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Working out while sick.

raven56706
raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
edited December 24 in Debate Club
There are two sides to this.

• Pro Working out
  • If you work out, your body will feel energized and keep you positive while being sick
  • You will sweat out the germs
  • Unless you have a fever, you can workout at anytime
• Shouldn’t workout
  • Sinus infections and other sicknesses, while not severe, need the body’s energy to fight off the sickness.
  • Your body needs to rest.
  • Most over the counter meds and prescription ones will affect your body’s performance at the gym

Obviously everyone is different but where do you stand on this topic?
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Replies

  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,885 Member
    edited December 2019
    I never exercise with a (serious) fever. And intense cardio with a stuffy/runny nose definitely doesn't appeal to me!

    Aside from that, it depends on how bad I feel.
    Generally speaking, I prefer to give my body some rest.

    PS I have a homegym, no risk of contagion.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,142 Member
    Sure, exercise if you like if you're ill, but NOT at the gym, no-one else needs your germs!

    Personally, I prefer to get some fresh air with a gentle walk (preferably near the sea) unless I am so lethargic I am bed-bound and the only time that happened it was pneumonia.


  • jseams1234
    jseams1234 Posts: 1,219 Member
    raven56706 wrote: »
    There are two sides to this.

    [*] Most over the counter meds and prescription ones will affect your body’s performance at the gym

    Obviously everyone is different but where do you stand on this topic?

    Please, just don't.

    Otherwise, do what you feel you are physically capable of handling without harming your recovery.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Sometimes it’s a good idea. Sometimes, it’s not.

    Sometimes it can help you recover faster. Sometimes it slows down recovery.

    Sometimes it can help prevent things from getting worse. Sometimes it can make things worse.

    It depends.

  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Some sicknesses at certain times that I know generally go the wrong direction (fall allergies with a cold going to pneumonia) I know not to keep working out during the cold in hopes of it not getting worse. Walking maybe.

    Summer cold I'll still do long cardio just not as intense and usually feel better. Get the sinuses blown out on long bike ride.

    Depends if it feels like the start where I hope to fight whatever off and enough stress already.
    Or near the end where I've already won the fight and just getting better.
    Though I have backtracked a couple times pushing too hard during recovery.
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    "Sick" is also such a vague term. What does that mean? What kind of sickness?

    Is it a person with a mild case of the sniffles? Strep throat? Influenza? Cancer? Pink Eye? Lupus? Black Death?



  • LAT1963
    LAT1963 Posts: 1,375 Member
    I find when I'm sick that working out just lets the bugger get the upper hand. Also, I second the point about avoiding the gym when you are sick so you don't share your bug.

    If you have something non-communicable (lupus, psoriasis, MS etc.) then the decision to work out or not is between you, your body, and your doc. Some chronic conditions are improved by exercise (fibromyalgia) and others aren't (chronic fatigue syndrome).
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited December 2019
    Well or unwell is a range not binary.
    "Needing" rest depends on severity.

    Sweat out germs is an old wive's tale.

    Not working out also impacts your performance.

    Personally if I can work out (at a suitable intensity) without harm to myself or others I will.
    If it's somewhere in the middle of being positive for me but potentially infectious to others I'll exercise outdoors or at home.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    I usually go by - if exercise makes me feel better, I exercise, and if it makes me feel worse, I don't. Usually with a cold or something, a little bit of exercise will clear the sinuses.

    This, of course, all assumes that you are not going out to exercise in a shared space. Please keep the germs at home as much as possible.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I don't get sick all that often and when I do, it's usually pretty bad and there's no way I'm working out. I don't remember the last time I got sick and it was just a little bit sick or feeling a bit under the weather...it's usually a full blown *kitten* storm.
  • DanyellMcGinnis
    DanyellMcGinnis Posts: 315 Member
    I do work out when I am sick with a cold. Colds tend to linger for me and I can't skip like two weeks of exercise. I actually find workouts pretty good for clearing my nasal passages.

    However, I only ever exercise at home. I have a weight machine and various other equipment plus a TV and DVD player for cardio workouts at home so no need to spread my germs with anyone.
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    No Banging in on lifting days....
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,192 Member
    I do not go to the gym when I have a cold or any other upper respiratory bug, and I don't take fitness classes either. I don't want to spread my germs to the rest of the gang. If I am not too sick and the weather is OK, I may take a short walk and get some fresh air, and maybe do some calisthenics at home. But most of the time, I will stay at home resting and keeping hydrated.

    I haven't been sick with a respiratory or stomach bug in a long time (knocking in every piece of wood that I have in the house... :p ), but when I do get a cold I am totally and completely miserable so staying at home is a must for me.
  • Theoldguy1
    Theoldguy1 Posts: 2,498 Member
    Serious question. At the gym there are generally all sort of wipes one can use to clean off equipment, not so in the real world.

    For all those saying stay home from the gym so you don't spread germs do you stay away from handholds on public transportation, elevator buttons, credit card styluses/buttons, etc while sick so as not to spread germs?
  • sugarcakes38
    sugarcakes38 Posts: 80 Member
    Too many variables. It really would depend on what it is I have, how severe it is and what I need to recover. Sometimes I can work out straight through without a problem (headache, allergies, PMS, etc). Couple other times I can recall this year, I needed the rest. If it’s contagious, my first priority is to avoid spreading it, so working out at my gym would be a no-go in that case.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Serious question. At the gym there are generally all sort of wipes one can use to clean off equipment, not so in the real world.

    For all those saying stay home from the gym so you don't spread germs do you stay away from handholds on public transportation, elevator buttons, credit card styluses/buttons, etc while sick so as not to spread germs?

    Outside of the home.... I only use my elbows to touch anything and everything.

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  • bosque1234
    bosque1234 Posts: 60 Member
    There is no pro side to this.
    If you're sick, stay out of public places like gyms because you'll get OTHER people sick.
    End of discussion.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Serious question. At the gym there are generally all sort of wipes one can use to clean off equipment, not so in the real world.

    For all those saying stay home from the gym so you don't spread germs do you stay away from handholds on public transportation, elevator buttons, credit card styluses/buttons, etc while sick so as not to spread germs?

    It depends on how sick I am/what type of illness I have. Pneumonia? I stayed away from everything and everyone, public transportation included. I also tend to wash my hands more when I'm sick than when I'm not. When push comes to shove, however, it's a case of minimising exposure to other people. I can't always avoid contact with everything, but I can minimize contact with some things.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,142 Member
    edited December 2019
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Serious question. At the gym there are generally all sort of wipes one can use to clean off equipment, not so in the real world.

    For all those saying stay home from the gym so you don't spread germs do you stay away from handholds on public transportation, elevator buttons, credit card styluses/buttons, etc while sick so as not to spread germs?

    I use hand sanitiser, whenever I am out and about and avoid public places where possible. I generally disinfect hand contact areas such as light switches, cupboard/fridge/freezer doors, door handles etc regularly at home and wash my hands regularly.


  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I don't get sick all that often and when I do, it's usually pretty bad and there's no way I'm working out. I don't remember the last time I got sick and it was just a little bit sick or feeling a bit under the weather...it's usually a full blown *kitten* storm.

    This is for me too... My body totally shuts down when I'm sick. Luckily I rarely get sick.
  • ReenieHJ
    ReenieHJ Posts: 9,724 Member
    edited December 2019
    I'm not really sick today but had my 2nd Shingles vaccine yesterday. The 1st one only made me feel a little ick. Life went on as usual. Last night and this a.m. though, my routine is all shot to he!!. Couldn't sleep, cold/hot, aches/pains, stomach pain, didn't even want my a.m. coffee or to be on my computer when I got up at 5. So I said 'bag it' and went back to bed.
    I see myself just indulging in an off day today and maybe another nap will be in order as soon as my must-do list is done. :/
    All that to say I think when your body is stressed by not feeling well, rest it. If my illness went on for too long and I felt like getting back into it, slow and easy for me.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    mostly, i work out if i'm sick. but not in gyms. i try to avoid spreading my germs.
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Serious question. At the gym there are generally all sort of wipes one can use to clean off equipment, not so in the real world.

    For all those saying stay home from the gym so you don't spread germs do you stay away from handholds on public transportation, elevator buttons, credit card styluses/buttons, etc while sick so as not to spread germs?

    Ideally if a person is sick, he/she/they will stay home in order to not spread sickness. Duh.

    In the real world? We all know it's not always feasible to stay home for every sniffle, scratchy throat, or headache. And in some diseases (like norovirus) you can feel fine at 8 am and suddenly be vomiting at 11 am. Sometimes when sick we *have* to venture to the pharmacy or the doctor's office.

    Also...look, the world's not sterile out there. You will (and actually MUST) be exposed to the stuff out there.

    That's why I believe the onus to do what you can to lessen (you can't eliminate) the chance of catching something is to do what YOU can. Get your immunizations. Wash your hands frequently (try doing it when you come home every day). Get some hand sanitizer. Don't handle other people's phones or keyboards (they're filthy). And yes, wipe down the gym equipment-- but feel free to wipe down *yourself* before using if you aren't certain it was.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Theoldguy1 wrote: »
    Serious question. At the gym there are generally all sort of wipes one can use to clean off equipment, not so in the real world.

    For all those saying stay home from the gym so you don't spread germs do you stay away from handholds on public transportation, elevator buttons, credit card styluses/buttons, etc while sick so as not to spread germs?

    I think it's more about minimizing your exposure for other people. I try as much as possible to avoid going out in public when I'm sick, but that can't always be helped...but there are certain things like the gym that are entirely optional activities and you don't need to be there when you're sick.

    I've been known to basically quarantine myself to the guest bedroom and bathroom while I'm contagious to avoid getting my kids and wife sick. I rarely get sick...and when I do, it's very rarely a case of the sniffles or feeling a little under the weather. Generally when I'm sick, I'm sick...fever, strep throat is fairly common, bronchitis, etc. Thankfully...and knock on wood, I've never had a full blown flu.
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