Exercising when sick?

AeternityMiserealis
AeternityMiserealis Posts: 27 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
:S I just contracted a cold as well as the annoying things that come with it - a sore throat, stuffy nose, watery eyes, the whole lot. Haven't been coughing or anything too serious though.

I've been jogging about 60 min as workouts, but today I feel lethargic and just want to head to bed.

I can bite down and take it, but it's 20 degrees outside and last time I went running and came back in, I couldn't feel my thighs lol.

Do y'all still run when you're sick and it's cold outside? Or do you just wait for your illness to subside before you continue your work outs?

Replies

  • Jacqson84
    Jacqson84 Posts: 189 Member
    I'd advise you to wait until you've recovered and feel strong enough to put your body through that. Listen to your body! If it says it's time to shut down, do so! Once you've fully recovered and your immune system is back on track, you can then pound the pavement.

    Since I usually workout at the gym, it's common courtesy to not go when you're sick; because handling dumbbells with a runny nose is just gross.

    Best of luck!
  • ponycyndi
    ponycyndi Posts: 858 Member
    Agreed. Stay out of the gym for the sake of others. Stay out of the cold for your own sake.

    If you must, do something easy at home, like yoga or light cardio. I'd highly recommend rest though, you'll be well sooner.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    When you are sick, you should rest. Then when you are better, you can start working out again. It does your body no good to overload it when it is trying to fight a virus.


    Note: Being in the cold has nothing to do with having a "cold." You will not be any sicker if you're outside in cold weather. Viruses don't hurt you more in the cold than they do in the heat. What you need to worry about is tasking your body with muscle regrowth and virus fighting at the same time. Don't do that. Let your body fight off the virus before you start working out again.
  • khurrambutt
    khurrambutt Posts: 260 Member
    I went for jogging in Cold but when you jog just cover your body well because when you sweat cold makes you sick when I play football I take extra shirt with me after match my shirt is wet so I change it
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    If I have a cold/flu type illness I train if the symptoms are above my neck...if they're below I don't. My training is weight based though, not cardio
  • Chopstheduck
    Chopstheduck Posts: 23 Member
    I carry on going as I find for me, it makes things lift quicker by being active. But it's up to you, if you want to run, run - it won't do you any harm. If your body is telling you to rest, then take it easy for bit.


    The fact that you are out in the cold won't make your cold worse, but it does mean your body has to work harder, in order to regulate your body temperature.
  • HelensBeads
    HelensBeads Posts: 79 Member
    The general advice over on the running forum is that if the cold is above the neck i.e. a head cold, you're just bunged up with watery eyes etc then go for it, go for a run if you feel like it. But if the cold is below the neck, so chest involvement, a productive cough (rather than just a tickly one) don't, rest instead.

    But even if it's above the neck, if your body is telling you to take it easy for a few days then do so. Maybe a brisk walk or just a short run if you feel OK.
  • Miiimii
    Miiimii Posts: 279 Member
    Two years ago I went to the gym while I was ill and two days later I woke up in the hospital with a life-threatening menigitis. I nearly lost my life - since this incident, I stay out of gym as long as I don't be 100% healthy. Fitness doesn't worth to cost my life!

    I know this is a worse case scenario, but it can happen.
  • dianeellen2
    dianeellen2 Posts: 259 Member
    I have just got over a cold/flu that kept me out of the gym for 2 weeks - it was difficult to stay away but you should not push your body when you feel ill (IMO) let yourself get better and then carry on
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Two years ago I went to the gym while I was ill and two days later I woke up in the hospital with a life-threatening menigitis. I nearly lost my life - since this incident, I stay out of gym as long as I don't be 100% healthy. Fitness doesn't worth to cost my life!

    I know this is a worse case scenario, but it can happen.

    Perhaps my understanding of meningitis isn't correct....but wouldn't you have ended up in hospital regardless of whether you trained or not?
  • edwardkim85
    edwardkim85 Posts: 438 Member
    Rest up.

    Went to crossfit the first day I was sick and had a hard workout.. now... sicker.

    Should have rested.
  • spankythewondermonkey
    spankythewondermonkey Posts: 9 Member
    i usually train through colds. that said i've only had one that developed in the last 18 months. mostly when i get the tickle in the back of the throat, i hit the gym hard and that usually kills it before it's gotten hold.
    when i do train with a cold, i reduce the intensity. i also find that getting out of the gym is better than staying inside. with me, any bungedupness goes away in fresh air, subsequently i do a lot on the bike when i have a cold, or go for a gentle run (at my ultra pace where the heart rate is around 130 bpm).
    when i do train with a cold, i find it is nowhere near as bad as those around me (the people in work / home) who also have/had it, and that it also goes a lot faster. as usual, ymmv.

    as others have said, listen to your body. if you are finding breathing difficult then either stop the exercise or reduce the intensity.
  • DR2501
    DR2501 Posts: 661 Member
    I always work out when sick and I find it gets rid of the bug faster. I never do steady state cardio, always intervals, and it really seems to help.

    Edit: Like the poster above, as soon as I start to feel the symptoms, I do a big workout and I find it stops the cold in its tracks.

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