Why You Should Never Stop Exercising: A Personal Recovery Story

Taking a break from exercise might seem like a good idea when you're feeling under the weather, but as I recently discovered, it can actually make things worse. After feeling sick for several days and skipping my workouts, my body became stiff and painful. Even simple stretches became difficult – the back of my legs, my neck, and even my toes were painful due to lack of movement.

This experience reinforced an important lesson about fitness: it's very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Losing weight requires consistent effort, while gaining it happens almost effortlessly. The key difference? Control.

Taking Control of Your Fitness Journey

The foundation of any successful fitness journey is mastering self-control. This means:

• Controlling your mouth – saying no to that tempting shawarma when you know you should be exercising instead
• Controlling your cravings – recognizing the difference between hunger and habit
• Forcing your body to move – even when it feels difficult

When you're in good health, you can achieve so much more. It's only when illness or poor fitness holds you back that you realize how much you're missing out on.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

You don't need to be a professional athlete to benefit from exercise. You don't need to lift 100 pounds right away – start with just 5 or 10 pounds. The important thing is to begin somewhere and progress gradually.

During my recovery, I started with light jogging, monitoring my endurance and gradually increasing intensity. I used to run at speed level 7 on my treadmill before getting sick, and at my peak, I could handle level 9. The highest setting is 12, which requires significant fitness to manage safely.

After just one session of light exercise, I noticed my energy returning. What started as feeling cold and lethargic transformed into a good sweat and improved mood. My body was responding positively to movement again.

The Cost of Inactivity

When we stop exercising, our bodies quickly begin to decondition. My brief period of illness-induced inactivity led to:

• Muscle stiffness
• Increased pain during stretching
• Reduced endurance
• Lower energy levels

This experience was a powerful reminder that maintaining fitness requires consistency. Even short breaks can set you back significantly.

The Path Forward

Recovery doesn't happen overnight, but each step gets easier. By pushing through that initial discomfort and gradually rebuilding your routine, you'll reclaim your fitness and feel better both physically and mentally.

Remember that health is wealth – when you feel good physically, everything else in life becomes more manageable. Don't wait until you've lost your fitness to appreciate its value. Start where you are, use what you have, and build from there.