The Power of Consistency: Getting Back to Exercise After Illness
Getting back to exercise after being sick can be challenging, but it's essential for maintaining your overall health and well-being. After several days of feeling unwell, the impact of not exercising becomes painfully apparent – stiffness sets in, flexibility decreases, and even simple movements can become uncomfortable.
When you've been sedentary due to illness, your body quickly reminds you why regular exercise matters. As one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, “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… I 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.”
Pushing Through the Discomfort
The key to getting back into an exercise routine is simple but not easy: you have to push through the initial discomfort. It's about taking control rather than letting your body dictate your choices.
“It is 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. Control your body. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move. Force it. It's not easy. But you are going to force it.”
Starting Small and Building Momentum
You don't need to be a professional athlete or lift extremely heavy weights to benefit from exercise. The important thing is to start somewhere and build gradually:
“We need to run, we need to exercise! Anyhow, we can! We must not be professional as well! We must not lift 100 pounds! Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds! Little by little, we are going to be fine!”
Monitoring Your Progress
Using equipment with tracking features can help monitor your progress and keep you motivated. Modern treadmills and other exercise machines typically include features that track calories burned, distance covered, and speed.
It's important to work within your current fitness level. If you're carrying extra weight or recovering from illness, adjust the intensity accordingly: “When I lose weight, I'll start running at 10 [speed], because that way you have to pop pop pop! If I put it now, I will fall! Because of my weight!”
The Reward of Persistence
The satisfaction of pushing through and completing a workout, even when you don't feel 100%, is immeasurable. As your energy levels return and your body adapts, you'll find yourself capable of doing more with each session.
After just one session of getting back to exercise: “I'm doing better today! Doing great! I'm so glad… My energy level is coming back.”
Final Thoughts
Your health is your most valuable asset. As one fitness enthusiast puts it, “When you are in good health, you can achieve all! It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals!”
Don't let temporary setbacks derail your fitness journey. Even a short 20-minute workout can make a significant difference in how you feel and perform. The key is consistency and the willingness to push through initial discomfort to reach better health on the other side.
