Tag: Ostomy

August 6, 2017 Fitness, Health

Rebuild Your Core: Part 2 with Dr Gareth

Four point kneeling exercise

I recently spent some time with local business owner and chiropractor Dr Gareth from  Hilton Chiropractor discussing potential projects we could liaise on to help people who have recently had abdominal surgery, the most common question I get asked is can I do core workouts and if so where did I start. So this seems the obvious place to start. Note this is a two piece series.

PART 1

Training your core while on your back. This is helpful post-surgical recovery and before you do more challenging exercise.

PART 2

Training the spinal muscles while on your tummy or while 4 point kneeling…. Yes, you can do exercises on your tummy with an ostomy!

Key things to note, video and instructional videos below:

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July 27, 2017 Fitness, Health

Rebuild Your Core: Part 1 with Dr Gareth

Hilton Chiropractic

I recently spent some time with local business owner and chiropractor Dr Gareth from  Hilton Chiropractor discussing potential projects we could liaise on to help people who have recently had abdominal surgery, the most common question I get asked is can I do core workouts and if so where did I start. So this seems the obvious place to start. Note this is a two piece series.

PART 1

Training your core while on your back. This is helpful post-surgical recovery and before you do more challenging exercise.

PART 2

Training the spinal muscles while on your tummy or while 4 point kneeling…. Yes, you can do exercises on your tummy with an ostomy!

Key things to note, video and instructional videos below:

Continue reading

June 11, 2017 Fitness, Health

Post Op Core Exercise Basics

Erin Goodwin Muscle Flex

Recently I was lucky enough to get some extra time with Sally Reynolds, an experienced personal trainer and owner of Phoenix Fitness Broome when she was down in Perth to run the HBF Run for a Reason. Sally is not only a successful business owner she has endured years of ulcerative colitis later diagnosed as crohns before receiving an ileostomy a couple of days before new years 2000. Please take the time to read her full story HERE. Together we made this short post-op core basics exercise video, running through some basic to hard exercises that strengthen your core over time.

Video & Things to Note Below:
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June 11, 2017 Fitness, Guest Story, Health

Meet Sally Reynolds: Owner of Phoenix Fitness Broome

Guest Story Share

NAME: Sally Reynolds

LOCATION: Broome, West Australia

BUSINESS OWNER: Phoenix Fitness Broome

For Instructional Video on Core Basics Click HERE.

I became a Fitness Leader in 1990 when I realised that my goal of becoming a famous actress was not as likely as I’d first thought. I have worked continuously in the fitness industry since then sometimes as my full-time job and at others as a sideline.  I’ve worked as a gym instructor, centre manager, personal trainer, group fitness instructor, course lecturer, anatomy tutor and gym owner. 

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June 8, 2017 Health, Things I Wish I Knew Back Then...

Two Piece Deep Convex Bag Change with Brava Cap Trick

Brava Cap Trick - Deep Convex

Meet Squish!

VIDEO IN BLOG!

After posting on Insta and a few groups about a trick I use to seal my bag I was inundated with questions about that and various other points of my bag. So I was excited and a little nervous as I woke my husband to aid me in filming this video. Someone had asked me to do a video to explain the photograph, at first I thought that is a great idea and then my second thought was am I ready to show strangers squish? I had started this out aiming to help others by being a positive image and breaking the stigmas associated with having a stoma while educating those who are interested in knowing more. But when I began I had never thought I would be brave enough to share Squish but in the aid of personal growth and helping others I sucked it up and tada we made this video. It’s not perfect by a long shot but who is, it’s also not viewing for everyone as you will be exposed to my stoma (he’s actually not that bad-looking), so if you’re not yet ready to watch save it for later or if it’s not your thing just skip this post. Before you do though I must say you may be pleasantly surprised if you do watch, it’s not that scary after all. 

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May 30, 2017 Support, Things I Wish I Knew Back Then...

No. 4: Things I wish I knew back then…

The Amount of Support Available.

I know I have discussed this topic before but believe it belongs in my “Things I Wish I Knew Back Then…” series, as its high on my list of things I would have loved back when my journey began.  If you didn’t see it check it out HERE. I also, however, wanted to take some time to briefly introduce you to the ones who influenced my life and some up and coming ones that are inspiring me to do wonderful things. They are all amazing bloggers and ostomy awareness advocates, so if you do get the time check them out. Well worth your time. We all write differently and focus on slightly different issues with the same main aim, to raise awareness and help others along with ourselves through this ostomy life. 

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May 7, 2017 Body Love, Health

To Name or Not Name?

To name or not to name your stoma, now that is a question. There are two schools of thoughts on this topic. I am of the first one and named it within a couple of days of first becoming an ostomate and not only did I name it but I changed it to the opposite sex. While some believe that naming anatomy parts is ridiculous. I am of the opinion that if you want to name it, name it. If you don't want to, don't, that is your choice. I will, however, tell you why I named mine as I believe there could be some good mental health practices behind it.

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May 3, 2017 Things I Wish I Knew Back Then...

No. 2: Things I wish I knew back then…

Filter labels

Stickers AKA Filter Labels

As part of writing the piece on ostomy support, I joined a few of the groups I researched and one of the most common questions that I saw on my feed from a variety of those groups was what are the sheet of stickers that comes in the box with the bags? As I sit here I really can’t remember what my first thoughts were when I unpacked that first pack of ostomy supplies and saw those stickers but I’m sure it was something like the masses, what are they for and how do I use them.

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April 22, 2017 Body Love, General, Health, Support

Ostomy Glamour Shoot

If someone had told me when this journey began that I would be in a boudoir glamour shoot radiating confidence with an ostomy bag I would have laughed at them and then silently cried about it later. It was something I had on my dreams list but didn't dare to think about after getting an Ostomy. It would have just been another thing that would depress me on the list of things I thought never possible again. I hated getting naked and couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror. I had gone from never being home to shying away from all social settings and avoiding photos where at all possible. Something I only recently began to regret. There are huge gaps in my memory that photos could have helped fill. I never realised how significant a part of my life it would be given all I wanted to do at the time was forget it was happening.

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