The Importance of Exercise During Recovery: Getting Back on Track After Illness
When illness strikes, our fitness routines are often the first thing to suffer. After several days of inactivity, the body becomes stiff, muscles tighten, and energy levels plummet. This reality was recently highlighted by a fitness enthusiast who shared their personal journey of returning to exercise after feeling sick for several days.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and it did not do any good for my system,” they explained. “Not exercising did not help me at all, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Challenge of Getting Started Again
The hardest part of returning to fitness after illness is simply getting started. As the body begins to recover from sickness, it's important to gradually reintroduce movement, even when energy levels are low and symptoms like headaches persist.
“I still feel it in my neck, my head is aching, my nose is growing, but I will be fine,” they shared during their workout. This determination demonstrates an important principle in fitness recovery: sometimes you need to push through initial discomfort to begin the healing process.
Mind Over Matter
Perhaps the most valuable insight shared was about the mental aspect of fitness: “It is very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight. All you need to do is to push your body. Force it. Don't let your body control you—control your body.”
This philosophy extends to nutrition as well. As they explained, “Control your mouth. When you feel like eating a snack, you say, ‘No, I will not eat today's snack. I will exercise instead.'”
Starting Small and Building Consistency
The road back to fitness doesn't require professional-level workouts. As our fitness enthusiast wisely noted: “We must not be professional. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little. We are going to be fine.”
This gradual approach is particularly important when recovering from illness. The body needs time to rebuild strength and stamina. What might have been easy before illness could feel challenging during recovery.
Measuring Progress
During their workout, they tracked calories burned and monitored their endurance: “We are almost at 200 calories. Good. My energy level is coming back.” This kind of positive reinforcement helps maintain motivation during the challenging comeback phase.
The difference between yesterday and today was also notable: “If it was yesterday, I could not sustain this jogging for five minutes. It was too much.” This improvement demonstrates how quickly the body can begin to respond to renewed activity.
The Health-Achievement Connection
Perhaps most profound was the connection made between health and life achievements: “Your health is wealth. 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 as a luxury or optional activity, but as a fundamental component of a successful life—something that enables all other achievements.
The Comeback Strategy
For those looking to return to exercise after illness, consider this approach:
- Start with light movement like walking or gentle jogging
- Don't expect to match your pre-illness performance immediately
- Track small improvements to stay motivated
- Listen to your body while gently pushing its limits
- Celebrate small wins like increased energy levels
Remember that returning to fitness after being sick isn't just about physical recovery—it's about reclaiming your routine, your discipline, and ultimately, your health goals.
As our fitness enthusiast concluded: “No more laying down. I got up. I shake my body. No more lying down. No more sickness. No more headache.”
That determined attitude might be the most important fitness equipment of all.
