The Power of Consistency: How Regular Exercise Fights Illness and Boosts Energy
Many of us have experienced that moment when we realize how quickly our bodies can decline without regular exercise. One fitness enthusiast recently learned this lesson the hard way after taking a break due to illness.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised, and that did not help me at all,” they shared. “It made my body stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes—everything pained me because of lack of exercise.”
The Quick Return of Stiffness
It's remarkable how quickly the body responds to inactivity. Just a few days without movement can lead to increased stiffness, reduced flexibility, and even pain during basic stretching exercises. This experience highlights the importance of maintaining some form of movement, even during periods of illness (when appropriate and safe to do so).
The Mental Battle of Exercise
Perhaps one of the most insightful observations shared was about the mental aspect of fitness: “It is very hard to exercise but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight, very easy to get weight.”
This sentiment resonates with many fitness enthusiasts who understand the daily discipline required to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The key advice offered was about mind over matter:
“All you need to do is to push your body, you force it. Don't let your body control you—control your body, control your mouth. When you feel like eating whatever you want, say no. Control your hunger, control your belly, control everything and force your body to move.”
Starting Small is Better Than Not Starting
An important takeaway for home gym enthusiasts is that you don't need to be a professional or lift heavy weights to benefit from exercise:
“You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. I cannot lift 10 pounds, but little by little we are gonna be fine.”
This progressive approach is essential for sustainable fitness. Whether you're recovering from illness or just beginning your fitness journey, starting with manageable exercises and gradually increasing intensity is the safest and most effective approach.
Adjusting to Your Current Fitness Level
Even experienced exercisers need to adjust their intensity based on their current fitness level. As one's fitness improves, the intensity can increase accordingly:
“When I lose weight, I'll start running at level 10. If I put it now, I will fall because of my weight. Before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12.”
The Reward of Consistency
Perhaps the most motivating aspect of regular exercise is the visible progress. After returning to exercise following a brief illness, the improvement was noticeable:
“I'm getting better. That's why I'm running today. I want to wake up my body today. I was cold before, but now I'm sweating. My energy level is coming back.”
This rapid return of energy demonstrates how responsive our bodies can be to positive changes in activity levels.
Conclusion
Whether you're managing a home gym or just trying to incorporate more movement into your daily routine, consistency remains the most crucial factor for success. Even short breaks from exercise can lead to noticeable declines in fitness, flexibility, and overall wellbeing.
The journey to better health isn't about perfection—it's about persistence. As our fitness enthusiast demonstrated, even after feeling unwell, returning to exercise helped restore energy and improve overall feeling. It's never too late to restart your fitness journey, and your body will thank you for it.
