There’s nothing worse than feeling lazy and bed-ridden when you come down with a cold, or the flu. You may have a great workout routine that you need to stop simply because you feel under the weather. Before parting ways with your comforter each morning to get your workout in, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
If you suffer from cold-like symptoms, such as nasal or respiratory conditions, chances are you are ok to workout. But if you have a fever over 101 degrees, waiting until you feel better would probably be the smartest option.
Lewis G. Maharam, MD, told WebMD, “The danger is exercising and raising your body temperature internally if you already have a fever, because that can make you even sicker.”
Many think that “sweating out” toxins will help you recover from your sickness faster, but this isn’t always true. When you are sick, you need water to help rehydrate you and flush out whatever bug is in your system. The more you sweat, the more water you release. Also, the more you sweat, the higher your body temperature will get.
A tip for exercising when you’re sick is decreasing the intensity of your workouts. If you feel lazy lying around all day, hop on the treadmill or head outside for a short walk.
When sick, sleep is the best cure. Making sure you get plenty of rest, fluids and keep stress at bay will ensure maximum recovery. If your body doesn’t feel up to a workout, listen to it. Usually your body knows best. If you physically are unable to perform a workout, don’t push your body as this increases your chances of getting sicker.
The more you push your body when you are sick, the longer recovery you’ll have, making your workout routine feel out of whack for longer than you expected.
If your symptoms are above the neck, such as sore throat, congestion, sneezing and teary eyes, it’s okay to continue with your standard workout routine. But if your body physically aches, it’s time to rest.
Preventing sickness in the first place can help to avoid this situation all together. Though as seasons transition, it’s inevitable everyone will feel under the weather at some point, preventing sicknesses like the flu by washing your hands, especially after the gym, is key.
What are your tips for staying fit while sick?
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I usually don’t exercise when I’m sick. It’s just not worth it to me to prolong my sickness. Instead I rest, fuel up on H20 and green juice, and exercise my brain with some stimulating reads. Then when I’m almost better, I’ll do light activity like walking with my dog and gentle yoga.
I always work out when I am sick. I always push through. I know that I can sleep later if I need to. But generally working out makes me feel better. And to be completely honest, I actually rarely get sick because I work out so much and live such a healthy lifestyle!! Yay for healthy living.
I always wondered if it was a good thing to train while sick and always felt that it should be ok depending on how sick you are. You just reconfirmed what I always felt with this article -so thanks:)