Working out while sick

mysweetjenna
mysweetjenna Posts: 52 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I feel a summer cold coming on, and am feeling run down. I work out five days a week. I did my regular 40 minutes on the elliptical today-tomorrow is a circuit training class here at work (squats, push-ups, crunches, weird jump cardio stuff, hand-weights, etc) for 30 minutes. Should I sit out tomorrow and give myself a little rest, or will I be just fine to "sweat it out?"

Replies

  • shannonlee28
    shannonlee28 Posts: 15
    I personally think it is better to sweat it out rather than sit it out.....it is so easy to get off track so just push through and you'll probably feel better when your done.
  • aledba
    aledba Posts: 564 Member
    If you're sure it's a cold, proceed as normal. Any indication of nausea, breathing trouble or feeling really over-worked, stop and take it easy for a day or two. Something else to note if you work out in a public gym, be mindful of those that aren't sick - you can spread your germs via the equipment and other porous surfaces. Not a nice thing to share.
  • RHachicho
    RHachicho Posts: 1,115 Member
    I find a general rule of thumb is.

    If the exercise makes you feel better then its A-OK

    If the exercise makes you feel worse stop immediate.
  • mysweetjenna
    mysweetjenna Posts: 52 Member
    That's exactly where I'm leaning-I just don't want to wind up getting sicker and having to sit out longer. That would in the end make me feel pretty stupid :tongue:
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    If you're sick then just rest and keep hydrated.

    What's the rationale behind working out when you're sick? What do you imagine will happen if you take a few days off to get better?
  • mysweetjenna
    mysweetjenna Posts: 52 Member
    I hear ya with keeping germs to myself. I'm one of those spoiled few that get to have a gym at work. I basically have the warm, "sick" feeling in my nose and the back of my throat-and that I could fall asleep right here at my desk. Maybe a class of OJ and a good night's sleep will do the trick.
  • mysweetjenna
    mysweetjenna Posts: 52 Member
    If you're sick then just rest and keep hydrated.

    What's the rationale behind working out when you're sick? What do you imagine will happen if you take a few days off to get better?

    The fear is starting a trend of ditching work outs. I'm still trying to establish a healthy lifestyle, and am vulnerable to setbacks.
  • coolraul07
    coolraul07 Posts: 1,606 Member
    I find a general rule of thumb is.

    If the exercise makes you feel better then its A-OK

    If the exercise makes you feel worse stop immediate.

    Additionally, the guidance I heard was:
    "Cold in your head? Yeah, go ahead."
    "Cold in your chest? Stay home, get rest."

    All of this is overridden if you're highly contagious and work out around others. No need to share that....
  • tycho_mx
    tycho_mx Posts: 426 Member
    If you're sick then just rest and keep hydrated.

    What's the rationale behind working out when you're sick? What do you imagine will happen if you take a few days off to get better?

    Because for some people and exercises, it actually makes you feel better to work out. I will do an easy bike ride when I have a cold and feel much better afterwards, from increased body temperature, heart rate and ventilation rate. I doubt I get any large fitness benefits, but it makes me feel better. And some of my best athletic performances have been done under a very mild cold.

    On the other hand, I've also tried to do resistance training with bad headaches. Not good at all.
  • jimmmer
    jimmmer Posts: 3,515 Member
    If you're sick then just rest and keep hydrated.

    What's the rationale behind working out when you're sick? What do you imagine will happen if you take a few days off to get better?

    The fear is starting a trend of ditching work outs. I'm still trying to establish a healthy lifestyle, and am vulnerable to setbacks.

    Do what your body needs: fluid and rest.

    If you are truly starting a lifelong commitment to fitness, then you have to square that with the normal rhythms of life (you lose jobs, relationships break up, you get sick, have holidays, etc). This is a good starting place to learn a good relationship with exercise and how it fits with your life.

    It's all about perspective.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I used to worry about getting of track or getting out of a habit if I took days off due to illness (or anything else life threw at me for that matter), but the past year or two, any time I feel the slightest bit of a cold or sickness, I skip workouts and rest rest rest as much as possible. I keep the mindset that the workouts will be there when I'm back on my feet, no worries, no change of habit, they are a part of my daily routine when I am well and able.

    Hasn't been a problem - and honestly, I haven't really been sick in over a year. All this past winter at the slightest twinge of sickness I rested, figuring it would be better for me to rest one or two days and knock out whatever was trying to get a hold of me rather than push through and wind up wearing myself down and being sidelined longer due to being REALLY sick! Worked out great for me.

    Listen to your body, maybe do an easier workout and see how you feel. But if you feel like sleeping at your desk, maybe you should just opt for the rest at this point! :tongue:
  • TrailNurse
    TrailNurse Posts: 359 Member
    I would not go to the gym and spread germs. You could take a nice walk and get some sun (Vit D) which has been shown to shorten the duration of colds and viruses.
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
    Give your body some time to rest and recover. If you're feeling run down, then your body is trying to tell you something.

    Whenever I've tried to work out when I was coming down with something, I usually ended up prolonging the illness. It really is best to best and recover!:smile:

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