Should you Exercise with Autoimmune Diseases like Crohn’s or Colitis
Can I workout with Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis? Do you have an Inflammatory Bowel Disease and wondering if it’s good to train hard? Is strength training counterproductive to healing? Do you suffer from one of the following autoimmune diseases:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Lupus
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Lyme Disease
- Fibromyalgia
I think that the first question we must ask is where are you in your healing journey. Are you experiencing symptoms? (flare state, moderate, minimum, or NIL). Once you answer this question you know where you fit in.
Exercise during a Flare Up
I would not recommend intense strength training or exercise programs if you autoimmune disease is flaring because:
- Strength training taxes your CNS (Central Nervous System) and Immune system.
- It steals energy and nutrient resources from the gut healing process
- Shifts healing from your disease to to handling immediate damage (muscle repair)
The reason we get sick is because our bodies are unable to handle the toxic load, lack of sleep, and lack of nutrients. Our body tries to keep up repairing the daily damage but is unable to keep up. When this happens the body runs a repair deficit. Doing this for months or years leaves your body toxic, deficient, and sick with a disease.
If your goal is to heal you want to reduce stress on the body so it can focus on healing. Your body will focus on healing your gut and catching up on that repair deficit.
WHEN can I workout with an Autoimmune Disease
You can workout more frequently as you advance in your healing journey. I know that it might be hard to refrain from hitting the gym in the beginning. It was hard for me to not go when I was used to going 6-7 days per week. I had the old bro mentality that rest days were for pussy’s. I was straight up addicted to working out on a daily basis.
I’m telling you from experience that your healing will happen more quickly if you workout less. This is especially true if you are doing high intense taxing workouts.
Don’t Believe Me?
Don’t worry I understand and respect your inner rational skeptic. I want you to think about a time when you got sick and you still hit the gym daily. Did you notice that your sickness was prolonged by weeks or months? You end up having a cough or cold that seems impossible to shake. I’ve experienced this many times because I was trying to man up. This mentality comes with a price which is inevitably a downfall. When you are sick it is your responsibility and main focus to get better.
So what are my OPTIONS
If you are anything like me then you probably like the gym because its makes you feel more confident, hang out with your boys, and relieve stress. Cutting down on the gym time initially can be hard but is well worth it. Here are options:
- WALK: do it everyday, try and go outside, do it somewhere beautiful. Grab a tea or coffee, listen to music or a podcast, or simply enjoy the sounds of nature. This is the easiest way to reduce stress, stay active, and minimize physical stress on the body.
- Push ups & Pull ups: Try and do a few of these every few days. They will help you increase or maintain strength without overtaxing the body. You can buy the door frame pull up bars for under 20 bucks.
- STRENGTH Training: Early on in your healing journey I wouldn’t recommend it. I can’t stop anyone from doing this, and I know what it’s like to be stubborn. After a few months of consistent healing add a few workouts per week (2-3 with a max of 4 times) You want to make sure you have a full rest day in between workouts. This gives the body time to catch up on healing and repairing your body. You also want to make sure you get no less than 7 hours sleep after workouts.
As you heal you will be able to to train with more intensity. You will also have created dietary and lifestyle habits that make it easy to stay lean and ripped. The leaner you are the more big and jacked you look.
How to gain muscle with Crohn’s and Colitis (SCREW the BRO Science)
Over the years I’ve learned so much or the so called common knowledge it complete nonsense! I do failure workouts where I achieve failure through drop sets and I never sacrifice form. I workout 3-4 times per week (avg 3 times) and I take rest days in between. More is less! I’m never sore for days with DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). I can maintain by build exercising 2 times per week but honestly I like to get out and see my dudes.
I understand I’m not a power-lifter. I workout for aesthetics, and I play sports for fun! I’m more ripped than 98% of people at the gym. I’m a lifetime natural, no steroids, or gimmicks. I’m 5’8 and I weight 170-174 lbs I can take it down to 160ish if I want to be super ripped for the summer or a winter trip. But I mention weight for reference. Weight means nothing because you’re battling the mirror to look lean and muscular. Once your healed it’s up to you to be mindful of what weight or body fat percentage leaves you feeling awesome.
The Great News
The diet and lifestyle we use to maintain remission with Autoimmune Diseases makes it’s so easy to stay lean. It takes a little bit of time with 80%+ effort to achieve a good build that you can be proud of.
When you get there, be humble. Make sure that you don’t turn into one of the obsessed fitness narcissists that we see on Instagram. I never spend my time measuring myself up to people that use gear or think that working out is LIFE. I’m kind to the people I see and remember that everyone starts out somewhere.
If your looking for help to overcome your gut issues feel free to check out my free guide.
