Working out with a cold

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Should be people lay off exercise when they're sick, or is exercise (sweating, etc) good for a cold?

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  • james6998
    james6998 Posts: 743 Member
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    I honestly believe when your body is sick, you should not putting it under stress. It needs time and energy to recover quicker.
  • lmissinsanity
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    You run the risk of damaging your heart if you workout with a cold. Just not worth it IMHO.
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
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    If it's neck up and feels more like allergies and I feel fine, then I will still workout. Neck down, no way, I don't mess with chest colds. If you're really sick and don't feel well, please don't go to the gym if that's where you work out.
  • ayalowich
    ayalowich Posts: 242 Member
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    neck up rule is perfect, but really please stay away from the gym. Run, bike or do something where you aren't interacting with people. If you are sick, stay away.

    I was at the gym this morning and the one spin bike that I like using was taken. No problem with that, first come first served. But I took a different bike and proceeded to listen to the guy on the spin bike cough and hack for 11 more minutes before he finally left. I gave him an appropriate dirty look and was happy to finish the last 40 minutes of my bike w/o that kind of nonsense.
  • Amaliaoami
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    You all have a good point about the gym. Also, I'll keep that rule the neck up rule in mind. Thanks everyone.
  • CarsonRuns
    CarsonRuns Posts: 3,039 Member
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    You run the risk of damaging your heart if you workout with a cold. Just not worth it IMHO.

    You have something to support this claim?

    Neck up, work out.
    Neck down, rest.
  • PeteWhoLikesToRunAlot
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    I also subscribe to the neck up/down theorem:

    Head = suck it up and go.
    Chest = lots of liquids, hack that crap up and live to fight another day.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    IMO, you have to know your body.

    IME, if it's just a cold, I can usually sweat it out and sleep it off. If it's more than a run-of-the-mill cold, I'll generally rest, or eat least dial back the workouts significantly.

    Basically, once I have a fever and/or my balance is affected, that's when I stop. No fever, no balance issues, then I work through it.
  • w292737
    w292737 Posts: 25
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    I dont' work out when sick. I suually can't breathe well, have a fever, and all together feel like poo.