Should you exercise when you're sick?

Howard_M_Burgerz

Do you workout even though you're sick or do you go lighter or stop until you feel better?

janejellyroll

When I'm sick, I focus on recovery.

VioletRojo

How sick am I? Is it just a head cold? If so, I'll go ahead and exercise. Anything involving the chest, stomach, or fever will having sitting on the couch until I'm better.

kami3006

Depends on the illness. If it's in my chest, then no. I eat a maintenance and rest. For a head cold, assuming I have some energy, I do lower impact stuff since it's hard to breathe and I eat at maintenance. Stomach, depends on if it's intermittent or a full on bug. Headache, I always run as it usually gets rid of it.


So, it's totally situational.

mbaker566

depends.
somedays i do somedays i don't
some illness i do, some illness i don't

also, how long have been sick because i get squirrely after awhile

HoneyBadger302

Depends on the sickness and the level of sickness.

I will avoid going to the gym, however, as I don't appreciate it when others share their sick, so I don't want to be that person, either.

Otherwise, if I'm feeling up to it, yes, I will workout. If I don't or I'm just wiped out, I don't and get some extra rest.

LivingtheLeanDream

Yep as others have said already, depends on how sick - if it's a cold I'd still workout but if something worse then rest and recover.

NorthCascades

Above the neck, I'll go out and ride anyway. In my lungs, it's rest days until I'm over it.

VUA21

Depends on the Illness and it's severity.

Stomach bug - oh hell no!!!!!

Head cold, if I feel like it AND only at home or outside alone. No going to the gym and getting others sick, that's just rude.

Momepro

How exhausted am I? Honestly that's my main criteria. If I try to push through when I feel wiped, I just end up worse, so I take that as a sign I need the extra rest.

Howard_M_Burgerz

Thanx to everyone that has responded so far. Getting a feel for the trend line. I didn't want to muddy the waters with stipulations. I'm seeing exactly what I was hoping for. I'll leave it up and see if others wade in. Thanx again everyone.

alexa0ne

I don't it is good for your health to do a workout when you're sick. For me, I will wait until I feel better before going back to doing cardio exercise.

rikkejohnsenrij

If you're contagious, dont go to the gym, thats just rude to other people. Except for that I think it depends on the illness. If you feel like you can exercise (without taking pills before hand) I dont see why not. My colds/headaches often get better if I go for a walk even if I cannot do lifting or running

Fuzzipeg

As with all things, its a case of, listen to your body. Then know when you are thinking of making excuses too. I whole heartedly agree with the coment, don't share contagions, please keep something like that to yourself because there may be others about for whom your mild contagion may be something much more serious.

rainbow198

I don't really get sick, but if I'm feeling a bit run down or if I feel like I might be catching something I don't exercise and I fast. I'm usually back to normal the next day.

For me I believe this has been the key to keeping me healthy.

hesn92

Depends on the sickness. If it's just a head cold then yes. I had a chest thing a while back and I did my strength workouts but I didn't run. Anything like a fever or stomach bug that makes me feel run-down, umm no way, I'm not doing anything.

CSARdiver

NorthCascades wrote: »

Above the neck, I'll go out and ride anyway. In my lungs, it's rest days until I'm over it.

This sums it up nicely. Similar to the difference between sore and pain. Soreness is a wonderful feeling of building and growing. Pain is your body telling you to stop, rest, and heal up.

There is no point to training while sick and you often end up doing more harm than good.

Lounmoun

I think it depends on the sickness and the exercise.
Generally I think rest and listening to your body during an illness is more important than exercise. If you feel up to taking a short walk or something mild that is probably fine. Pushing yourself to do a HIIT workout or run until you pass out is probably too much. If you are contagious then you should stay out of the shared gym until you are not.

zcb94

If I recall correctly (sadly I can’t grab a source), the quote is “Above the chest, stop and rest,” especially for a fever. (Actually, the cutoff is your neck, but “chest” allows for a better rhyme). General aches, either be gentle or press on depending on pain level. Either way, don’t do a workout requiring being in public if you think you’re contagious.

cwolfman13

Depends on the sick...if it's just a little case of the sniffles, no biggie...but I rarely get that. I'm well most of the time and when I get sick it tends to be pretty bad so I typically rest and recover as to not prolong the illness.

Liana_Ish

I’m currently sick so I have avoided the gym this whole week 😌 Can’t wait to get back

NorthCascades

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Depends on the sick...if it's just a little case of the sniffles, no biggie...but I rarely get that. I'm well most of the time and when I get sick it tends to be pretty bad so I typically rest and recover as to not prolong the illness.

What if I have Ebola? I can still do my indoor swim, right?

ExistingFish

If I have a head cold, I usually go on about as usual. I have kids, life doesn't stop for sniffles/runny nose.

If there is fever or vomiting, no.

Anything else, it just depends on how I feel. If I'm feeling particularly crappy for no known reason (getting sick? allergies? recovered but not 100%?) I might do some LISS for recovery and continuing to be active and then resume lifting a few days later.

urloved33

I do unless its a debilitating illness - intestinal issues are tough to work through but mostly a GOOD WORK OUT makes me feel better so...yes.

Sunshine_And_Sand

I typically go with the above the neck, go ahead and exercise rule, unless I have a fever. I will however avoid the gym, even if all symptoms are above the neck, if I have a runny nose or cough bc even though I clean my spin bike after use, I don't wanna be the one dripping green snot all over the gym equipment.
I may walk or do yoga at home on those days if I feel well enough to.

Xerogs

It depends, like others have said. Typically if its just bad allergies or a head cold I might scale back my workout just so it doesn't turn into something worse like a full blown sinus infection. Any kind of flu or stomach flu symptoms I don't work out and just worry about getting better and staying hydrated. You need to listen to your body though, overdoing it can make things worse especially the older you get. In my opinion, if my body is in heal mode it tends to burn through calories more than I think.

Charlene____

I had a cold the end of May. Didn't take it easy, kept up with training, and ran a 5K (actually PBed it) and found myself with bronchitis for two weeks after. Lesson learned. Skip a few days even with a cold to get better.

timpleberry

Of you are ill, your body will be working hard to restore health. If you use available resources to exercise, you risk prolonging g your illness, or making it worse.

MikePTY

it really depends. If you have a fever, you shouldnt exercise. It could make things worse, because you'll raise your body temperature. When I had a bad case of strep recently, I took over a week off. But if it's just a minor head cold, or general crumminess, you might feel better after you work out.

Mr_Healthy_Habits

I wouldn't exercise if you have body aches... Asking for strains and pulls

lowcarbmale

I usually take it easy when I have a cold.
If you're unlucky you could get Myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation). That can be fatal. Not worth it in my opinion.