It’s been too long since my last visit to the gym so I decided to go this evening. I did the usual start on the cross-trainer (20 mins), followed by hip abductors, then weighted squats, and finishing with a few arm lifts with the dumbells. I think I feel better from having done all that than when I just did the cross-trainer for 35 mins. I just need to make sure I drink plenty for the rest of the evening, I don’t really want to get dehydrated tonight.
I went to the gym last night for the first time in two weeks! I only spent about half an hour there though because it’s so warm at the moment and I was worried my bag might come unstuck mid-workout. It was a good session but I’m so tired from it; it’s surprising what two weeks off can do to your fitness. Anyway, I plan to keep going every week up until my surgery then I’ll be taking a couple of months off. I’m considering going just to walk on the treadmill once I feel up to it but I don’t intend to do anything more than that between surgeries. I’m hoping this will help my recovery whilst keeping myself somewhat active without over doing it.
So, today marks 1 year since getting my stoma. It’s had it’s ups and downs, but overall it’s been the best year I’ve had for a long time.
The biggest thing I’ve had to get used to is eating like a normal person again; although I am currently keeping to a (mostly) gluten-free and reduced dairy diet, I’m still learning what foods are good and what ones are still bad. Most of the bad ones consist of foods I couldn’t eat before (such as certain fruits and vegetables) but there are some new ones (like nuts and popcorn). Still, it beats living on instant noodles, plain crisps and gluten-free cereal.
Getting back to a normal sleep pattern hasn’t been hard at all; it seems I wasn’t sleeping anywhere near enough before so I’m able to sleep fine now. Other things like doing housework and being able to go out for the day are still a little bit difficult due to a lack of energy, but I have less concern about bathroom location now whenever I leave my flat.
Another thing I’ve had some trouble with is exercise; I was warned not to over stretch or lift anything heavier than a kettle for the first 6 weeks. Because I was practically bound to my room at the hospital for three weeks, my leg muscles had deteriorated quite a bit so I had to work up to walking longer distances slowly. This also meant I couldn’t exercise much at all. After a few months, my legs were almost back to their original size and strength and my stoma nurse said I was ready to start some gentle stomach exercises. She gave me a booklet that outlined ways to strengthen my abdominal muscles in order to avoid hernias. I had a bit of a false start due to some liver problems, but I started going to the gym not too long ago and it feels good to be able to get back into a routine again.
As for what to expect in the future, I’m seeing my surgeon tomorrow morning and, seeing as the issue with my liver isn’t what they thought it was, it looks like reversal is a strong possibility. I hope to get that ball rolling and have a date for the next surgery soon. For now, I’m happy to keep baggie for as long as I need to.
I went to the gym again yesterday evening. I’m trying to go once a week and, although I’ve only gone a few times, I feel like I’m able to do more and more each time. I’ve been doing a bit of cardio in order to get my fitness level back to how it was before I got so ill, followed by crunches to strengthen my stomach muscles. I used to go to the gym two to three times a week so I’m hoping to get back to that eventually. I won’t push myself too much though, I don’t want to cause myself an injury.
I went to the gym again this morning. I didn’t stay as long as last time (only did 45 mins), but I still feel good from the work out. I tried some more stomach exercises this time but couldn’t manage a plank, maybe I will after a while though.
I went back to the gym today! It’s been over a year since I last worked out so I’m quite proud of myself for being able to last a full hour. I focused mostly on gentle stomach exercises and made sure to wear my support belt the whole time. It felt good so I’m looking good forward to going again next week.
Stoma check all done. The nurse is very happy with how the blob is looking and how the convex bags are holding up much better than the flat ones. She’s given me some information on gentle exercises that I can do at home, as well as a prescription for a support belt. I’m hoping to go back to the gym at some point but I don’t want to do anything before the nurses say I’m ready. A support belt will help and I can always get other support items if I need them.
Spoke to the IBD nurse this morning and they want to rule out infection so I need to do some samples. Typical that, now that I need to, my gut is behaving.
In other news, I was thinking about returning to the gym this afternoon. Only for a light bit of cardio to see how my body takes it, but it’d be nice to start again so I can get back into a somewhat normal routine. I’m planning on going to London Comic-Con in May and I want to be as healthy as I can for that.
I’m a little tired today but I’m gyming anyway; I had a Burger King for lunch (probably going to regret eating all that bread later) so I sort of feel obliged to do a little bit more while I’m here.
I’m at the gym, speed-walking on the treadmill. I’m not planning on doing much other than some leg weights today. I missed going last week because of my infusion but I’m not too bothered by that. I figure if I go once a week, that’s enough for now.
I was going to go to a local Halloween Fair this afternoon but by the time I get back from the gym, it won’t be worth me going because it closes at four. Still, Halloween tomorrow and me and my wonderful fiance are going Pokemon Go-ing in Portsmouth tomorrow.
What Can I Eat 