How to Push Through Exercise When You're Feeling Sick

After several days of feeling under the weather, there's nothing quite like getting back on your feet and moving your body again. This is exactly what happened to me recently – my body had become stiff from lack of exercise, with stretching causing pain in my legs, muscles, and even my toes. Not exercising definitely didn't help my recovery.

What I learned through this experience is the importance of maintaining physical activity, even when you're not feeling your best. Today I want to share some insights about pushing through minor illness to maintain your fitness routine.

The Consequences of Inactivity

When you stop exercising completely due to minor illness, your body quickly begins to stiffen. Even after just a few days without movement, you may experience:

• Muscle stiffness and soreness
• Reduced flexibility
• Decreased energy levels
• Prolonged recovery time

This doesn't mean you should push through serious illness – always consult your doctor if you're truly sick. But for minor colds and ailments, gentle movement may actually help you recover faster.

Taking Control of Your Body

The key to fitness success lies in controlling your body rather than letting it control you. This principle applies to both exercise and nutrition:

“It is very hard to lose weight. Very easy to gain weight. All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your body. Control your mouth.”

When you feel like eating unhealthy foods, learn to say no. When your body wants to stay in bed, gently push yourself to move. This mind-over-matter approach builds discipline that serves you in all areas of life.

Starting Small When Coming Back

After illness, it's important to ease back into your routine:

• Begin with light jogging or walking
• Don't expect to match your pre-illness performance
• Listen to your body while gently challenging it
• Gradually increase intensity as you recover

You don't need to lift heavy weights or run at high speeds to get benefits. Start with what you can manage – even if that's just 5 or 10 pounds instead of your usual weight.

The Importance of Consistency

Your health is your foundation for achieving all other goals. When you're not healthy, everything else becomes more difficult or impossible. This is why consistent exercise matters so much.

Remember that you don't need to be a fitness professional to benefit from regular movement. The most important thing is to keep showing up and doing what you can, even if that changes from day to day.

As you rebuild your strength after illness, pay attention to how quickly your endurance returns. Track metrics like time spent exercising, calories burned, and your perceived exertion. This data can help you gauge your recovery and set appropriate goals.

By pushing through minor discomfort and maintaining a regular exercise routine, you'll build not just physical strength but also the mental resilience needed to achieve your fitness goals.