By . Anna Hodgekiss . A bodybuilder struck down with a crippling bowel disease has become a male model - who proudly sports a colostomy bag. Blake Beckford was preparing to compete in a bodybuilding competition when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The painful condition causes inflammation and . ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon, triggering symptoms such as diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Scroll down for video . Blake Beckford suffers from ulcerative colitis. The painful condition led him to having his colon removed and being fitted with a colostomy bag but he has now become a fitness model . Doctors warned the father-of-one after surgery that he would never be able to train at the level required to be a fitness model - but he decided to try anyway . Over the next decade, the devastated 33-year-old was treated with a variety of drugs. But his condition meant he was constantly tired - and needing to go to the loo up to 20 times a day. He was also forced to give up his strict training regime - which had included two-hour gym sessions, six days a week - and lost two stone in weight as his muscle wasted away. By last October, his health had deteriorated so much that he required surgery. Mr Beckford was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for a sub-total colectomy. This involved removing his entire colon before doctors performed an ileostomy  - where the small intestine is diverted through an opening in the abdomen. He was fitted with a stoma bag on the outside of his body to collect waste. Doctors also warned the father-of-one he would never be able to train at the level required to be a fitness model. He said: 'They said to start lifting weights and training to be a physique model would be very unattainable and unlikely. 'I was warned there was a risk of hernias and other problems.' But determined to prove them wrong, he began a training regime in January, starting at a weight of 11st 12lbs. Over the last six months he has bulked up to 13st 2lbs and has just appeared in ‘Men’s Fitness’ magazine. And now a personal trainer, he hopes his progress will inspire others with stoma bags to have more confidence. He now plans to enter his first competition in the physique class of the Miami Pro UK Championships in October this year . Mr Beckford after surgery last October. He said: 'When I came out of hospital, I had to get used to having a stoma. 'I knew it was there,  but found it hard to accept the fact I had this bag on my stomach and what it did' Ulcerative . Colitis (UC) is a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the . inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel). In UC, tiny . ulcers develop on the surface of the lining and these may bleed and . produce pus. The inflamed colon is less able to absorb liquid and . this can lead to a larger volume of watery stools. Also, because the . colon cannot hold as much as usual, sufferers may have very frequent . bowel movements (six or more a day). It’s estimated that Ulcerative Colitis affects about one in every 420 people in the UK. Viruses, . bacteria, diet and stress have all been suggested as environmental . triggers, but there is no definite evidence that any one of these . factors is the cause of UC. Mr Beckford, who lives with his girlfriend in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, said: 'I am determined to show people and society that having a stoma doesn’t change who you are. 'It . doesn’t mean you’re not normal. You can achieve anything you . want to do, you can be attractive, and you can lead a normal life.' He admits that it took some time to get used to his new appearance. 'When I came out of hospital, I had to get used to having a stoma,' he said. 'I knew it was there, but found it hard to accept the fact I had this bag on my stomach and what it did. 'It was strange because I didn’t even want to show my family at first. 'It took a while to build my confidence again, to talk to people openly about having a stoma, to show anyone what I had. 'But over time I realised "this is me". 'The operation had also made me feel like a new person. My energy levels were much better and I could enjoy life more.' He now plans to enter his first competition in the physique class of the Miami Pro UK Championships in October this year. He added: 'After the surgery I remember thinking if I would be happy even if I could just potter around the garden or spend time with my friends and family. 'I never thought I would be able to get in this shape and be competing for the first time.'
Blake Beckford, 33, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2003 .
Painful condition stopped him from training and being a bodybuilder .
By last October he needed surgery to remove his entire colon .
Was fitted with a stoma - a colostomy bag - to collect waste .
Doctors warned him that training could cause injuries such as hernias .
But determined to shape up, went back to gym and is now personal trainer .
Father-of-one said: 'I am determined to show people and society that having a stoma doesn’t change who you are'
By . Anna Hodgekiss . A bodybuilder struck down with a crippling bowel disease has become a male model - who proudly sports a colostomy bag. Blake Beckford was preparing to compete in a bodybuilding competition when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The painful condition causes inflammation and . ulceration of the inner lining of the rectum and colon, triggering symptoms such as diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Scroll down for video . Blake Beckford suffers from ulcerative colitis. The painful condition led him to having his colon removed and being fitted with a colostomy bag but he has now become a fitness model . Doctors warned the father-of-one after surgery that he would never be able to train at the level required to be a fitness model - but he decided to try anyway . Over the next decade, the devastated 33-year-old was treated with a variety of drugs. But his condition meant he was constantly tired - and needing to go to the loo up to 20 times a day. He was also forced to give up his strict training regime - which had included two-hour gym sessions, six days a week - and lost two stone in weight as his muscle wasted away. By last October, his health had deteriorated so much that he required surgery. Mr Beckford was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for a sub-total colectomy. This involved removing his entire colon before doctors performed an ileostomy  - where the small intestine is diverted through an opening in the abdomen. He was fitted with a stoma bag on the outside of his body to collect waste. Doctors also warned the father-of-one he would never be able to train at the level required to be a fitness model. He said: 'They said to start lifting weights and training to be a physique model would be very unattainable and unlikely. 'I was warned there was a risk of hernias and other problems.' But determined to prove them wrong, he began a training regime in January, starting at a weight of 11st 12lbs. Over the last six months he has bulked up to 13st 2lbs and has just appeared in ‘Men’s Fitness’ magazine. And now a personal trainer, he hopes his progress will inspire others with stoma bags to have more confidence. He now plans to enter his first competition in the physique class of the Miami Pro UK Championships in October this year . Mr Beckford after surgery last October. He said: 'When I came out of hospital, I had to get used to having a stoma. 'I knew it was there,  but found it hard to accept the fact I had this bag on my stomach and what it did' Ulcerative . Colitis (UC) is a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the . inner lining of the rectum and colon (the large bowel). In UC, tiny . ulcers develop on the surface of the lining and these may bleed and . produce pus. The inflamed colon is less able to absorb liquid and . this can lead to a larger volume of watery stools. Also, because the . colon cannot hold as much as usual, sufferers may have very frequent . bowel movements (six or more a day). It’s estimated that Ulcerative Colitis affects about one in every 420 people in the UK. Viruses, . bacteria, diet and stress have all been suggested as environmental . triggers, but there is no definite evidence that any one of these . factors is the cause of UC. Mr Beckford, who lives with his girlfriend in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, said: 'I am determined to show people and society that having a stoma doesn’t change who you are. 'It . doesn’t mean you’re not normal. You can achieve anything you . want to do, you can be attractive, and you can lead a normal life.' He admits that it took some time to get used to his new appearance. 'When I came out of hospital, I had to get used to having a stoma,' he said. 'I knew it was there, but found it hard to accept the fact I had this bag on my stomach and what it did. 'It was strange because I didn’t even want to show my family at first. 'It took a while to build my confidence again, to talk to people openly about having a stoma, to show anyone what I had. 'But over time I realised "this is me". 'The operation had also made me feel like a new person. My energy levels were much better and I could enjoy life more.' He now plans to enter his first competition in the physique class of the Miami Pro UK Championships in October this year. He added: 'After the surgery I remember thinking if I would be happy even if I could just potter around the garden or spend time with my friends and family. 'I never thought I would be able to get in this shape and be competing for the first time.'
bodybuilding competition when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The painful condition from ulcerative colitis. The painful condition led him to having his colon removed and being fitted with a colostomy bag but he has now become weight as his muscle wasted away. By last body to collect waste. Doctors also warned the Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, said: 'I am determined to show people and society that having a stoma doesn’t change who you are. 'It . doesn’t