Working Out With an Ostomy Bag

I absolutely love to workout. It started becoming a part of my daily life while I was in college, and it is something that I truly enjoy. Working out is great because it can help relieve stress and be extremely beneficial for your mental health. Depending on the person, some people like to workout at different times of the day that best fit their schedule and preferences. I used to workout in the mornings very early before work started, but after about a year I began to feel very tired of that routine and stopped enjoying myself when I worked out. Instead, I started going to the gym in the evenings after dinner. I originally wanted to go before dinner right after work gets out, but I quickly realized that many people like to workout during this time which makes the gym super busy. So instead, I go home and eat dinner, wait for my food to settle while I relax for a bit, then hit the gym around 7:00 or 8:00 that evening. I really like working out in the evenings because it is a good way to end the day and to get some energy out.

After complications with my colon, I underwent surgery to get an ostomy in my lower intestines. This was several years ago now, and I have spent a lot of time getting my life back on track with a stoma in my abdomen. I wanted to get back to my normal life as best as I could, which meant that working out still needed to be a part of my daily routine. I went online and found as many resources as I could from people who had ostomies as well. The internet is great because you can really find just about anything on there. I made sure to look up how people were doing in regards to working out with an ostomy bag and if they had any tips I could take from. 

The most important thing people were saying in regards to working out with an ostomy bag is to do what feels right. Oftentimes, people who are really serious about their gym will try to push themselves everyday to get some serious gains by summer time in order to impress the ladies. Working out with a stoma, though, requires a lot of care and attention to how your body is feeling. You don't push yourself too hard and end up having medical complications that require further hospital visits and surgeries; do what feels right for your body and don’t do anything rash in the weight room.

One thing I read online is that people who have an ostomy are at great risk for having weakened core strength due to digestive and bladder problems that have existed for years. This means that working out your core could be very beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing if you have a stoma. Hip extensions, arm extensions, pelvic tilts, and leg extensions are all great ways to strengthen your core and have you feeling better mentally and physically. I hope this article was helpful for you in navigating your way through life with an ostomy, and I hope that you are able to get out and exercise. Remember, the only bad workout is the workout that didn’t happen!