Why You Shouldn't Skip Exercise Even When You're Feeling Sick
We've all been there – feeling under the weather and using it as an excuse to skip our workout routine. But as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, avoiding exercise when you're feeling sick might actually make you feel worse in the long run.
After taking a few days off from exercising due to illness, this individual experienced increased stiffness, pain, and discomfort throughout their body. “I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system. That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff,” they explained.
The Consequences of Inactivity
The effects of taking time off from regular exercise can be felt quickly. “I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise,” they shared. This experience highlights how quickly our bodies can lose flexibility and comfort when we stop moving regularly.
Getting Back on Track
Despite still feeling unwell with headaches and congestion, they made the decision to push through and restart their exercise routine with a short 20-minute workout. The difference was noticeable almost immediately, with energy levels improving compared to previous days.
“No more laying down. I got up. I shook my body. No more laying down. No more sickness. No more headache,” they declared, noting how much better they felt after getting their body moving again.
The Mental Battle of Exercise
One of the most significant insights shared was about the mental aspect of maintaining a fitness routine: “You need to push your body, you force it. Not letting your body control you, control your body, control your mouth.”
This mental toughness extends beyond just exercise to overall health choices: “When you feel like eating unhealthy foods, you say no. I will not eat today. I will exercise. Just go ahead, control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move.”
Start Small and Build Gradually
For those who might be intimidated by intense workouts, the advice is clear – start with what you can handle: “You must not be professional. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds. Five pounds. If you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Even with a treadmill workout, they demonstrated this principle by working within their current capabilities. “If I put it now at speed 10, I will fall. Because of my weight. But I used to put seven. I used to put up to nine before.”
The Health-Achievement Connection
Perhaps the most powerful message was about the connection between health and achieving life goals: “Your health is what? When you are in good health, you can achieve. It's only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run. We need to exercise.”
By pushing through illness to maintain some level of physical activity, this fitness enthusiast demonstrated how quickly the body can respond positively, even when you're not feeling your best.
So the next time you're tempted to skip your workout due to mild illness, consider whether a gentler version of your routine might actually help you recover faster and prevent the stiffness and discomfort that comes from complete inactivity.
