Fighting Through Sickness: How Exercise Helped Me Recover
When illness strikes, our first instinct is often to rest – and while that's important, complete inactivity can sometimes make us feel worse. In this personal journey, we explore how maintaining some level of physical activity during recovery can actually help restore energy and reduce discomfort.
After feeling sick for several days with minimal exercise, I experienced firsthand how quickly the body can become stiff and uncomfortable. Even basic stretching became painful – the back of my legs, my muscles, even my toes felt the impact of inactivity. This was a powerful reminder that our bodies are designed to move.
The Importance of Pushing Through
There's a delicate balance between giving your body needed rest and allowing yourself to become too sedentary. Even with a headache and congestion, I found that a gentle workout helped restore some energy and improved my overall feeling of wellness.
The key is to listen to your body while gently challenging it. You don't need to perform at your peak – just get moving in whatever capacity you can manage. This might mean a slower pace, lighter weights, or a shorter duration than your typical workout.
Weight Management Requires Consistency
As many fitness enthusiasts know, it's “very hard to lose weight but very easy to gain weight.” This reality means we must be proactive and consistent with our exercise routines. When we fall out of habit due to illness or other interruptions, getting back on track quickly becomes essential.
The mental aspect of fitness cannot be overlooked. As I noted during my recovery workout, we must “not let your body control you – you control your body.” This includes controlling what we eat and pushing ourselves to move even when it feels challenging.
Starting Small and Building Up
My experience on the treadmill demonstrates how illness can affect our fitness levels. Where once I could handle higher speeds (levels 10-12), during recovery I needed to work at more moderate levels (around 5-7). This regression is normal and temporary.
The important thing is not to get discouraged by these temporary setbacks. Remember that “you must not lift 100 pounds to see benefits – just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds… little by little we are going to be fine.”
The Reward of Persistence
By the end of my short 20-minute session, I was already feeling better. The sweating had begun, energy levels were returning, and I had burned around 200 calories. More importantly, I had broken through the mental barrier of inactivity that often accompanies illness.
Your health truly is your wealth. When you're in good health, you can pursue your goals and dreams. Even small workout sessions can maintain that foundation of wellness that supports everything else in life.
Whether you're recovering from illness or simply trying to establish a consistent fitness routine, remember that persistence matters more than perfection. Every small effort counts toward your overall health and fitness goals.
