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Heavy Lifting & Ulcerative colitis

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Ulcerative Colitis
What should i do?
Continue doing heavy lifts? - 0.0% - 0 votes
Do bodyweight (cathletics) workout instead? - 0.0% - 0 votes
Do lightweight workout with legs? - 100.0% - 1 votes
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Posted 7/27/2017 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone!

It has always been my goal to have an athletic body, so i usually go gym regularly. A few months ago i decided to start bulking, which i started to eat alot of carbs (Get big eat big i guess) and started to do heavy lifting exercise such as squats and deadlifts. Unfortunatley this lead to have a flare up, which resulted to be put on preds to stop the bleeding. For a few weeks i was able to come off preds, so i thought it would be great to get back to the gym and start where i left off with. However that day i felt very strange meaning i felt tired (i still continued on) and after a few hours of doing heavy lifting with squats and deadlifts i had another flare up! now i had to go back on preds 10mg to stop the bleeding.

I was wondering does heavy lifting cause a flare up to occur? i know exercise is very good for UC but mabey putting the body too much stress can be abit of a problem? also if i cant do squats or deadlifts what other exericse can i do that focuses on legs but doesnt put too much stress? I hope you guys can understand ive always wanted to have a well defined Physique like ronaldo (football player). Thank you

Current medication
ASACOL 800mg (6x per day)
Cod liver oil
Posted 7/27/2017 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
It's common to flare within a few weeks after ceasing prednisone when we have an insufficient maintenance treatment for our UC. Whether you were sitting on the couch excercising your remote control muscles, or benching your body weight at the gym, I bet you would have flared the same. Coincidence on the lifting resume, I'd wager.

What we can do during a remission is limitless. Get your UC symptoms good and stable first with stronger doses and/or additional meds. And then resume lifting.

Be careful of over doing it while on pred, as it weakens ligaments. We had a poster tear a ligament from the bone lifting while on it... painful and a slow healer...
Posted 7/27/2017 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply but would you recommend lighter weights as an alternative?
Posted 7/27/2017 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't vote, but if I had I'd just agree with iPoop and say to take it easy until that flare is in the rearview mirror a bit. And when you DO ramp up, do it in a slow and controlled manner paying special attention to how you feel.
Posted 7/27/2017 4:36 PM (GMT 0)

Mr_Shoryuken said...
Thank you for your reply but would you recommend lighter weights as an alternative?

Yes, take it light and easy for a while until you know you're in a sustained remission, then go wild.
Posted 7/27/2017 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
I do sets of five, three times a week (MWF). Listen to your body--for me, doing 3 days a week is fine. Probably would be wise ease up on the pre-workout and getting really psyched up for the gym (if that's your thing). Throw in some lighter lifts or take time off if you're feeling run down any particular day, week, etc.

I don't have any experience lifting while on pred, so I can't really comment on that.

Post Edited (NostalgicCowboy) : 7/27/2017 5:21:20 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/28/2017 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I used to do three sets of five deadlifts at 125 pounds. I started having US symptoms about a month ago and haven't exercised much since then. I've had blood tests which show that my iron levels are not a concern and show nothing remarkable. Last weekend I decided to to a few deadlifts. I couldn't even lift ninety pounds more than 3 reps. It really sucked. I just take it easy and do what I can do, machines or bands mostly, so that the self-pity metre stays in check. sad
Posted 7/28/2017 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
folks on this forum can offer all kids of suggestions, but ultimately it will be your body that will dictate what it will and will not tolerate - your job is to listen to it -
Posted 7/28/2017 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Workout in a way that is enjoyable until things settle down UC-wise. I do all the big compound lifts and don't believe lifting heavy will cause a flare, but running yourself into the ground and not giving yourself recovery time could certainly could contribute to worsening symptoms. I lift during mild flares all the time. Makes me feel better mentally and physically.
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