Best thing to do is to consult a physiotherapist who can give you 1:1 advise on how to start an exercise program and what things to do/avoid now that you have an ostomy.  Once you learn your limitations (which are few) you will have confidence to go out on your own.  Many personal trainers and fitness instructors have no idea how to modify exercise programs for ostomates, or others who have had their abdominal muscles incised and then sewn back up.  Start very carefully and gently.  Your body has been through a huge change and you need to pay attention to its signals to rest.  Also make sure you stay very well hydrated.

Jaypea,

Thank you for the response. I live in a very small town so I'm not sure we have a physiotherapist close enough.  I know a personal trainer who has many degrees in health and wellness that I might contact.  if things don't feel right I can just stop.  I think that will be the best option for me to get back at it.  I want to do something other than walking.  

Thanks! 

15 years ago I was stupid. Ok more like no guidance so I just took it slow and did whatever I did pre ostomy. I never thought anything about stomach exercises, they were part of my routine. Now, I don't know how I feel about all this But can't wait to get back, to anything! 

Hi there, 

I do heaps of exercise - bike riding, gym  cardio machines, jogging,  bushwalking  and overnight hiking with a pack, kayaking. I do have trouble with a few things like the rowing machine - I find I that the bending over leads to leakages. But most things are ok. I think it may depend where your pouch is - i have a friend who find cycling more difficult. 

Do you wear a belt and if so which one? 

Allykat, if you wear a belt, just make sure that your bag hangs down vertically so the tabs are even. I tried using my belt when I was wearing my bag diagonally (so it fit completely in my underwear) and it pulled the flange off a little because the tabs got pulled crookedly!

Lambipie,

how do you keep your weight up if you exercise?

Ive been losing doing nothing with this Ileo 

i can't even imagine working out I'm so skinny as it is

What do you eat?

Exercise can help you GAIN weight, because it helps build muscle. You don't build much skeletal muscle just laying around.

Jan

Ally, I have an end ileo so my output isn't liquid (unless I eat ice cream or drink a lot at one time.) I hold onto food much longer with the end than the loop. I was very underweight with my temporary loop ileo five years ago and throughout my five years with my jpouch. I gained five pounds about one month after my last surgery and am holding although I eat a lot (it took me at least six weeks to feel comfortable eating anything.) I teach exercise classes to older seniors so it's not very intense, just frequent. Other than that, I take a yoga class a week. You have a loop now, right? That could be why you're having difficulty putting weight on. Jan is right, exercise helps to put muscle on. This will be hard to do if your body still feels like it's healing or if it feels the struggle gaining pounds, because so much energy goes into that. Maybe lots of thickening foods for you, or maybe you're doing that already?

I'm eating thicken foods and Ensure plus. I guess my body is still healing. I think it will be a while befire I head back to the gym Unfortunately. I'm not recovering very quickly and it's so Fustrating to be tired all the Time from simple stuff.