working out and being sick

johnlatv

what is your rule of thumb with working out or not working out and being sick. Woke up this morning, didn't feel great, felt run down and sick to my stomach (still do) so i took a pass on the gym. Of course now i am second guessing myself if i made the right call. I don't want to start making excuses when i wake up early to go to the gym, cause it can become a slippery slope. I don't want all the hard work i have been putting in be wasted.

LoreleiWalks

I am all about listening to your body. I don't think it's good to push yourself when your body needs rest to heal from whatever is going on. Usually if I'm under the weather, I rest as much as possible, and as time progresses, I introduce exercise slowly. Maybe a little yoga, a short (and not-too-strenuous) walk around the neighborhood, etc. Your body will tell you when it's okay to push yourself a little harder. I have just been dealing with this myself for the past 5 days - nasty cold. Blech. Hope you are feeling better soon.

hbrittingham

Not only should you listen to your body, it's not really cool to bring your germs into the gym to share with everyone else...

kmaas802

I always heard that if the illness is from the neck up (head cold, etc.), you're okay to work out as normal. If it's from the neck down (stomach issues, etc.), best to rest. My oldest son just got over a stomach virus and this morning I felt slightly achy and nauseous. I still hit the treadmill with the intention of taking it mile by mile to see how I was doing, and ended up able to complete my target workout.

LilBee82

i've been sick for 2 weeks now. First it was in the sinuses and now it's throat and lungs. I keep getting hot and cold flashes and waves of nausea. If I am feeling like real crap, I rest. if I have some energy, I try to do a bit of strength training. I have had to work the last few days, and I don't drive I have to walk. So at least I am getting some exercise in, even if I really don't want to. Going outside though for walks has felt nice though, until I get indoors again. Then I feel gross and want to curl in a ball and sleep.

wolfchild59

My overall rule of thumb applies mostly to colds. And that's if it's not in my chest, I still work out. And even in my chest, I'll do my strength nights since its not a cardiovascular based workout.

As for anything beyond that, I take as it feels right. Mostly I still work out simply because I find that it makes me feel better more effectively than any medicine on the market. Though, when I had the full on flu a couple weeks ago, that knocked me out of working out for a few days. Combo of initial illness and then barely being able to stand and function for the couple days following. But I was back to working out pretty much as soon as I could be.

I find that if I allow myself to skip when I don't really *need* to, it becomes easier for me to convince myself to skip again.

PinkEarthMama

Says my personal trainer -

If it's in your HEAD ( runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes, etc ) - get yourself to the gym.

If it's below your SHOULDERS ( digestion, chest cold, cough, etc ) - Get yourself to the doctor instead

Pocket_Pixi

Not only should you listen to your body, it's not really cool to bring your germs into the gym to share with everyone else...

Yup, I stay out of the gym when I feel sick, its just not nice to spread my sick around to innocent people. That being said if you are feeling ok energy wise you can always do something at home - go for a walk or run or just take it easy and rest.

HoosierMomma1

I stayed home Monday feeling like i had a cold. Later rhat afternnon i felt better so i went to rhe gym. For the first time I had trouble getting through 60 min on the elliptical. I pushed through but should have stopped because by 10pm later that night it hit me like a Mack truck and all night and all day Tuesday I felt like I did when I had the flu.

I'm better but I think I'll listen to my body next time

BAMFMeredith

Says my personal trainer -

If it's in your HEAD ( runny nose, sore throat, watery eyes, etc ) - get yourself to the gym.

If it's below your SHOULDERS ( digestion, chest cold, cough, etc ) - Get yourself to the doctor instead

^^ This