Why You Shouldn't Skip Exercise When You're Sick: A Personal Journey
We've all been there – feeling under the weather and using it as an excuse to skip our workouts. But as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, taking too much time off from exercise when you're feeling sick can actually make recovery more difficult.
After several days of illness and skipping workouts, the effects became painfully clear: stiffness throughout the body, pain when stretching, and overall discomfort. “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. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Importance of Movement for Recovery
While rest is certainly important when you're ill, gentle movement can help maintain mobility and prevent the stiffness that comes from being sedentary for too long. The key is listening to your body and adjusting your workout intensity accordingly.
In this case, a light jog on a treadmill was enough to start feeling better. “I'm better today, definitely. Honestly. And definitely you can see.” The improvement was noticeable compared to the previous days when symptoms were at their worst.
Mind Over Matter: Controlling Your Body
One of the most powerful insights shared was about the mental aspect of fitness and health: “It is very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight. All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you – you control your body.”
This mindset applies not just to exercise but to nutrition as well: “Control your mouth. That's why you feel like eating something, you say, no. Do not eat today. I will exercise. Just go ahead. Control your mouth. Control your belly.”
Start Small and Build Gradually
For those intimidated by intense workouts or heavy lifting, remember that everyone starts somewhere. “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.”
The same principle applies to cardio exercise. Using a treadmill with adjustable speed settings allows for personalization based on current fitness level. While the highest setting might be too challenging now, building up gradually can lead to impressive progress over time.
Listen to Your Body While Challenging It
Perhaps the most important takeaway is finding the balance between pushing yourself and respecting your limits. During recovery from illness, it's about gently reintroducing movement while being mindful of your energy levels.
“My energy level is coming back,” was the positive observation after maintaining a steady jog for several minutes – something that would have been impossible just days before when the illness was at its worst.
Whether you're recovering from sickness or simply trying to maintain a consistent fitness routine, remember that regular movement is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Even when you don't feel your best, a modified workout might be exactly what your body needs.
