Exercise, crash, immunity kaput - what's the solution

vasumodi

Are some people just not meant to exercise strenuously? Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda definitely have this theory - that some constitutional typs are better off doing things like Tai Chi and Yoga rather than running.

Compared to most people, my form of exercise was MILD. 6-7 kmph, 2-3 intervals on incline, often slowing down, for about 30-40 mins daily, with a day's break once a week. Well, I don't know if it was trying to hit my max heart rate on the treadmill for 2 weeks that did it, but 5 days ago, it's like my immune system packed up.

Bad bad UTI, viral infection in the lungs and to make things worse, a dreadful allergic reaction to the antibiotic for the UTI. I started feeling kinda run down 10 days ago, switched from aerobic exercise to Tai Chi but I fell ill anyway. I have been housebound for a week now, feeling so godawfully run down. It didn't help that the antibiotic had me up all night raving and having scary tachyardia for 2 nights in a row.

I'm really bummed out. But I have lost weight during this week - which I guess one would when ill and puking all day. I'm sure my metabolism has slowed to a crawl so I'll put it all back on and more when I'm well again.

But - what's the way around this - I've noticed before that if I do as little as a brisk walk/run daily, in about 10 days something will happen to me, some ridiculous cold or attack of fatigue and then I fall off the exercise wagon. This is why I 'don't exercise' - I never settle into a routine.

Is the trick to actually just do the slow stuff, the Tai Chi, the yoga - for some people? (Meanwhile there's a really expensive treadmill that my partner gifted me, that's just sitting there...who knows when I can get back on).

TavistockToad

there's not really such a thing as 'too much exercise' if you are fuelling it properly.

opening your diary would help.

vasumodi

I've opened it - thanks for taking a look!

vasumodi

PS: I've been really ill since Saturday so haven't filled the diary - before that I was pretty regular though. Not that I've consumed much while ill - too nauseous.

TavistockToad

what are your stats to be on 1200 cals?

drxl34

I had something similar when I first got started about two months ago. I went from hardly any exercise to working out intensely everyday. After the first week I got really sick... like my immune system just died. Took me a little over a week to recover but I weened myself back into it. Now I'm working out every day more intensely and my health feels great! Sometimes it's just a lot of stress on your body when you go from 0-60 so fast. Focus on getting better, taking some walks or getting out of the house... When you recover things will start to look up

RodaRose

Do Tai Chi, & Yoga for a few months. Add some walking when you are up to it.

Ironmaiden4life

It sounds like you've just gotten ill, it happens, but I doubt it has anything to do with your exercise.

I hope you start feeling better soon as it sounds like you've had quite a time of it.

Give yourself chance to get over this then start back slowly when you feel better making sure you're well hydrated all the time.

vasumodi

TavistockToad wrote: »

what are your stats to be on 1200 cals?

I weighed 62.6 when I joined MFP and am 5'6" tall - and that's what it gave me. Tbh I've been over it half the time (was wondering how to be below, in fact).

vasumodi

drxl34 wrote: »

I had something similar when I first got started about two months ago. I went from hardly any exercise to working out intensely everyday. After the first week I got really sick... like my immune system just died. Took me a little over a week to recover but I weened myself back into it. Now I'm working out every day more intensely and my health feels great! Sometimes it's just a lot of stress on your body when you go from 0-60 so fast. Focus on getting better, taking some walks or getting out of the house... When you recover things will start to look up

Ah that gives me hope!

vasumodi

RodaRose wrote: »

Do Tai Chi, & Yoga for a few months. Add some walking when you are up to it.

That sounds like a good plan. I've always felt so *guilty* for not doing more intense exercise though. Slow and steady, I guess.

vasumodi

Ironmaiden4life wrote: »

It sounds like you've just gotten ill, it happens, but I doubt it has anything to do with your exercise.

I hope you start feeling better soon as it sounds like you've had quite a time of it.

Give yourself chance to get over this then start back slowly when you feel better making sure you're well hydrated all the time.

Thank you, definitely guzzling the water

shroodle88

Hey, I used to have similar issues: just got into cycling, or running for 3 weeks, and - bam - I would get a nasty cold, tonsillitis etc. It was so frustrating. It took me a while to realise that i need to curb my enthusiasm and build it up slowly. I now cycle to work and back (ca. 24km) 2-3 times a week and go to the gym 2-4 times a week. - But it took me ca. 2 months to build up to that. I am now surprisingly healthy, but am also taking a multi-vitamin supplement.
So, recommendation: if you think there is a link between exercise and illness, then slow down.
Hope you'll feel better soon!

vasumodi

shroodle88 wrote: »

Hey, I used to have similar issues: just got into cycling, or running for 3 weeks, and - bam - I would get a nasty cold, tonsillitis etc. It was so frustrating. It took me a while to realise that i need to curb my enthusiasm and build it up slowly. I now cycle to work and back (ca. 24km) 2-3 times a week and go to the gym 2-4 times a week. - But it took me ca. 2 months to build up to that. I am now surprisingly healthy, but am also taking a multi-vitamin supplement.
So, recommendation: if you think there is a link between exercise and illness, then slow down.
Hope you'll feel better soon!

2 months is not long at all, it's good to know it won't take me a year, for instance. (I doubt I can ever cycle 24 km though!!!). I took a saunter in the park today, way below my usual speed, short, just to get things moving. Let's hope I can build it up more slowly this time. Thanks for sharing your experience!