Why You Should Never Stop Exercising: My Journey Back from Illness
There's nothing quite like being sick to remind you just how important regular exercise is for your overall wellbeing. After being sidelined for several days due to illness, I experienced firsthand how quickly the body can become stiff, sore, and uncomfortable when deprived of movement.
During my recent bout with illness, I made the mistake of completely stopping my workout routine. The result? Stiffness throughout my body, pain in my legs, back, and even my toes. Everything hurt, and this discomfort was entirely due to a lack of exercise.
The Difficult Comeback
Getting back into exercise after a break isn't easy. As I found myself jogging on the treadmill again, I quickly noticed how my endurance had diminished. Just a few days earlier, sustaining a jog for even five minutes had felt impossible. But with each session, I could feel my energy returning and my body responding positively to movement again.
The Hard Truth About Weight Management
One truth that became abundantly clear during this experience is how disproportionately difficult weight management can be. As I often remind myself: it's very hard to dress nice, but very easy to gain weight. It's very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain it.
The solution? You must learn to control your body rather than letting it control you. This means:
- Controlling your mouth and what goes into it
- Controlling your cravings and impulses
- Forcing your body to move even when it doesn't want to
It's not easy, but it's necessary if you want to maintain good health and fitness levels.
Start Where You Are
An important reminder for anyone on their fitness journey: you don't need to be a professional to benefit from exercise. You don't need to lift 100 pounds if you can only manage 10 or even 5 pounds. The key is to start small and build gradually.
For example, with treadmill work, I used to be able to handle speeds up to 9 or even higher. Now, I'm working my way back up to 7, knowing that speeds of 10-12 would be too much for my current condition and weight. There's no shame in starting where you are – the only shame would be in not starting at all.
Your Health Is Everything
Perhaps the most profound realization that comes from being unwell is how central good health is to everything else in life. When you're in good health, you can achieve your goals. When you're not, even the simplest tasks become challenging.
This is why we need to prioritize movement in whatever form works for us. Whether it's jogging, walking, strength training, or stretching – our bodies need regular activity to function properly.
My journey back to fitness is ongoing, but each day brings improvement. As I felt the sweat forming during my workout – replacing the chills I'd experienced during my illness – I knew I was on the right path.
No more lying down. No more giving in to sickness. Just one step at a time back to strength and health.
