Why You Should Never Stop Exercising: A Personal Recovery Journey
Exercise is one of those activities that's easy to neglect but crucial to maintain. After several days of feeling sick and skipping workouts, I experienced firsthand how quickly the body can deteriorate. My muscles became stiff, stretching became painful, and even basic movements caused discomfort throughout my body—from my legs to my neck and back.
This experience reinforced an important lesson: it's very hard to exercise consistently, but very easy to gain weight. And once you've gained that weight, losing it becomes an even greater challenge.
Taking Control of Your Body
The key to maintaining fitness isn't waiting for motivation—it's about control. You must learn to control your body rather than letting your body control you. This means controlling your eating habits, pushing through the desire to skip workouts, and forcing your body to move even when it resists.
When you feel like indulging in unhealthy food, say no. When you don't feel like exercising, do it anyway. This mental discipline is what separates those who achieve their fitness goals from those who don't.
Starting Small and Building Consistency
You don't need to be a professional athlete to benefit from exercise. If you can't lift 100 pounds, start with 5 or 10. What matters most is consistency—doing something, anything, to keep your body moving.
During my recovery, I couldn't sustain jogging for even five minutes without stopping. But gradually, my endurance improved. I started tracking my calories burned, steps taken, and speed to monitor my progress.
Adapting to Your Current Fitness Level
Understanding your limitations is important. For example, due to my current weight, I can only set my treadmill to speed level 7, though I previously could handle level 9. The maximum is 12, but attempting that now would be dangerous. As I lose weight and build strength, I'll gradually increase the intensity.
The Importance of Health for Achievement
When you're in good health, you have the foundation to achieve your goals. It's only when health issues prevent you from doing certain activities that you realize how fundamental wellness is to everything else in life.
After just a few days of returning to exercise, I can already feel my energy levels improving. The cold sweats are being replaced by healthy perspiration, and my body is waking up from its sedentary state.
Remember, fitness isn't about perfection—it's about persistence. Keep moving, keep pushing, and your body will thank you for it.
