excercise

I am running and cycling. I've not yet (five months post surgery) tried doing resistance training at all. Might be more a lack of discipline/motivation than inability to do a sit up, push up plank or squat. I would be interested to hear other's experience with resistance. Thanks.

Hi, I've had my j pouch since 2003, and I'm a very active person. I love to workout and play sports. I've played softball, volleyball, taken a kickboxing class, I rum and have done strength training (low weight) since I'm a female and mostly wanna tone. I have and do the plank regularly have taken strength/toning classes. The largest thing I've noticed is when ever I start a new routine until my body adjust I do have stomach pain and frequent the restroom. Once I adjust then I get back to normal. The main thing is just take each new routine slow and pay attention to your body and always rest a day in between. This helps with muscle recovery and fatigue. Hope his helps

I've had my pouch 6.5 years. Like Chayes, I'm a very active person. I horseback ride twice a week, go to 3 yoga classes per week, run, and do some light resistive weight training. The pouch has never affected my ability to participate in any of these activities.

The important thing to remember is to start slowly. I considered myself as starting from zero after my surgeries. I started with walking and light/modified yoga at first, gradually building up to alternating walking and running and more resistance training. I did the same with weights; I started very, very light. I've been riding horses since I was a child but a took a full year off with my last surgery. I started back very slowly.

It's important to keep hydrated and pace yourself. Your stamina will gradually return as your fitness improves. It also helps to try to empty your pouch before you start your workout, even if you don't really feel you need to go.

Are sit-ups a No No?
I see people referring to the plank.

I run, bike, do cardio classes, climb, and do light weights on my arms and legs...all with no issues. The few times I've tried to get back into ab crunching or heavy lifting, I always feel like I'm pulling something or twisting something. I'm pretty sure I have a minor hernia from years ago, but it only bothers me when I do those kind of activities. I still do core strenghening through Zumba and dance, but just not hard core ab excecises.

all through my pouch never had concerns about my gym workouts..if i feel ok(no flair) i am right in there and do not refrain from challenging any body part..i like zumba and just had to remember on hot hot days in non air condition room to hydrate myself more

I do sit ups, or something similar, on a regular basis. I also do weight training and run on occasion (not so much as in the past due to arthritis in knees). My only issue is a hernia in my lower abdomen since surgery. I worry about that from time to time although it has not caused me any problems as yet.

I was never given any limitations after recovering from the surgeries and have lived accordingly. I don't even think about my pouch when exercising. However, this has been a three year process - I didn't hit the weight room immediately after returning home from the hospital. For me, it has been a gradual process with a few false starts. But I am in good physical condition at present and continue to work on getting stronger.

My husband has had no issues with exercise. He lifts weights, uses the elliptical, hikes and yoga..

I do all kinds of exercise and weights. At one point I was doing 100 sit ups. But because of all my ab surgeries I suffer from adhesions so I cut my abs down to no more than 50 recently and that helps with blockages. Otherwise I don't even think about it.

I do circuit training six times per week and relatively intense strength training about 4-5 times per week. The circuit training wasn't an issue, but when I started off with the strength training, I hired a personal trainer that was experienced in post-surgery people to make sure I was keeping good form, particularly during exercises like weighted barbell squats and things like that. You often don't realize how much your abdominal muscles play a part in those kind of lower body exercises, and I didn't want to do too much too soon and end up with a hernia or something. It's definitely taken some time, but now I can hold planks for two minutes at a time, can squat 115 lbs and am up to 100 lbs resistance on Russian twists and a few other ab exercises. It's important to make sure your form is good, start off very slowly and increase weight and/or reps gradually, making sure that you pay attention to your body. Muscle fatigue is fine and good, but if something actually hurts, I stop. It would also be a good idea to run things by your doc as well, just to make sure he or she doesn't have any concerns with you adding resistance training at this point. Other than that, go for it!

Micheladelfina - 100 lb resistance on Russian twists! I feel like throwing up with the thought! Good on you. I'm at 30 sec planks! (And even with that I find it hurts quite a bit where the stoma had been)

I have had my takedown surgery over 13 years ago. I am 69 years old. I weigh about 154 pounds and 5 feet and 11 inches. I work out 4 or 5 times a week. I lift weights every other day. When I work on my abdominal muscles, I spend about twenty minutes. I don't experience no pain. Exercise helps me get rid of gas and speeds up my gi track a little bit. Also it helps me deal with stress in my life.

Geesh, I hope that I can get back into exercising again someday soon! With my butt pain and irritation, I can't even imagine it. I loved biking and hope to be able to ride again next year. I can't even jump around with my toddler because it hurts to jump.
Katie