Exercise and Illness

bunnywestley81

Last week I was a bad bunny and only did the gym twice. Usually do 3 or 4 times a week. But had other things I needed to do and I did do extra to try and make up for it a bit.

Yesterday I went to the gym after expending much willpower and discovered I had forgotten my trainers. Was so miffed I went home and had a glass of wine in the bath instead (not just cuz of that, was the last straw of a very very rubbish day)

Today I wake up with a streaming cold, half deaf, head full of snot feeling like death microwaved from frozen. Only the microwave blew up halfway through.

Do I go to the gym? Or to bed?

I don't want to get into the habit of not going, was hard to create the habit of going!!

Have not been completely lazy, I went on my works Fat Club lunchtime walk, only 1.6 miles but better than nothing.

What does one doooooo??

DavPul

I don't understand the question

jimmmer

Why couldn't you work out barefoot?

Sounds like you wanted the wine more than the workout.

No one can help you with this apart from you. You have to find something you want to do, so you'll stick with it.

cwolfman13

The way I look at this is, "life happens"..you're not always going to make it to every workout...life happens. For me, pretty much since Christmas things have been hit or miss...first their were the actual holidays and guests to cater to...then out of town...then I fell pretty ill...then *kitten* blew up at work...then I had a vasectomy that didn't go as smoothly as it does for most guys.

Basically this is the first week since Christmas that I've hit on all my workouts...it's no biggie...life happens and I refuse to let it impact my long term goals. Regardless of all that *kitten*, I'm still signed up for a couple of endurance rides this spring...I have no choice but to get back in the saddle and ride.

bunnywestley81

At a public gym I feel that it would be inappropriate to work out in bare feet. I would also imagine there are some health and safety issues with using cardio equiptment with no shoes on.
It certainly is not pleasant using a crosstrainer in socks...I used to have one at home and made that mistake in the past.

It was more a question of should you force yourself to work out when you are unwell.

And I am never going to find an exercise I actively enjoy and WANT to do. Apart from one thing. The best I can hope for is not minding it. Rather like going to work.

cwolfman13

bunnywestley81 wrote: »

At a public gym I feel that it would be inappropriate to work out in bare feet. I would also imagine there are some health and safety issues with using cardio equiptment with no shoes on.
It certainly is not pleasant using a crosstrainer in socks...I used to have one at home and made that mistake in the past.

It was more a question of should you force yourself to work out when you are unwell.

And I am never going to find an exercise I actively enjoy and WANT to do. Apart from one thing. The best I can hope for is not minding it. Rather like going to work.

Given that exercise comes in many forms, I find that very hard to believe...and a very defeatist attitude at any rate.

Also, when you're sick you should stay out of the gym and not spread that junk around...at least out of my gym.

bunnywestley81

There are probably many things i could potentially enjoy but time and finance constraints wont allow.

jimmmer

There's two separate issues here.

If you're sick - don't train. You'll either put yourself deeper in the hole or infect a bunch of innocent bystanders.

The second issue is:

bunnywestley81 wrote: »

And I am never going to find an exercise I actively enjoy and WANT to do. Apart from one thing. The best I can hope for is not minding it. Rather like going to work.

You probably need to find an activity where the sessions are towards something. Then they'll be meaningful and you'll want to do them.

Example:

Sign up for a half marathon in 6 months. Now you have to do the training (and it'll have to be progressive) to achieve your goal

Or:

Want to learn to be able to defeat all comers in unarmed combat. Now you have a reason for stumping up at the dojo 3 times a week and improving your skills week in, week out.

etc, etc...

bunnywestley81

I do quite enjoy walking/hiking but that's all weather dependant, I'd hate it in the freezing rain for example!

I'm a sun bunny, winter makes me want to hibernate and eat pies so getting to the gym 3 or 4 times a week every week is an achievement for me.

I am trying to up fitness levels as well as lose weight as my SO is planning on biking in the summer and wants company so I'm aiming to be able to do that without embarrassing myself!

I'm bad at stopping to be ill. I go to work unless I'm practically dying as i have a totally rational fear of not being paid!

Gizziemoto

I have seen numerous articles that say if it is above the neck, working out is okay but be aware of how you feel. Below the neck do not exercise. I just joined planet fitness after thanksgiving and have been sidelined since. I have no idea when I will get there but I will.

bunnywestley81

Thats very helpful and interesting! Although i would think caution would be advisable in my current condition as breathing is an issue!

AliceDark

Don't go to the gym. Never go to the gym when you're contagious. It's really selfish to infect other people.

DavPul

bunnywestley81 wrote: »

Thats very helpful and interesting! Although i would think caution would be advisable in my current condition as breathing is an issue!

i'm still unclear on how this was ever a question

llUndecidedll

I think I'm the only one who says you should go to the gym. I feel like if you're even debating it that strongly, then you're probably in decent enough condition to workout.

I don't really care about sick people at the gym or the possibility that they'll make others sick, but I may be a bit desensitized since I'm always around sick people. I mean, you have to live your life for you, right.

jimmmer

llUndecidedll wrote: »

I think I'm the only one who says you should go to the gym. I feel like if you're even debating it that strongly, then you're probably in decent enough condition to workout.

I don't really care about sick people at the gym or the possibility that they'll make others sick, but I may be a bit desensitized since I'm always around sick people. I mean, you have to live your life for you, right.

Well, proper training is a stressor that does stuff (temporarily) like suppress immune system function. Aside from being an *kitten* and giving a bunch of people your germs, you'll likely extend your illness.

So if you want a purely self-centred reason then it'll just mean you perform in a substandard manner. If you do perform at a half-way decent level, then you'll just give your body more work to do to get better and probably be ill for longer.

So what's the point? You won't lose aerobic capacity, endurance, strength, flexibility, etc from taking a few days off. Weight loss can be continued through dietary control during the period.

Most people find that they come back after an illness fresher and with more umphh if they give themselves the proper time to recover. This is because many people normally do too much stuff to illicit the training effect they want (i.e. they are self-programmers and suck at it) and the enforced rest of an illness or minor injury allows their body to super-compensate and come back stronger.