Why You Shouldn't Skip Exercise When You're Sick: A Personal Recovery Story
There's nothing worse than feeling your body stiffen up after several days without movement. As someone who recently experienced this firsthand, I can tell you that skipping exercise when you're under the weather can sometimes make you feel worse, not better.
After feeling sick for several days and avoiding my regular workout routine, I noticed something alarming: my body had become incredibly stiff. Even simple stretches became painful – the back of my legs, my neck, even my toes hurt. This stiffness was a direct result of my lack of exercise during my illness.
The Importance of Movement, Even When You're Unwell
Despite still experiencing symptoms – a headache, congestion, and general fatigue – I made the decision to get moving again with a short 20-minute workout. The difference was remarkable. While yesterday I couldn't sustain even five minutes of jogging without stopping, today my energy began returning almost immediately.
This experience reinforced an important health principle: when you're in good health, you can achieve your goals. It's only when you're unable to do certain things that your goals become unattainable. That's why consistent exercise is so crucial.
Start Small, But Start
You don't need to be a fitness professional to benefit from exercise. You don't need to lift 100 pounds – start with 5 or 10 pounds. If even that seems daunting, begin with whatever you can manage. The key is to start somewhere and build gradually.
During my recovery workout, I monitored my calories burned, heart rate, and speed. Though I once could handle a treadmill speed of 7 or even 9, I had to dial it back during my recovery. That's perfectly fine – the important thing is matching your exercise to your current capability, not your past performance.
Taking Control of Your Health
One of the most important lessons from this experience is about control. It's very easy to gain weight but much harder to lose it. The solution? You must take control:
- Control your mouth and what goes into it
- Control your cravings
- Force your body to move when it wants to be sedentary
It's not easy, but the rewards of pushing through discomfort are immense. When you feel like skipping a workout, that's precisely when your body needs movement the most.
The Recovery Process
As my 20-minute session progressed, I could literally feel my energy returning. By the end, I had burned nearly 200 calories and felt significantly better than when I started. This immediate improvement reinforced that sometimes, carefully selected movement is exactly what a recovering body needs.
The next time you're feeling under the weather, consider whether complete rest is truly what your body needs, or if a gentle workout might help restore your energy and prevent the painful stiffness that comes from extended inactivity.
Remember: health is wealth, and maintaining your mobility through consistent exercise is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.
