How to Push Through Exercise When You're Not Feeling Your Best
We've all been there – feeling under the weather, stiff from lack of movement, and wondering if we should just skip our workout altogether. But as many fitness enthusiasts discover, sometimes getting moving is exactly what your body needs to start feeling better.
Taking a break from exercise might seem like the right choice when you're feeling sick, but extended inactivity can actually make you feel worse. One fitness enthusiast recently shared their experience: “I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system. That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff.”
The Consequences of Inactivity
When we stop moving for even a few days, our bodies quickly begin to feel the effects. Muscles tighten, joints stiffen, and overall mobility decreases. The person describing their experience noted that even basic stretching became painful: “I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my ankles, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
Mind Over Matter
The key to maintaining fitness consistency lies in developing mental toughness. As this fitness enthusiast puts it: “It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. 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.”
This mindset applies not just to exercise but to nutrition as well: “Control your mouth. That's when you feel like it is a shawarma. You say, no. I will not eat shawarma today. I will exercise. Just go ahead. Control your mouth. Control your belly.”
Starting Small When Returning to Exercise
After time away from your routine, it's important to ease back into exercise. You don't need to jump right back to your previous intensity levels. As our fitness enthusiast wisely notes: “You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
The same applies to cardio exercise. If you previously ran at high speeds on the treadmill, start with a moderate pace and gradually increase as your fitness returns. Safety should always be the priority: “When I lose weight, I'll start running 10 because that way you have to move quickly. If I put it now, I will fall. Because of my weight.”
The Health-Achievement Connection
Perhaps the most important insight shared is the connection between health and achievement: “Your health is wealth. When you are in good health, you can achieve. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run. We need to exercise anyhow we can.”
This perspective reminds us that fitness isn't just about looking good – it's about creating the physical foundation that allows us to pursue all our other goals in life.
Conclusion
The next time you're feeling under the weather or dealing with the stiffness that comes from inactivity, consider that some gentle movement might be exactly what your body needs. Start small, push through the initial discomfort, and you might find yourself feeling better sooner than expected.
Remember, consistency in fitness isn't about never missing a workout – it's about getting back on track as quickly as possible when life inevitably disrupts your routine.
