Why You Should Never Stop Exercising – A Comeback Story
We've all been there – feeling sick, tired, and unwilling to move our bodies. But as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, stopping exercise even for a few days can have immediate negative effects on our well-being.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they shared. “That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my nails, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Struggle Is Real
Getting back into exercise after a break can be challenging. As many fitness experts often say, “It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to get weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight.”
The key to overcoming this challenge? Self-discipline. “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your mouth. That's why you feel like eating a snack, you say no. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move.”
Starting Small
When returning to exercise after illness or a long break, it's important to start small and build up gradually. You don't need to lift heavy weights immediately.
“We must not be professional at first. We must not lift 100 pounds or 200 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Listen To Your Body
Using a treadmill can be an excellent way to gauge your progress. The individual sharing their experience mentioned working with different speed settings based on their current fitness level:
“The treadmill has also the speed limit. Five is speed learning. And six is the speed. It also goes up to speed seven. It has up to 12. When I lose weight, I'll start running at 10. But if I put it now, I will fall because of my weight. I used to put up to seven before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven.”
The Importance of Consistency
Perhaps the most important lesson is the value of consistency in maintaining health and achieving fitness goals:
“Your health is what matters. When you are in good health, you can achieve your goals. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to move.”
Celebrating Small Wins
By the end of a short 20-minute workout, there was already a noticeable difference: “My energy level is coming back” and “We are almost at 200 calories. Good.”
This experience reminds us that our health should be a priority. Even when we're not feeling our best, sometimes a gentle workout can help restore energy and improve our overall wellbeing.
Remember – consistency beats intensity when it comes to long-term fitness success. Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can today.
