. Really helpful, thank you very much. I won't be attempting any marathons any time soon!

Hi Rygon, I think your right, Im so ready to get back to doing something active I am in danger of over doing it and pushing myself too far. Will start off slowly over te next couple of days and see how I get on. Iv gone on dog walks so have at least been doing some activity! But I will have to wait a while before I'm doing the high impact/cardio stuff.
Don't think my body could do that right now! Even if I wanted to.
X

 

[crohnicaly stinky]

In my opinion you just need to be sure your body can keep up. Your intake system is compromised and so your burning calories that might exceed your bodies ability to put back in. I think the key is to listen to your body, see how well you recover and what your energy level is like. When I was finally diagnosed it was after I had lost a ton of weight much of it muscle mass. I work in a construction related field and literally was taking sit down breaks every ten minutes, but just kept pushing and working. I was literally forcing my body to consume itself. But post flare I've done really well weight training at the gym. I would say maybe wait until your off the steroids, simply because that will indicate your body is settled doow enough to push it.

 

[SarahChoueiry]

I started with yoga slowly i actually had my yoga teacher film this video on how to introduce yoga back in and it is easy, and for all levels and designed to help move around your digestion http://www.myjourneywithcrohns.com/2012/11/yoga-sequence-to-help-your-digestion.html

Or you can also catch a flu like i just did and all the coughing will bring you abs of steal haha but seriously, let me know how the yoga goes, its my go to bc it is not harsh on the belly