The Importance of Consistency in Exercise, Even When You're Sick
We've all been there – feeling under the weather and using it as an excuse to skip our workouts. But as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, taking extended breaks from exercise can actually make you feel worse.
After feeling sick for several days and avoiding exercise, this individual experienced stiffness throughout their body. Even basic stretching became painful – the back of their legs, nails, and toes all caused discomfort due to the lack of physical activity.
Getting Back on Track
Despite still feeling symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to push through with a short 20-minute workout. This determination highlights an important principle in fitness: consistency matters, even when conditions aren't ideal.
“It is very hard to lose weight but very easy to gain weight,” they noted during their workout. This simple truth resonates with many fitness journeys – the path to results requires persistent effort.
Mind Over Matter
The mental aspect of fitness was emphasized throughout the workout: “All you need to do is push your body. Force it. Don't let your body control you – control your body.” This includes controlling eating habits, cravings, and the desire to remain sedentary when feeling unwell.
This approach doesn't mean pushing through serious illness or injury, but rather recognizing when we're using minor discomfort as an excuse to avoid beneficial activity.
Start Small and Build
An encouraging message for beginners emerged from the workout: “We must not be professional. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds or 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just [start] little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This progressive approach to fitness is sustainable and accessible to everyone, regardless of current fitness level or experience.
Using Equipment Appropriately
The workout included using a treadmill with attention to different settings. Starting with lower speeds (levels 2-5) while working up to higher intensities (levels 7-12) demonstrates proper exercise progression. Recognizing limitations based on current fitness is important – as they mentioned, they once used level 9 but currently stick to level 7.
The Reward of Persistence
By the end of the short workout, positive results were already noticeable: “My energy level is coming back.” This quick return on investment is one of the most motivating aspects of consistent exercise – even a brief session can boost energy, mood, and confidence.
Next time you're feeling under the weather, consider whether a gentle workout might actually help rather than hinder your recovery. As always, listen to your body, but don't be afraid to challenge it when appropriate.
