Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Too sick to exercise?

When should you say “enough is enough” and take to the couch or your sick bed instead of gearing up and working out?

I’ve been down for the count for almost a week know with a cold/sinus infection. While researching the idea of exercising while sick, I came across the best advice: “"Do what you can do, and if you can't do it, then don't”  Seems like a no brainer! You know your body best. The point of exercising is to improve your overall health. If you are pushing yourself too far, then you are really defeating the purpose.

Other words of wisdom include don't exercise if you have a fever or any sort of lung issue. While I haven't had either of those issues, all of my symptoms being in my sinuses, I've opted out of exercising for the past week.  I was so run down on the weekend that I napped for a total of 7 hours over 2 days.  I never nap, so this was a sure sign that my body needed a break.  And the pain of a sinus infection made just moving my head an ordeal.  I can't imagine doing lunges or toe touches; I'm pretty sure my head would have exploded.

I'm taking one more day to overcome my headache and fatigue and plan to get back into my routine of 30 minutes of exercise a day starting tomorrow.

Check out these links to some articles on exercising when sick:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/exercise/expert-answers/faq-20058494
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/exercise-when-you-have-cold
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/10/health/exercising-with-cold-flu/

Do you work out when you are sick?

1 comment:

  1. Take a rest day girl! I think you've earned it. Feel better soon!

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