What do you do for exercise when you are sick?

socialdchic
socialdchic Posts: 170 Member
edited November 17 in Fitness and Exercise
I am very sick, cant breathe out of my nose, coughing, severe sinus pressure and just all around feel run down which sucks, I was doing so good, I have almost lost 20 pounds now and I actually for the first time in my life feel muscles when I move. I have been doing at least 45 mins of cardio daily along with about 10-15 mins strength training. I have a *kitten* immune system and it generally takes me a couple weeks to kick this stuff and I have to be careful about being overheated or I cough until I puke -_- I just dont want to backtrack. I am still staying under my calories and everything but i feel like a lump sitting here not exercising but I just dont have it in me, especially since I worked today.

What do you do when you are sick? Do you still exercise? I thought about taking it slow on the treadmill like maybe 2.5 so I wont get overheated or should I just rest?

Replies

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    edited May 2015
    None. *depends on the severity.

    I take care of myself before I take care of exercise.
  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    Maybe walk the dog if I'm able. Otherwise nothing except work on getting better. But I don't get sick often.
  • curlytoes79
    curlytoes79 Posts: 95 Member
    I just got over a bad cold and fever. Honestly, I didn't exercise, just let myself rest. I've still got some residual coughing now but am going to do some yoga or something tonight to ease back into things.
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    Stay home. We don’t want you at the gym. Get healthy. You’re not going to backtrack by missing a few days. In fact, you might just come back stronger.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I go for a walk if I can muster.

    sometimes I make it to dance class- esp if it's important rehearsal. Otherwise- I'm resting. rest rest rest.
  • socialdchic
    socialdchic Posts: 170 Member
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    Stay home. We don’t want you at the gym. Get healthy. You’re not going to backtrack by missing a few days. In fact, you might just come back stronger.

    I exercise at home -_-
  • socialdchic
    socialdchic Posts: 170 Member
    curlytoes79 wrote: »
    I just got over a bad cold and fever. Honestly, I didn't exercise, just let myself rest. I've still got some residual coughing now but am going to do some yoga or something tonight to ease back into things.

    Yeah, it is always that leftover coughing that takes forever to go away! thanks :)

  • socialdchic
    socialdchic Posts: 170 Member
    AllanMisner wrote: »
    Stay home. We don’t want you at the gym. Get healthy. You’re not going to backtrack by missing a few days. In fact, you might just come back stronger.

    I hope I do come back stronger lol
  • Jennifer_Lynn_1982
    Jennifer_Lynn_1982 Posts: 567 Member
    I'd also like to add that I wouldn't focus too much on restricting calories when I'm sick. If I'm hungry, I eat but if I'm not eating at a deficit, I'm okay with that. I just eat up to maintenance. Allow yourself to rest and let your body heal...hope you feel better soon!
  • ReynaDay01
    ReynaDay01 Posts: 57 Member
    As long as you keep your eating in check you will be fine. If it helps you to take a slow walk in the fresh air then do that, but if not, stay home and rest.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    I rest and recover. Rest is part of your exercise regime.
  • Aero818
    Aero818 Posts: 90 Member
    Stay in bed and get plenty of fluids. You'll be exercising again in no time
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,706 Member
    I had a silent heart attack some time in Feb/March and a not so silent one on March 25th. Until that day I walked almost every day anywhere from 45-60 minutes, eating 1200 calories ( because I am going on 70 and under 5 feet tall ).
    Right now I cannot walk the way I did as before ( for speed and endurance ) and because I still need to lose weight for heart health beyond the 55 pounds I already lost, I was put by my cardiologist and his nutritionist on a 1000 calories a day diet to be able to maintain the weight loss.
    At my age and height 1000 calories is ok, but I can imagine that any amount of calories could be adjusted to maintain a deficit that allows weight loss. Our plan is to maintain 1000 calories for 90 days and hopefully by that time I can increase the amount again and make up the needed burn through extra exercise again. Right now I walk 30 minutes a day, but at a very s-l-o-w pace.....:o).
    Also, if you are just sick for a short period of time and your illness is not life threatening, I would not worry about exercise. It is much easier to deal with an extra pound or two ( or even five ) than with a long term chronic illness, which could develop by not taking care of yourself.
    Good Luck and a speedy recovery !
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    I was terribly sick last week and didn't exercise for two days. I just made sure to stay within my calories and watch my macros as best I could, and tried sleeping it off. After the third day, when I was feeling an upswing, I worked out. It was rough.
  • socialdchic
    socialdchic Posts: 170 Member
    Ang108 wrote: »
    I had a silent heart attack some time in Feb/March and a not so silent one on March 25th. Until that day I walked almost every day anywhere from 45-60 minutes, eating 1200 calories ( because I am going on 70 and under 5 feet tall ).
    Right now I cannot walk the way I did as before ( for speed and endurance ) and because I still need to lose weight for heart health beyond the 55 pounds I already lost, I was put by my cardiologist and his nutritionist on a 1000 calories a day diet to be able to maintain the weight loss.
    At my age and height 1000 calories is ok, but I can imagine that any amount of calories could be adjusted to maintain a deficit that allows weight loss. Our plan is to maintain 1000 calories for 90 days and hopefully by that time I can increase the amount again and make up the needed burn through extra exercise again. Right now I walk 30 minutes a day, but at a very s-l-o-w pace.....:o).
    Also, if you are just sick for a short period of time and your illness is not life threatening, I would not worry about exercise. It is much easier to deal with an extra pound or two ( or even five ) than with a long term chronic illness, which could develop by not taking care of yourself.
    Good Luck and a speedy recovery !


    Oh I am so sorry! I hope all gets well with you as well <3
  • usernameenvy
    usernameenvy Posts: 140 Member
    I take a couple of days to rest, your body heals better when you rest.
    If i have a sinus issue or a general cold from being run down, after resting a couple of days i push through and find that it helps clear me up.
    If its in my chest, i'll rest longer and ease back into light exercise.

    Get some probiotics, some zinc and some olive leaf tablets :) theyll help you heaps !
  • kpodaru
    kpodaru Posts: 133 Member
    nope, i never exercise when i'm sick; that will just prolong my illness. i rest until i'm better and sleep as much as i can.
  • FitPhillygirl
    FitPhillygirl Posts: 7,124 Member
    When I am very sick, which thankfully isn't often. I don't do any exercise at all.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    It takes ~11 days before you start to lose conditioning. You'll be fine. You're better off resting and recovering than pushing yourself before your body is ready.
  • LovelyIvy466
    LovelyIvy466 Posts: 387 Member
    Yeah I stay on the couch. When I'm sick, I have a hard time making myself eat. I know I don't eat enough to fuel a good workout, even if I was physically capable of trying. Just relax and focus on getting better.
  • shedthesweater
    shedthesweater Posts: 279 Member
    I workout Six days a week and I pulled a muscle in my lower back two days ago, It's awful not working out, but I know I need to rest. And reading your post, you need to recover, and you don't want to pass it on to other's if any part of it is possible at this point. Enjoy a good book, and know you will come back even stronger as mentioned above. Get well...
  • KatieMusselwhite92113
    KatieMusselwhite92113 Posts: 98 Member
    I agree, nothing more than a walk. Rest is important when you are sick. You're not going to gain, just keep eating like you have been and get well soon!
  • vschwgrt1
    vschwgrt1 Posts: 86 Member
    Stay home, don't go to the gym... Drink lots of fluid, very light broth soups, etc. Don't worry, just count calories right now and stay at your daily requirement.
  • justcat206
    justcat206 Posts: 716 Member
    I usually rest as much as possible the first couple days, then ease back into things. Make sure to eat really well but otherwise don't worry about it too much. I'm notorious for doing too much too soon and winding up having to take even MORE time off (i.e. after surgery or a terrible virus). Hope you're well soon!
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    I don't work out. I know I am going to row and lift like garbage, so no reason to waste my time. Just lie on the couch and relax until it passes.
  • slp51
    slp51 Posts: 201 Member
    Love your body and it will love you back.

    In other words, give your body the rest it needs and you'll come back strong, raring to go when your body says so.
  • rachaelz12
    rachaelz12 Posts: 10 Member
    Take a walk if you feel up to it. Light hand weights for a few minutes if you're up to it. Stretching. SLEEP!
  • canadjineh
    canadjineh Posts: 5,396 Member
    Pleeeeeze do not spread it to coworkers and other gym members. Stay home & rest, or if you have the energy, go for a walk in the fresh air. Listen to what your body tells you (not your mind), if you have no energy, sleep & rest. If you are feeling antsy, go for the walk as briskly as you feel you can handle.
  • DesertGunR
    DesertGunR Posts: 187 Member
    @socialdchic Your best best is to rest, eat good healthy food when your body feels like eating. Since, you probably don't feel like eating large meals (3x a day) eat smaller ones 5-6 times a day. As for losing momentum in getting fitter, don't sweat it to much. Instead of trying to go for a walk and end up coughing a lot. Use this time to develop your flexibility. While laying in bed or on the couch you can do various stretching routines. If you feel a little better on one or two days during your recovery extend the stretching routine to the floor to extend the range of motion. Or, if you want do a light yoga routine. Neither of these options should be enough to get you coughing during your recovery and it will benefit you by extending your ideas about exercise. Now while it won't break a sweat like walking or running it will help keep your mind off of the fact that you are not doing something extremely active and it will still do your body good.
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