Why You Shouldn't Skip Exercise Even When You're Sick: A Personal Recovery Story
After several days of feeling sick and avoiding exercise, I learned a valuable lesson about fitness consistency. Going without workouts made my body stiff, caused pain when stretching, and generally made my recovery more difficult. This experience reinforced an important truth about health and fitness that many of us overlook.
When illness strikes, our natural instinct is to rest completely. While rest is certainly important, completely abandoning all physical activity for extended periods can have counterproductive effects. After just a few days without movement, I noticed significant stiffness in my legs, back, and joints.
The Consequences of Exercise Avoidance
The effects of skipping exercise were quickly apparent. Simple stretching became painful. My neck felt tight, headaches persisted, and overall discomfort increased. This experience highlighted how quickly the body can lose flexibility and how challenging regaining momentum can be.
What's particularly interesting is how this experience mirrors the broader challenge of fitness: “It is very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight.” This fundamental truth of fitness applies to mobility and overall conditioning as well.
Taking Back Control
The solution lies in a mental shift. As I learned, we must “control our body” rather than letting it control us. This means:
- Pushing yourself even when you don't feel like exercising
- Making conscious choices about nutrition
- Forcing movement when your body wants to remain sedentary
Even a simple 20-minute workout can be enough to maintain conditioning during periods of illness or low motivation. The key is consistency, not intensity.
Starting Small for Big Results
We don't need to be fitness professionals to benefit from exercise. You don't need to lift heavy weights or run marathons. Start with what you can manage:
- Light jogging for just 5 minutes
- Lifting small weights (5-10 pounds)
- Basic stretching routines
The gradual approach works. Over time, these small efforts compound into significant improvements in strength, stamina, and overall health.
Finding Your Exercise Comfort Zone
When using exercise equipment like treadmills, find settings that challenge you without overwhelming you. If setting 7 is your current maximum speed, that's perfect – work at that level consistently. As fitness improves, gradually increase intensity.
Remember that good health is the foundation for achieving all other goals. When we're healthy, possibilities expand. When we're not, even simple tasks become challenging.
The most important takeaway from this experience is simple: movement matters. Even when you don't feel your best, finding ways to incorporate some level of physical activity can prevent regression and actually support recovery.
