Why You Should Never Stop Exercising: A Personal Recovery Story
We all know how challenging it can be to maintain a consistent workout routine. But what happens when you stop exercising altogether? One fitness enthusiast recently discovered the hard way that even a brief pause in physical activity can have significant consequences.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my sister,” they shared. “Not exercising did not help me at all, but made my body stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my nails, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Importance of Consistency
This experience highlights a crucial lesson for all fitness enthusiasts: consistency matters. Even during times of illness or low energy, finding ways to incorporate gentle movement can prevent the stiffness and discomfort that comes from complete inactivity.
When returning to exercise after a brief illness, starting slow is key. In this case, a 20-minute workout was enough to begin rebuilding strength and endurance. Despite still feeling some symptoms (“I still feel her neck, my head is aching me, my nose is growing”), the workout provided immediate benefits.
Mind Over Matter
Perhaps the most valuable insight from this experience is the importance of mental discipline in fitness. As the individual noted: “It is very hard to dress nice. But very easy to get weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight. All you need to do is to push your body.”
This highlights a fundamental truth about fitness: it requires conscious control and discipline. “Control your mouth. That's why you feel like it is Shawarma. You said no. I will not eat today Shawarma. I will exercise. Just go ahead. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move. Force it. It's not easy. But you're gonna force it.”
Progressive Improvement
The recovery process demonstrated clear progression: “If it goes yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes. If it goes two days ago, that was the worst.”
This gradual improvement reinforces the idea that fitness is a journey, not an overnight transformation. The individual also emphasized that fitness is accessible to everyone, regardless of their starting point: “We must not be professional as well. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds. Five pounds. Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Adjusting Intensity Based on Fitness Level
Another important aspect of sustainable fitness is adjusting workout intensity to match your current ability. The individual described how they modified their treadmill settings based on their fitness level: “Five is speed running. And since it's the, it's also speed on seven. When I lose weight, I'll start running 10.”
This progressive approach prevents injury and builds sustainable habits: “Before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12. 12 is the highest.”
The Bottom Line
Your health is your greatest asset. As the fitness enthusiast wisely noted, “When you are in good health, you cannot achieve all. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”
Even after just a short workout, the benefits were clear: “I was cold now, but now I'm sweating” – a sign that the body was warming up and energy was returning.
Remember, consistency is key in any fitness journey. Even short, regular workouts can help maintain your progress and prevent the stiffness and discomfort that comes from complete inactivity.
