Pushing Through Sickness: How Regular Exercise Helps Recovery
When illness strikes, many of us tend to stay in bed, avoiding physical activity completely. However, moderate exercise might be exactly what your body needs to recover faster and regain energy. This article explores the importance of maintaining some level of physical activity, even during recovery from illness.
After several days of feeling unwell and avoiding exercise, the effects on the body become noticeable quickly. Muscles stiffen, flexibility decreases, and even simple movements can become painful. As one fitness enthusiast discovered, “I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised… That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Comeback Challenge
Returning to exercise after a period of illness can be challenging. Your stamina decreases significantly, and activities you once found easy become difficult. However, the key is to start slowly and gradually build back up. Even a short 20-minute workout can help kickstart your recovery process.
While dealing with symptoms like headaches, congestion, or general fatigue, gentle movement can actually help improve circulation and boost your immune system. The key is listening to your body and not overexerting yourself.
Mind Over Matter
One of the most challenging aspects of maintaining fitness is the mental battle. As the saying goes, “It is very hard to lose weight. Very easy to gain weight.” Success requires mental discipline: “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not let your body control you, but control your body.”
This mental control extends beyond exercise to nutrition as well. When cravings hit, having the discipline to say “No, I will not eat that” and choosing to exercise instead is crucial for long-term fitness success.
Start Small, Be Consistent
You don't need to be a professional athlete or lift heavy weights to benefit from exercise. Starting small is perfectly acceptable: “You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds… Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This gradual approach applies to cardio exercise as well. If you're using a treadmill, begin with lower speeds and inclines. As one recovered person noted, “If I put it now to 10, I will fall. Because of my weight. But I used to put seven… Before, I used to put up to nine.” The goal is to challenge yourself appropriately for your current fitness level.
The Recovery Reward
The payoff for pushing through and maintaining some level of activity during and after illness becomes evident quickly. Within just a day or two of resuming exercise, energy levels begin to return. “I'm doing better today… yesterday I couldn't sustain this jogging for five minutes. Today I can go.”
As you continue with regular activity, you'll notice improvements in your mood, energy levels, and overall well-being. The cold sweats of fever get replaced by the healthy sweat of exercise: “I was cold before, but now I am sweating.”
Your Health Is Your Wealth
Perhaps the most important takeaway is recognizing that health is the foundation for everything else in life: “Your health is what? When you are in good health, you can achieve. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”
This perspective helps motivate consistent exercise, even when it's difficult. The short-term discomfort of pushing your body leads to long-term benefits that extend far beyond physical appearance.
Conclusion
While it's important to rest when seriously ill, gentle movement and a gradual return to exercise can actually speed recovery and prevent the negative effects of prolonged inactivity. Listen to your body, start small, and celebrate each milestone as you rebuild your strength and stamina.
Remember that fitness is as much mental as physical. By developing the discipline to control your body rather than letting it control you, you'll be better equipped to maintain consistent exercise habits through life's inevitable ups and downs, including periods of illness.
