Everytime I start a workout I get a cold

You're stressing your body by exercising, that's all. You don't get colds from going out in the cold (even when wet), you get them from germs and weakened immune systems! If you just keep at it, you'll fight off the cold and be fitter generally. Plenty of Zinc and Vit C should help, but try to get this through your diet rather than supplements. Make sure you have good rest days to recuperate and are eating enough to fuel your workouts and don't let a cold discourage you!

As an aside, have you considered that you might have allergies? I get sinus pain and a sniffly nose and scratchy throat and eyes if I run in summer with all the pollen and grass etc. this sometimes feels like a cold when it's not!

I used to get a terrible wheezing cough from running out of doors. Turns out it was asthma.

By the time I typed this and posted this post...someone else posted as well.

Also in addition to the other comments here, know that the gym or workout center, if you use one, can be a germ and/or virus laden place. Please, be sure to exercise (pun intended) with good preventive hygiene. Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth after handling anything that others have used. In addition to wiping the equipment before you use it, it is good etiquette to wipe down the equipment that you use, in consideration of others. If the center doesn't provide an antibacterial/antiviral spray for wiping, demand that they begin to provide it. Best wishes.

That happens every time I join a gym. I assume it's the combination of the stress of working out on my immune system and germs at the gym. Don't drive yourself when you're sick, but as long as the cold is not in your chest I've read it's okay to work out.

OP I'm sorry you keep getting sick but I am so glad you are talking about this. I use my elliptical at home however been sick about 5 times since last october. I really dread working out now. From colds, to coughs, to flu etc etc. It's not something I look forward to. Thanks for the tips in the thread. Hope more people will pitch in.

ps I am the main elliptical user, but my bf uses it from time to time as well. I wipe down the handles with a towel.
Should I use antibacterial wipes even though I'm the main user?

I suppose it can't hurt. It didn't help me at the gym, but those machines are used by so many people. Maybe you should ask your bf to wash his/her hands before using your equipment.

I have a few more things to add.

First, washing your hands and not touching your face (a.k.a. "Hand Awareness") go a long way towards protecting one from colds and the flu, but they will not help 100% if people sneeze on you. In at least one study of how the common cold spreads, a huge percentage of participants who got the virus as a nasal spray developed a cold (over 90%, if I recall correctly--don't have the time to look up the original study).

Second, regular moderate exercise actually boosts your immune system, and I think one of the mechanisms is stress reduction. Extreme exercise such as marathon running can increase respiratory tract infections. For this one, I actually have a reference:

http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/8164529

So, OP and everyone else--exercise!

[She said, wiping her nose. -- I actually have a mild cold right now, but it is my first in about a year. Irony, you are mine.]

Any one know if a multi vitamin or an immune boosting supplement would help keep illnesses away?

(Along with the previously mentioned stuff)

I kept having this problem. I lowered the intensity of my workouts. I originally felt like i wasn't working out but I did it more often. Eventually I as able to increase and I'm back to normal now.

Any one know if a multi vitamin or an immune boosting supplement would help keep illnesses away?

(Along with the previously mentioned stuff)

My GP once suggested taking zinc supplements. That's the only one I know of that has been shown to be effective, though the effect wasn't huge...

Going to look into that. Thanks

Thank you for posting this question and thank you all for your responses. I have the same problem and will take all the advice and see if it helps me get through this. It is frustrating because I am so energized to start loosing the weight then suddenly, three weeks go by as I recover... and I have to start all over again.

I just wanted to say this as a counter-weight to all the germ-talk about gyms. Ever touched a rail in the London tube? What about the shopping cart in Walmart/Tesco? There are many many MANY "filthy" places out there, if you need to get an idea how much, I suggest to watch an episode of "Monk". Hundreds of people use the gym and do not get ill.

It is of course very possible that due to lowered immune defenses you are more susceptible to it, but all I want to say is that you can't fight the system. Places where many people are at the same time for prolonged periods will end up with all sorts of germs and bacteria we're better off not knowing about. The answer is not to avoid it all, but rather see what you are doing beforehand/afterwards. Very important for me is to be stretched, showered and warm after workout, as well as having a meal. Anything else will result in energy loss and feeling bad.

Also, don't rule out psychosomatic stress. If other parts of your life are stressing you, you can be more susceptible to getting ill.

I have been going through a similar thing and recently had some blood work done by my GP. One thing the results showed was that I was low in vitamin D which helps boost/support the immune system. I would recommend getting some blood work done and see if you have any deficiencies and go from there. Best of luck to you! :flowerforyou:

I think it's a good idea to make sure to get full Vitamin C, etc after your workouts if recovery is an issue for you. Like make sure to eat (even drink) your fruits and veggies after you have stressed your body. Try to get the minerals, too... so a supplement may be in order (don't go all crazy now).

Is there any habit with your exercise equipment that may be causing you to be up close and personal with strange germs? Like maybe you hop right on after coming home from the Tube without washing your hands? Maybe you never Lysol your gym room door handle? I know it sounds crazy, but if your face is going to be up close to something or you are wiping sweat off your face, I think it's good to consider that like washing your hands before you eat.

I have a tendency to catch something every time I walk in a doc's office or hospital, and I have to go a lot for regular mechanical or check-up sort of stuff, so I hate it! I figured out that my purse might be part of the problem (I watch my hands carefully!), so I wiped it down too afterwards last time. That might have helped, because I actually didn't get sick. We'll see. But as OCD as it sounds, do what you have to do

Hi, this used to happen to me. Your immune system is likely out of balance. Try taking probiotics, that helped a lot. But I also changed my diet a lot, in fact I did a full elimination diet and starting taking echinacea. I now basically eat an anti-inflammatory diet and everything has been great! I did go to a naturopath initially and he put me on the right path.