How to Keep Exercising Even When You Don't Feel Like It: A Recovery Story
We've all been there – feeling under the weather, lacking motivation, and watching our fitness progress stall. This is exactly what happens when we take too much time off from our exercise routines.
After being sick for several days and avoiding workouts, one fitness enthusiast learned this lesson the hard way. “I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and it did not do any good for my system. Not exercising did not help me at all, but made my body stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes – everything pained me because of lack of exercise.”
The Mental Battle of Returning to Exercise
Getting back into a workout routine after illness or a break can be mentally challenging. Your body feels stiff, energy levels are low, and motivation has disappeared. But as this exerciser discovered, the key is to start small and just get moving again.
“It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight, very easy to get weight. You need to push your body. Force it. Don't let your body control you – you control your body.”
Taking Control of Your Fitness
The real breakthrough comes when you stop letting momentary discomfort dictate your actions. It's about developing mental discipline:
- Control your body, don't let it control you
- Control your mouth and eating habits
- Force yourself to move even when you don't feel like it
- Start small and build consistency
“Just go ahead, control your urges. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move. Force it. It's not easy, but it's necessary.”
Progressive Improvement
Returning to exercise after a break shows you exactly how quickly fitness can decline. What was once easy becomes challenging. The good news? Your body remembers and adapts quickly when you return to consistent training.
“If it was yesterday, I couldn't sustain jogging for five minutes non-stop. Two days ago was the worst. But today I'm getting better. The energy is coming back.”
Start Where You Are
Perhaps the most important lesson is that you don't need to immediately return to your previous intensity level:
“We need to exercise anyhow we can. We don't need to be professional. We don't need to lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds or 5 pounds. If you can't lift 10 pounds, start smaller. Little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Adjusting Intensity to Your Current Fitness Level
Be smart about how you challenge yourself. If you've been away from exercise or are carrying extra weight, adjust your intensity accordingly:
“When I lose weight, I'll start running at speed 10, but if I put it now, I will fall because of my weight. I used to be able to run at speed 7, but not 10, 11, or 12. The highest is 12, but I'm not there yet.”
The Reward of Consistency
Within just one short workout, the benefits begin to appear. Increased energy, better mood, and renewed determination all come from simply showing up and doing what you can:
“I was cold before, but now I'm sweating. My energy level is coming back. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it. I'm going to do it.”
Remember that fitness is a journey, not a destination. Every small effort counts, and the most important workout is always the one you actually do – regardless of how short or light it might be.
