Overcoming Sickness with Exercise: How to Get Back on Track
When we're feeling under the weather, exercise is often the last thing on our minds. However, getting our bodies moving again can be exactly what we need to recover and regain our strength. This was recently demonstrated by someone who decided to push through their illness and get back to their workout routine.
After feeling sick for several days without exercising, they experienced stiffness throughout their body. Even simple stretching became painful – from the back of their legs to their toes – all due to a lack of physical activity. This physical discomfort served as a powerful reminder of how quickly our bodies can lose conditioning when we become sedentary.
The Mental Battle of Getting Started Again
Despite still experiencing symptoms like a headache, neck pain, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to start with a short 20-minute workout. The key insight here was not letting their body dictate what they could or couldn't do, but rather taking back control.
As they eloquently put it: “It's very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain it. All you need to do is push your body. Don't let your body control you – control your body. Control your mouth. When you feel like eating something unhealthy, say no.”
Starting Small for Big Results
The workout wasn't extreme – just some light jogging on a treadmill. The focus wasn't on intensity but on consistency. They monitored their progress, watching as they burned calories and gradually built up their stamina again.
An important point they emphasized is that we don't need to be fitness professionals to benefit from exercise: “We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Adjusting to Your Current Fitness Level
They shared how they had previously been able to run at higher speeds on the treadmill (up to speed level 9), but due to their current weight and condition, they had scaled back to a more manageable level. This shows the importance of adapting your workout to your current capabilities rather than pushing too hard too soon.
The Benefits Were Immediate
Within just one day of returning to exercise, they noticed improvements: “If it was yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes without stopping.” By the end of their short session, they were sweating and feeling their energy levels returning.
Key Takeaways for Your Fitness Journey
- Even when sick, gentle movement can help your recovery
- Start small and build up gradually
- Listen to your body but don't let it dictate your limitations
- Consistency matters more than intensity
- Adapt your workout to your current fitness level
Your health is your wealth. When you're in good health, there are few limits to what you can achieve. But to maintain that health, we need to move our bodies regularly – even when it's the last thing we feel like doing.
