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Hey all,

Just a question regarding my current condition.

Ive come out of hospital in July - had my appendix out, a bowel reconstruction, and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease

In hospital i was on a fluid diet and as such lost a lot of weight...my friend told me that now it is a good idea to to start hitting the gym and building  some muscle mass as I had lost a lot of my fat due to hospitalization.

I am on my last month of anti-biotics post operation (Flagyl for 3 months), and have been having Diarrhoea on and off which may be due to this medication or due to this Crohn's disease (going for a check up in 3 months to see if i need to get further treatment to treat Crohn's Disease- have to have a colonoscopy, nice).

I went to the gym this morning for the first time in ages with him and ate a lot of steak when we returned. Driving back home from his house some of this came out watery as Diarrhoea.

My question is this- if someone has a condition which triggers diarrhoea, will i still be able to build up muscle mass or is it a lost cause? I paid 310 bucks for a gym membership but i really do not want to waste my time if my digestion system is going to be counter productive. I also have a loss of appetite which is associated with taking this medication and can also be a symptom of Crohn's Disease. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

S

Reply posted for ennocence.

Are you ready to take your fitness journey to the next level? Whether you're a gym enthusiast or just starting out, building muscle mass is an important goal for many. But what if you're also dealing with the challenges of Crohn's disease? In this blog, we will explore the intersection of going to the gym and building muscle mass while 3 in 1 adjustable dumbbell navigating the unique needs and considerations of individuals with Crohn's. Stay tuned as we uncover tips, strategies, and inspiring stories to help you achieve your fitness goals, even in the face of adversity.

 Reply posted for JimmyF.

yes it is absolutely possible...i am a gym rat myself....

read Will of Iron by Peter Nielsen.....it is very inspiring...

quick spark note.....Peter was diagnosed with chrones in his teens...said that he would never let it control him...turned to a life of fitness and nutrition...became a pro bodybuilder winning many shows...

 Reply posted for JimmyF.

Any time you have surgery in the bowel... you are never the same... the diarrhea off and on is something you just have to deal with.  I take half an Imodium tablet which slows things down.  Red meat is something to be avoided when you are not feeling particularly well, as well as dairy, high-fiber, acid foods, such as orange juice, spagetti sauce or greasy foods, and pork. 

The exercise is something you should continue, just because you need to maintain your health and try to have a normal lifestyle despite your disease.  A sense of humor and a good positive attitude will take you a long way and avoid stress if possible, the exercise is great for that. 

 Reply posted for JimmyF.

i can honestly say that my crohn's has not NOTICABLY affected my ability to gain mucle. i had a small bowel re-section back in march and since then have gained 30lbs. im currently 5'10 190lbs and fairly lean.

u need a good diet, diet is KEY and anyone who tells u different is a fool. seek help from a nutritionist at ur gym and go from there.

good luck! and let me know if i didnt answer anything well enough

 Reply posted for JimmyF.

ive had uc for 15 years.  chronic diahrea can affect your ability to put on mass due to malabsorption of nutrients.  steak is rough on the gut & can cause people to come out of remission.  it did me.  you may want to try ground sirloin or something you can digest easier but has the protein& aminos you want.  also im a certified nutritionist as well as a gym nut.  so i completely understand your ?  i added a probiotic to my diet this past week that is specifically for people with chrons and colitis & it seems to help.  im in a flare right now due to a stomach virus i had a month ago.  the probiotic is called digestive advantage chrons & colitis.  people who reviewed it on amazon.com said that it actually put them in remission after about a month when their rx did nothing.  probiotics are bacteria that naturally reside in your intestines.  antibiotics will destroy the balance of this bacteria in the gut.  the probiotic will introduce good/friendly bacteria strains in the intestines.  plain acidophilous wont work. it will probably just produce excess gas & pain.  all probiotics can produce some gas when you first begin taking them.  a daily liquid multi-vitamin multi-mineral will help energy levels.  but you need to get the diarreah under control & get in remission.  as long as youre absorbing food properly you will have the building blocks you need to put on mass.  l-glutamine which you can buy in powder form will help boost your immune system &help you recover fr workouts & surgery.  it actually is used regularly in europe post operative to help peoples cells & tissues regenerate.id add this to the diet also. mechelle

 Reply posted for JimmyF.

I'm pretty sure Crohn's has an affect on physical performance when exercising. Diarrhea will dehydrate you, so drink tons of water and some stuff with electrolytes (like Gatorade, or smart water). Since the intestinal lining is inflamed, the intestines can't absorb proper nutrients, so a multivitamin would help, and additional calcium and vitamin D (to absorb the calcium) would specifically help with muscles (how, I'm not really sure). Also, watch out for what you eat. I know that steak is hard to digest, so that may be why you didnt feel ok afterwards. Building "muscle" isnt going to make you any healthier necessarily, just as long as you stay active by running, biking, swimming, whatever. Anyway, I hope that was helpful. Good luck!

 Reply posted for JimmyF.

Let me start off by saying that I'm not a fitness expert, but I don't believe there is a connection between diarreha and the ability to build muscle. Other than the fact that diarreha will make you dehydrate faster, it isn't a factor in the ability to maintain physical fitness, at least that I'm aware of.

With that being said, as long as you make sure to drink plenty of water there's no reason at all you can't enjoy your gym membership. I have UC and suffered from diarreha and frequent bathroom trips (at least when I wasn't in remission) and I run 5-8 miles three times a week and 10-15 miles on Saturdays. I strength train 4 days a week and cross train with swimming or biking when I'm not running even during flare-ups. I just have to get creative and be near bathrooms...that's why gyms are great alternatives to being outdoors when I'm experiencing a flare-up, closer bathrooms. **I've learned to just not be embarrassed using public restrooms...just have to do what I have to do to get my workouts in**

I'm not a man, so I honestly don't build muscle easily or quickly so I can't "bulk up" because I lack the testosterone, but UC has never kept me from being strong and enjoying my gym time and continuing to get stronger.

Hope this answers your question!