The Importance of Consistency: My Return to Exercise After Illness
We've all been there. You're making progress with your fitness routine when suddenly illness strikes, leaving you sidelined and feeling the effects of inactivity. That's exactly what happened to me recently, and I want to share my experience of returning to exercise after being sick for several days.
After just a short break from my regular workouts, I noticed my body becoming stiff and achy. Even simple stretches in my legs, back, and toes became painful. This was a stark reminder of how quickly our bodies can lose conditioning when we stop moving regularly.
The Physical Consequences of Inactivity
During my illness, I experienced:
- Muscle stiffness throughout my body
- Pain during basic stretching
- Headaches and general discomfort
- Decreased energy levels
- Inability to complete workouts I could normally handle
What surprised me most was how rapidly these effects set in. Just a few days without movement left me struggling with exercises that were previously routine.
Mind Over Matter: Pushing Through the Initial Discomfort
The hardest part of returning to exercise is always mental. As I began my first workout back, I reminded myself of some important principles:
“It's very hard to lose weight but very easy to gain it. All you need to do is push your body and not let your body control you. Control your body. Control your mouth.”
When your body wants to rest, sometimes you need to say no and push through. This doesn't mean ignoring genuine pain signals, but rather recognizing the difference between discomfort and actual injury.
Starting Small: My Return Strategy
Rather than jumping back into my full routine, I started with:
- Light jogging on the treadmill
- Lower speed settings than my pre-illness workouts
- A shorter overall workout duration
- Gentle stretching to regain flexibility
The key was finding the right balance—challenging my body enough to rebuild fitness, but not so much that I risked a setback.
The Mental and Physical Benefits of Consistency
By the end of my workout, I was already feeling benefits:
- Increased energy levels
- Reduced headache intensity
- A natural mood boost
- The satisfaction of burning around 200 calories
- The return of healthy sweating (after feeling cold during illness)
This reinforced what I already knew—that consistent exercise is essential for both physical and mental wellbeing.
Practical Advice for Your Fitness Journey
Whether you're returning after illness or just starting out, remember:
- You don't need to be a professional to benefit from exercise
- Start with weights and intensities that suit your current ability
- Progress gradually: “Just little by little, we are going to be fine”
- Adjust machine settings to match your fitness level
- Listen to your body while still challenging yourself
Most importantly, remember that good health is the foundation for everything else in life. As I reminded myself during my workout, “When you are in good health, you can achieve all. It's only when you're unwell that you cannot achieve your goals.”
Even if you can only manage a short workout today, that's better than no workout at all. Consistency, not perfection, is what ultimately leads to results.
