Working out when sick?

It is all about being in tune with your body. When I got sick last time I didn't bother exercising, my weight lifting workouts are really intense having me squat and deadlift over 300 lbs each time. I just took it easy, rested and went back to the gym when I felt up to it. I took the first few days doing lighter weight to get me back into form and just get comfortable with the movements again before I got back to my workout.

Bump.

I've been dealing with this for about 3 weeks. Kids and I had pneumonias. They went on antibiotics and got well immediately (yay!) but I on the other hand am having a slooooooooooooooooooooooooow recovery. My energy is non-existent, I have chills all of the time which has confined me to staying indoors on top of the aches and pains. It's setting me back. I've somehow managed to maintain around the same 2 pounds for the past two weeks. Its been three weeks should I just get my butt up and do it at the risk of making my health worse?

Depends honestly on the type of "sick" you are talking about and also if you work out at home or at a public gym. If you have a head cold and workout at home have at it as I find that it helps, but if you are feverish, fluish, I would recommend giving your body time to recoop and feel better before pushing too hard (but I am not a doctor). But please if you are snotting everywhere, coughing and contagious, and workout in a public place STAY HOME!! No one wants that! Thanks! Hope you feel better soon!

I caught a bad cold last year and earlier this year. Each time I was pretty comatose, but after three days in bed I'd get up and do at least 30 min of exercise. Each time I felt 95% better and was up and mobile after that. I'd say listen to your body and do what you think is best.

cwolfman13 wrote: »

He1loKitty wrote: »

Thanks, I think I tend to ignore my body and push through it out of guilt. I'll take the night off and try to work out tomorrow morning instead.

You need to examine your relationship with fitness if missing a workout makes you feel guilty...

I think you need to examine your relationship with fitness if missing workouts doesn't make you feel guilty.

OP, it's your call. If you are not that sick then you could probably get away with it but if it's really bad then you should probably take it easy for a while.

He1loKitty wrote: »

Should I push through it and exercise? Or could I end up setting myself back by making myself even more sick? How do you know when to rest and when to work through the pain?

I would rest. Working out puts so much stress on the immune system. You won't lose much getting better; then, you can come back and enjoy it.

branflakes1980 wrote: »

Depends honestly on the type of "sick" you are talking about and also if you work out at home or at a public gym. If you have a head cold and workout at home have at it as I find that it helps, but if you are feverish, fluish, I would recommend giving your body time to recoop and feel better before pushing too hard (but I am not a doctor). But please if you are snotting everywhere, coughing and contagious, and workout in a public place STAY HOME!! No one wants that! Thanks! Hope you feel better soon!

This! Get rest, feel better...and keep cold and flu germs at home!

It all depends on what I have and how I feel. If it's just a common cold where I have a runny nose and a little cough, I definitely workout. But if my stomach is upset or I have a horrible headache, working out just makes it worse. So yes, you should listen to your body and not feel guilty. Normally if you're feeling too bad too exercise, you are feeling too bad to over eat and should at least stay around the current weight you are. I also find that if I'm feeling sick and try to push myself to exercise, it takes me longer to recover from the illness and my workouts aren't even that great since I'm tired and unable to really give it my best shot. If you're questioning it, I'd take it easy for a few days and if you MUST exercise then just stick with light intensity like walking. :-)