The Importance of Staying Active Even When You're Sick
We've all been there – feeling under the weather, lacking energy, and wanting nothing more than to stay in bed. But as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, complete inactivity during illness can actually make you feel worse.
After being sick for several days without exercising, they experienced increased stiffness, pain when stretching their legs, back, and even down to their toes. The lack of movement had taken its toll, making recovery even more challenging.
Getting Back in Motion
Despite still feeling symptoms like headache, neck pain, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to start moving again with a gentle workout. This wasn't about pushing to extreme limits, but rather reintroducing activity to help the body recover.
“It's very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight,” they noted during their session. This simple truth highlights why consistency matters so much in fitness – even short breaks can set us back.
Mind Over Matter
The key message that emerged from this experience was about mental discipline:
- “Control your body, don't let your body control you”
- “Control your mouth, control your belly”
- “Force your body to move – it's not easy, but you're going to force it”
This mindset proved effective, as they were able to sustain jogging for significantly longer than they could have just a day or two earlier when symptoms were at their worst.
Start Where You Are
One of the most encouraging aspects of this approach is the emphasis on starting wherever you are in your fitness journey:
“We must not be professional. We must not lift 200 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. Little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This progressive approach is exactly what makes fitness sustainable for the long term.
Listen to Your Body
While pushing through mild illness can sometimes help recovery, it's important to monitor your energy levels and adjust accordingly. In this case, they maintained a moderate pace on their treadmill rather than pushing to higher speeds they had previously used.
Starting at a comfortable level (speeds 2-5) rather than pushing to maximum levels (10-12) allowed for a productive workout without overexertion.
The Reward of Perseverance
By the end of the short 20-minute session, energy levels were noticeably improved. “My energy level is coming back,” they observed, having burned nearly 200 calories and broken a good sweat.
This experience reinforces what research has long suggested: while rest is important during illness, gentle movement can often speed recovery and prevent the secondary problems that come from extended inactivity.
The Bottom Line
Your health is your foundation for achieving all other goals. When you're feeling under the weather, complete inactivity might seem appealing, but it can lead to stiffness, muscle soreness, and a longer recovery period.
Consider gentle movement like walking, light jogging, or basic stretching to maintain mobility and circulation when you're not at your best. Just remember to listen to your body and scale back intensity as needed.
