Why You Shouldn't Skip Exercise When You're Sick: A Personal Recovery Story
When illness strikes, our first instinct is often to rest completely. But as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, extended periods without movement can actually make recovery more difficult and leave your body feeling worse.
After several days of sickness with minimal physical activity, the effects were clear: stiffness throughout the body, pain during basic stretching, and an overall decline in physical well-being. “I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for myself,” they explained. “That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff.”
The Consequences of Inactivity
The negative effects were comprehensive, affecting multiple areas of the body: “I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
This experience highlights an important fitness principle: while proper rest is essential during illness, complete inactivity for extended periods can lead to:
- Increased muscle stiffness
- Joint pain
- Reduced flexibility
- Longer recovery times
The Comeback Journey
Returning to exercise after illness requires patience and persistence. Starting with light jogging on a treadmill, they noticed immediate improvements: “You can see the energy is coming back. If it was yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes.”
The transformation was evident. From barely being able to exercise the previous day to maintaining a steady jogging pace and tracking calories burned, the recovery journey showcased the body's remarkable ability to respond to movement.
Key Lessons for Maintaining Fitness
Several valuable insights emerged from this experience:
1. Mind Over Matter
“You force it. Not letting your body control you. You control your body.” This mental approach emphasizes taking charge of your fitness rather than surrendering to temporary discomfort.
2. Start Small
“We must not lift 100 pounds to be healthy. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. We cannot lift 10 pounds? Just little by little, we are going to be fine.” Gradual progression is key, especially when rebuilding strength after illness.
3. Adjust to Your Current Abilities
Acknowledging limitations while still challenging yourself is essential. As they noted about treadmill speed: “When I lose weight, I'll start running at 10… If I put it now, I will fall. Because of my weight. But I used to put seven, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven.”
The Health-Achievement Connection
Perhaps the most powerful observation was about the relationship between health and accomplishment: “Your health is what? When you are in good health, you can achieve. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”
This perspective frames exercise not merely as a physical activity but as an enabler for broader life success.
Conclusion
While rest is crucial during illness, this experience demonstrates that gradually reintroducing movement as you recover can significantly improve how you feel and accelerate your return to normal functioning.
The transformation from feeling stiff and in pain to jogging continuously and rebuilding stamina offers an inspiring reminder of the body's resilience when we give it the right stimulus—even after periods of sickness.
Remember: control your choices, start where you are, and recognize that consistent effort, not perfection, is what builds lasting health and strength.
