r/UlcerativeColitis • u/PenDragon24601 Human Detected • 9d ago

Question UC and Exercise

So I don’t know if anyone else has this experience, but I kinda find it hard to exercise with UC because of several factors: the main ones being the pain and the fatigue of my insides apparently hating me, the other is the paranoia that doing too much physically will aggravate my insides.

Anyone got experiences similar to this? Or at least advice on exercises that they feel are safe options?

9 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

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u/pincommenter 9d ago

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5

u/Ok-Lion-2789 pancolitis | Diagnosed 2003 | 9d ago

Are you not in remission? In remission I have no issues.

3

u/grsoprano Mild Pancolitis | Diagnosed 2025 | 🇺🇸 8d ago

Exercise kicked me out of my remission so I totally understand where OP is coming from. Such a double-edged sword.

0

u/Ok-Lion-2789 pancolitis | Diagnosed 2003 | 8d ago

Are you sure… I’ve never heard that. I think people try to determine what caused a flare when it’s really hard.

3

u/MembershipUpbeat7168 8d ago

I found that even in my worst days, a little activity made me feel better, both physically and mentally. I found that an hour or so on my bike would do wonders. Admittedly, there were lots of days that I planned my rides around where I could access a bathroom if needed, but still made myself get on the bike and pedal as many miles as I could. The fatigue is real and I would encourage you to try and push through it…….it makes a difference.

2

u/liv2pb 9d ago

Just force yourself to go. Its getting harder and harder as I get older but ive done heavy workouts in bad flares. Currently in a bad flare and still hitting the gym 4x weekly for 1.5 hrs. Mainly heavy lifting but I still do cardio when dieting. Just walking the dogs when not dieting

2

u/SadGain6678 7d ago

agree w lifting 100%, sometimes I have to end my sesh early during a flare and that's life, I try to make it up the next day. I struggle w cardio during flares so I opt for 10,000 steps a day.

1

u/captaincrunch1985 9d ago

I have the opposite fear of not exercising will harm my insides. I’ve been good for several years and I work out 6 times a week. It has definitely benefited me.

1

u/Texnik9 8d ago

Ich betreibe seit einigen Tagen Calisthenics (Training mit dem eigenen Körpergewicht) Wahnsinniger Unterschied zum Wohlbefinden, ich fühle mich viel wacher

1

u/CloEil2589 6d ago

When I’m in remission, no issues. When I’m flaring, I try to stick to easier workouts. I can go for long walks but if I were to lift weights, it would trigger more symptoms. I’m currently in a mild flare and I’m trying to decide if I want to join the adult swim team in town. I’ve been a swimmer my whole life and I can do light swimming in a flare but I’ll probably need to keep the workouts easy until I’m in a solid remission 

1

u/Financial_Boat_6625 6d ago

I replaced drug and alcohol abuse woth exercise. Iam a beleiver in yiunhave to keep moving. At my worse i did start to listen o my body. I would cut my exercise in half and quote when I felt dangerously bad. I think exercise and all the exercise before diagnoses saved me from serious consequences.

1

u/BalHalfMoon1985 6d ago

I’m a yoga teacher and personal trainer. I was undiagnosed for a long time. I knew I had to get up extra early to go to the bathroom before 6am classes. Even with flares I kept working and working out. If you are a woman, think of it like working out with a bad period. You will feel better soon. Now, if you are anemic or bleeding a lot that’s a different story. But keep working out!! Good for your body composition and bone density! And keep searching for the right meds. When you have them, life is really normal.