Working out when sick

Posts: 2,230
12/9/12 8:45 A

I am a pro at this topic. My body does not recover from viruses as fast as most people. I contracted an upper respiratory viral infection last May (over six months ago, folks!) and I am not well yet. The first six weeks I was in bed almost all day, but now I can walk, do pilates, yoga, and work about 12 hours the day at home. The other 12 hrs I am in bed. I am 55 years old.

It took me 10 months to recover from double pneumonia in 1989, when I was 32 years old. It took me two years to recover from a virus in 2006-2007. It can take me 3 - 5 months to recover from a simple cold.

How to take care of yourself when sick:
1) don't worry about getting much exercise (if any). Use your energy to get well.
2)Hydrate your body: Drink as much water as you can stand to drink and take extra showers for the steam.
3) follow your doctor's directions and orders
4) as you feel better and stronger, walk and stretch. Go easy
5) Try to maintain your weight, and do not concern yourself with losing during illness. If you lose any due to illness, try to eat well and not gain it back. (Hard to do!)

I wish everyone well, and hope no one becomes ill and does not recover like me!

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12/8/12 10:58 P

I'm getting over a cold right now but still pushed myself to workout every day despite having some congestion and the sniffles! My cold wasn't too bad, I didn't have an upper respiratory infection like you - I actually found that working out followed by a hot shower helped clear my sinuses and make me feel better. I think it depends on the illnesses. Like previous posters have said, if you're so sick you can't breathe then exercise with caution.

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12/8/12 10:04 P

I am just getting over flu . Slight cough and stuffy nose and aching joints. I have taken the week off exercise. Planned to go to yoga yesterday but I just feel so tired and think the best thing is to rest so I can get rid of this and be back to proper exercise routine. I have been walking a bit - to do chores, down to the shops etc rather than exercise walking.

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12/8/12 8:15 P

When I am sick I try to walk if this is allowed, do yoga or water aerobics or go to the sauna. If I am really sick then I just rest home.

Posts: 1,095
12/8/12 3:16 P

When I'm sick, I will generally try to do everything (workouts included) that I would normally do, unless my breathing is affected. When I can't breathe, like in your situation, I do something but maybe not all - out. So, I might follow the workout video but modify the exercises to be less intense. Or, instead of the video take a brisk walk. Or maybe just rest, if it's really bad.

Also, if you can, find some meds that work! Depending on what type of respiratory thing it is, there might be a treatment your doc can give you. If there is something going on in your lungs, that can get pretty bad really quick, plus damage your tissues which could affect you in the future. If it's just in your sinuses, there are probably over the counter medications that will clear it up.

If you breathe better, that will help you get over the infection more quickly too. Good luck!


Edited by: DROPCONE at: 12/8/2012 (15:17)

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12/8/12 3:15 P

HISMRS31,

My personal opinion is that a person shouldn't exercise if they are so sick they have difficulty breathing as a result of a respiratory infection. No one would consider you a slacker if you take a couple of days off to get over this flu/cold.

I know you want to get back into the swing of things, but taking care of yourself when you're sick IS part of a healthy lifestyle. Someone on a "diet" feels they have to exercise through illness. Someone with a healthier outlook on life knows that taking a couple of days off will not make or break their healthy lifestyle.

If you feel like you have a little bit of energy, take a walk. the fresh air will do you some good. If you're hacking up stuff only found in a Stephen King novel and you feel fatigued, then you need to lie down and rest. Some times exercise can energize us. Most times, it makes us feel worse.

When I get sick, I take a few days off until I'm better. What happens when I try to push through a cold ? I stay sick for days ! Don't let that happen. Being sick for 1-2 days is better than being sick for 1-2 WEEKS.

Listen to your body. it's telling you it needs to rest. So, take it easy. Push those fluids. Drinking hot tea with a little bit of honey will help soothe your throat. Have some soup too.

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12/8/12 3:13 P

I don't workout when I am sick unless it is just a minor cold, then I will scale back. Don't push yourself, a few missed workouts won't hurt you. Get back on the wagon once you're well!

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12/8/12 2:44 P

Ok I should make this clear, I fell off the workout wagon and am trying to get back on. So I see someone with a regular workout routine not struggling so much with this(although I could be very wrong) I have caught a respiratory thing from my kids, like last night, so I thought I would push through and do Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred..... bad idea. I got so winded I had to stop halfway through. I could hear my heart beat in my ears! ( No major medical issues and I have my MDs blessing, thats not a normal reaction for me) I can't say I'm not disappointed, I am. I can normally get through that workout nice and sweaty but not on the verge of passing out. (I work out but not regularly) I suppose until I kick this cold I am not working out :( how do yall deal with illness effecting your health routines?

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