Getting Back to Exercise After Illness: The Importance of Pushing Through
Coming back to exercise after being sick can be challenging, but it's essential for your overall health and recovery. After several days of illness and inactivity, your body becomes stiff and uncomfortable – a reminder of how quickly we can lose conditioning when we stop moving.
When you've been sick, you might notice increased stiffness in your legs, neck pain, headaches, and general discomfort throughout your body. This isn't just from the illness itself but also from the lack of movement. The body craves regular exercise, and when deprived of it, it responds with pain and stiffness.
Why You Need to Push Your Body
Getting back to exercise requires mental fortitude. As the saying goes, it's “very hard to lose weight but very easy to gain weight.” This reality means we must take control rather than letting our bodies dictate our choices.
The key is developing self-discipline:
- Control your mouth – make conscious food choices
- Control your belly – don't give in to every craving
- Force your body to move – even when it's uncomfortable
Starting small is perfectly acceptable. You don't need to lift heavy weights or run marathons immediately. Begin with what you can manage – whether that's jogging for a few minutes, lifting light weights, or doing gentle stretches.
Signs of Progress
As you rebuild your strength and endurance, you'll notice positive changes:
- Increased energy levels
- Improved ability to sustain activity
- Reduced pain and stiffness
- Better overall mood
Your health is foundational to achieving your goals. When you're in good health, you can pursue your ambitions; when you're not, everything becomes more difficult.
Working With Your Current Fitness Level
If you're using a treadmill or similar equipment, adjust the settings to match your current abilities. Don't feel pressured to use high speeds or inclines if you're not ready. For example, a speed setting of 5-7 might be appropriate when rebuilding fitness, while settings of 10-12 would be for more advanced workouts.
Remember that consistency matters more than intensity when getting back into exercise. A regular, moderate workout routine will build your fitness more effectively than occasional intense sessions that leave you exhausted or injured.
The most important thing is to start moving again. Your body will thank you with improved energy, reduced pain, and better overall health. Just take that first step, and the rest will follow.
