Working out while sick

T

tygra

Cathlete
Does anyone here try and work out when you are under the weather? People tell you not too, but you have a hard time listening and feel like you just have to work out or you will lose all you've accomplished?
 
I sometimes work out when I'm sick. I've heard or read that if you just have a cold, cardio can help chase it out of your body. I definitely lower my expectations when I'm sick. If I stop after a few minutes, I'm fine with it. If I lower the intensity or weights or reps, I'm fine with that, too. If I have a flu or feel really bad, I won't even try.

I don't necessarily feel like I'll lose all I've accomplished, but I don't want to lose the habit of doing it every day (or almost every day). If I feel under the weather for a week, and never work out, it will be really easy for me to continue to not work out. If I do even a little exercise, it seems to keep the habit going strong for me.

Do you push yourself when you're sick?

Tonya
 
I do and people think I'm crazy. I do feel the loss of strength and energy, but I try with the philosophy of "sweat it out". Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I, too, don't want to get out of the habit.
 
This is terrible to admit (since I am in medical school), but I do too.

I just feel guilty if I don't exercise. In fact, I even feel guilty when I take rest days. I know that I must have some sort of complex, and I would definately not advocate that patients do the same, but I do. I guess it is (for me) a "do what I say, not what I do" sort of thing.

-Becky
 
The only time I don't workout is if I have a fever. Otherwise if I'm scheduled to workout I do. Guess I'm kinda anal about working out!!:)
Deanie:)
 
I do everything low impact and leight no weight. I've gone to Jazzercise, moving in slow motion, due to a cold because I don't want to fall out of the habit---when I don't exercise I realize how much free time I have and I have a hard time getting back on track when I am well.
 
When I work out really consistently, meaning 5 to 6 days a week for months on end, I find I come back stronger after a week off for a cold or the flu. I know some people schedule rest weeks. I never do, but I seem to have one every 4 to 6 months for one reason or another (business travel, family obligations, or illness). As long as it's only 1 week my work outs feel better after that week off, even if it was because I was sick.
 
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