The Importance of Exercise in Recovery: Getting Back on Track After Illness
When illness strikes, it's easy to stay in bed and avoid physical activity. However, as many fitness enthusiasts discover, this approach can actually prolong recovery and create new problems. After several days of feeling sick and avoiding exercise, the body becomes stiff, muscles tighten, and even simple movements can become painful.
This reality became clear during a recent workout session where the importance of maintaining some level of physical activity, even during illness, was highlighted. After feeling sick for several days without exercising, the experience was telling: stiffness throughout the body, pain in the legs, back, and even smaller joints like toes became noticeable consequences of inactivity.
The Challenge of Getting Started Again
One of the hardest parts of fitness is consistency, especially after a break. As the saying goes, “It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight, very easy to get weight.” This fundamental truth of fitness requires mental strength to overcome.
The key lies in taking control: “Not letting your body control you, but you controlling your body. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control your cravings.” This mental discipline is often more challenging than the physical exercise itself.
Starting Small for Sustainable Results
For those returning to exercise after illness or a long break, it's important to remember that you don't need to be a professional athlete to benefit from physical activity. As noted during the workout, “We must not lift 100 pounds to see results. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. Some people cannot even lift 10 pounds. Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This gradual approach applies to cardio exercise as well. For example, jogging at a comfortable pace for five minutes continuously might be challenging after being sick, but it's an achievable goal that helps rebuild stamina.
Adjusting Intensity to Your Current Ability
When using exercise equipment like a treadmill, it's important to adjust the settings to your current fitness level, not where you were before your break. The workout demonstrated this principle by using moderate speed settings rather than pushing to maximum levels.
For instance, if the treadmill goes up to speed level 12, someone recovering might work at level 5-7, knowing that with consistent training and weight loss, they'll eventually work back up to higher intensities. This sensible approach prevents injury and discouragement.
The Recovery Process
The benefits of returning to exercise appear quickly. Even during a short 20-minute session, improvements in energy levels become noticeable. What starts as feeling cold and stiff can transform into productive sweating and increased energy as the body remembers how to function during exercise.
By the end of the workout, seeing measurable results like calories burned (approaching 200 in this case) provides immediate positive feedback and motivation to continue the fitness journey.
Final Thoughts
Our health truly is our wealth. When we're healthy, we can pursue our goals and dreams. It's only when illness or poor fitness prevents us from doing certain activities that we fully appreciate the value of maintaining our physical wellbeing.
Even a short, consistent workout routine can make a significant difference in recovery from illness and in maintaining overall health. The key is to listen to your body while gently pushing it forward, never remaining inactive for too long, and celebrating each small victory along the way.
