Why Consistency Matters: How I Forced Myself to Exercise Even When Sick
Exercise is a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle, but sometimes our bodies fight against our best intentions. After feeling sick for several days and avoiding physical activity, I experienced firsthand how quickly the body can become stiff and painful due to inactivity.
The truth about fitness is brutally simple: it's very hard to lose weight but incredibly easy to gain it. This reality requires us to take control rather than letting our bodies dictate our choices.
Taking Back Control
The key to maintaining fitness isn't always about intense workouts or lifting heavy weights. Sometimes, it's simply about forcing yourself to move when everything in your body is telling you to rest. After several days of illness where I hadn't exercised, I noticed significant discomfort:
- Stiffness throughout my body
- Pain when stretching my legs
- Aching in my neck and head
- General discomfort in joints and muscles
Despite still feeling under the weather with a headache and congestion, I made the decision to get moving again with a short 20-minute workout.
Starting Small But Starting Anyway
You don't need to be a fitness professional to make progress. As I reminded myself during this recovery workout: “You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, five pounds.” The important thing is to begin somewhere.
My approach was simple:
- Force myself to get up instead of lying down
- Begin with light jogging on the treadmill
- Monitor my progress (calories burned, time, distance)
- Listen to my body while still pushing it
Using Equipment Appropriately
When using exercise equipment like a treadmill, it's important to understand your limitations. My treadmill offers speeds up to 12, but I know that's beyond my current capability. Before getting sick, I could manage speeds of 7-9, but attempting 10 or higher would be dangerous at my current fitness level.
This self-awareness is crucial – pushing yourself appropriately without risking injury.
The Mental Game of Fitness
Perhaps the most important aspect of maintaining fitness is the mental discipline required:
“Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control your cravings. Control everything. And then force your body to move. Force it. It's not easy. But you're gonna force it.”
When your body craves unhealthy food or inactivity, you must exercise the mental strength to say no. This mental fortitude is what separates those who achieve their fitness goals from those who don't.
Celebrating Small Victories
By the end of my short workout, I had burned nearly 200 calories and could feel my energy returning. Though I got tired toward the end, I pushed through to complete my planned exercise time.
These small victories – showing up when you don't feel like it, pushing through discomfort, completing what you set out to do – are the building blocks of long-term fitness success.
The Bottom Line
Your health is your most valuable asset. When you're in good health, you can pursue your goals and dreams. When health falters, everything becomes more difficult.
Even a short, consistent workout routine can make a significant difference in maintaining your physical condition during challenging times. Don't wait until you feel 100% to get moving again – sometimes, the movement itself is what helps you recover and return to full strength.
