Okay, I have always been somewhat active: bowling, walking, working in the yard, and so on. But I had stopped playing softball and other strenuous sports many years ago. Not because of the ostomy, but because of getting older, I suppose, and life being busy.
But last fall, my wife joined a nearby gym, and I joined a month later. We worked out all winter, and so when we started bike riding this spring, we found our strength and endurance much improved. The hill down the road from us seemed much less steep than last fall. Almost every weekend, we have gone on a 10 or 20-mile bike ride, and over a week ago, we began riding our bikes for the 4-mile commute back and forth to work. Combined with healthier eating since last summer, we have both lost weight also.
Out of all this, there seems to be no effect upon the ostomy except a couple of small things. As I have mentioned before, I believe the flange lasts a bit longer with the reduced weight, and perhaps the skin around the stoma is slightly improved. Also, on a different note, I think I will be more comfortable with a shorter 10-inch pouch for bike riding, so it won't interfere at all.
I will also have to be careful when summer really hits, for warmer temperatures added to the exercise may result in shorter wearing times. A small price to pay for improved health, just as the ileostomy was a small price to pay to stay alive past 35.
OMG, I just noticed my ostomy novel sold another 35 copies on Amazon in February, just like in January. I expect March sales to come out much lower. Still, very cool. I think it is a good book, and the more people who own it, the more other people (non-ostomates) might see it in their hands or their homes or at used book sales. All spreading the word about living with an ostomy.