The Power of Consistency: How Daily Exercise Helps Fight Illness and Boosts Energy

When illness strikes, our first instinct is often to rest completely. While rest is crucial for recovery, complete inactivity can sometimes make us feel worse. This was the hard lesson learned by one fitness enthusiast who recently shared their experience of feeling the negative effects of missing regular workouts.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and it did not do any good for my system,” they explained. “Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my ankles, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”

Pushing Through Discomfort

Even while still recovering from illness with symptoms like headache and nasal congestion, getting the body moving again proved beneficial. Starting with a simple jogging routine helped restore energy levels that had been depleted during the inactive period.

The improvement was noticeable day by day. What started as barely being able to move progressed to five minutes of continuous jogging, and finally to a more extended workout session. This gradual improvement demonstrates how our bodies respond positively to consistent movement, even when we're not feeling our best.

The Mental Game of Fitness

Perhaps the most valuable insight shared was about the mental approach to fitness: “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. Don't let your body control you – you control your body.”

This mindset extends to nutrition as well: “Control your mouth. That's how you feel like eating everything. You say no. I will not eat today's junk. I will exercise. Just go ahead.”

Start Where You Are

For those intimidated by fitness, the message is clear – you don't need to be perfect or professional to benefit from exercise:

“We need to exercise anyhow we can. We must not be professional. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, five pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”

The Importance of Health

The experience reinforced a fundamental truth about health: “Your health is wealth. When you are in good health, you can achieve your goals. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run. We need to exercise.”

For those looking to improve their fitness, consistency matters more than intensity. Even during recovery from illness, gentle movement can help maintain mobility and prevent stiffness that comes from complete inactivity.

Whether you're tracking calories burned, steps taken, or just trying to maintain a regular exercise habit, remember that each day of movement builds upon the last. Your body will thank you for it.