should i exercise if i am sick?

larovers

I am on this intense workout program with my personal trainer (I finally found a trainer I love) and now starting to see results and getting in the groove of it all. I am frustrated because I work out with her intensely ( weights and cardio in gym) for an hour M, W, F and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays I do cardio only because my biggest goal is fat loss right now. Anyway, I am getting bronchitis from my allergies and am coughing up all this gunk and have a head cold too. It just came on kind of quickly yesterday. I don't have a fever or anything and feel okay but I never know if it is good to work out when your sick. I HATE being sick so I don't wan to make it worse. My personal trainer canceled on me today anyway because she is sick too but I was going to go to the gym anyway or do a home DVD like Jillian Michaels today instead....or should I rest? I hate getting off my schedule....opinions?

AsaThorsWoman

Your body will pull all of it's resources for healing, so exercise would be counter productive.

Exercise is meant to tear muscle tissue so our bodies can repair it, which makes us stronger.

I would vote to not exercise while sick.

You'll want all of your bodies resources going to fighting illness, not fiddling with building muscle mass at this time.

BigT555

i would do an at home workout, that way if it feels like too much you can stop. i try not to let sickness get in the way of my routine but sometimes its better just to take a day off, it wont matter in the long scheme of things as long as it doesnt become a regular occurance

ninerbuff

Intense workouts will lower your immunity for a short period of time. If your sick, then it's actually better to rest and recover rather than try to tough it out because you could even get more sick. It happens, and a good trainer will understand.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

MinnieInMaine

The general rule is:
Neck up, go ahead and exercise, but tone it down a bit. Neck down, rest.

Pretty much anything having to do with lung congestion or digestive issues (and therefore neck down) is already taking a major toll on your body. Stressing it further by trying to exercise isn't going to help. If you MUST execise because it'll drive you batty if you don't, do something very low key like a nice gentle walk. And drink a ton of water and hot tea today to help with that congestion.

If you were running a fever, I'd say completely rest, no question about it.

larovers

Thanks guys...just bummed out but maybe I will just take some benedryl and go sleep for a good long nap to force myself to get better faster instead...I just don't have time to be sick!