Why You Shouldn't Skip Exercise Even When You're Sick
Taking a break from exercise when you're feeling under the weather seems like the logical choice, but as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, extended inactivity can actually make you feel worse. After several days of illness and no exercise, they 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,” they shared. “Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
Getting Back on Track
Despite still feeling some lingering symptoms like headache and nasal congestion, they made the decision to push through with a light workout. The difference was immediately noticeable. What began as a simple 20-minute jogging session on a treadmill gradually restored energy levels and confidence.
“If it was yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes. No stop five minutes jogging. If it was two days ago – no, no. It was the worst.”
The Mind-Body Connection
One of the most important aspects of maintaining a fitness routine is the mental discipline required. As the workout progressed, they emphasized the importance of mind over matter:
“All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control your body. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move. Force it. It's not easy. But you're going to force it.”
Start Small, Be Consistent
For those intimidated by fitness or getting back into exercise after a break, the key is starting with manageable goals:
“We need to exercise anyhow we can. We must not be professional as well. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Finding Your Pace
The workout demonstrated how to adapt exercise to your current fitness level. Using a treadmill with various speed settings allows for personalization based on ability:
“Five is speed learning. Seven is after that. When I lose weight, I start running 10. Because that's when you have to pop pop pop. If I put it now, I will fall. If I put 10, I will fall. Because of my weight. But I used to put seven. I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine.”
The Rewards of Perseverance
By the end of the short workout, the transformation was clear. Despite initial fatigue and lingering illness, pushing through resulted in burning nearly 200 calories and a noticeable improvement in energy and mood.
“My energy level is coming back,” they noted with satisfaction near the end of the session.
The lesson is clear: while rest is important during illness, gentle movement and returning to exercise as soon as possible can actually speed recovery and prevent the additional discomfort that comes from extended inactivity. Your health is your wealth, and maintaining it requires consistent effort and discipline.
