Overcoming Sickness Through Exercise: Why Movement Matters

After several days of feeling unwell and avoiding exercise, I discovered something important: inactivity only made things worse. Despite headaches, nasal congestion, and general discomfort, I found that returning to movement was exactly what my body needed.

The consequences of not exercising for just a few days were surprising. My body became stiff, stretching became painful, and even my toes and nails seemed to hurt. This experience reinforced a crucial fitness truth: our bodies are designed to move, and they protest when we don't use them.

The Challenge of Getting Started Again

It's remarkably difficult to dress up and exercise when you're feeling under the weather, yet it's remarkably easy to gain weight during these inactive periods. The key is establishing control over your body rather than letting it control you.

This means making conscious choices: when your body craves unhealthy food, say no. When your body wants to remain sedentary, force it to move. These aren't easy decisions, but they're necessary ones if you want to maintain your health and fitness.

Signs of Improvement

Just one day of returning to exercise made a noticeable difference. Yesterday, I couldn't sustain jogging for even five minutes without stopping. Today, I'm able to maintain a steady pace for much longer, watching the calories burn as I push through.

This rapid improvement is a powerful reminder of how resilient our bodies can be when we give them the opportunity to move and strengthen.

You Don't Need to Be Perfect

One of the most important lessons in fitness is that you don't need to be a professional. You don't need to lift hundreds of pounds or run marathons to see benefits. Starting with just 5 or 10 pounds of weight, or a few minutes of cardiovascular exercise, is perfectly fine.

The journey to fitness is incremental. Little by little, step by step, we improve. The important thing is consistency and the willingness to push ourselves just slightly beyond our comfort zones.

Listen to Your Body While Challenging It

Finding the right balance is essential. For me, understanding my limits with the treadmill has been a learning process. The machine tracks time, calories, heart rate, incline, and speed—all factors I need to consider.

Currently, I can handle a speed setting of 7, which is challenging but manageable. In the past, I've gone up to 9, and as I lose weight, I'll gradually work my way back up to higher speeds. The maximum setting of 12 remains a future goal.

This approach—respecting your current abilities while gently pushing toward improvement—is the foundation of sustainable fitness progress.

The Rewards of Persistence

Even within a single workout, the benefits become apparent. What started as feeling cold and uncomfortable transformed into productive sweating and increased energy. The body responds positively when we give it what it needs, even when that's not what it initially wants.

Remember that good health is the foundation that allows us to achieve our other goals. When we're physically compromised, everything else becomes more difficult. That's why regular movement—in whatever form works for you—is not optional but essential.

Start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can. Your body will thank you for it.