Refrain From Training When Sick?
I’ve often wondered if it is best to refrain from exercising when I’m not feeling 100%. My philosophy I’ve adopted is to listen to my body and even at that, I don’t know if that’s the best way to go either.
So, I seek counsel from articles on the Net. The common theme I see is that it’s best to exercise restraint when sick. It’s best to take a break rather than breaking a sweat. The myth about €˜perspiring your way back to better health’ is apparently exactly that : a myth.
Our bodies don’t €˜sweat out’ toxins and germs during exercise. That’s the responsibility of our immune system and that system works best when it’s not stressed. The general advice is to listen to our bodies when we are feeling sick, and need to rest. A hard workout could impair the immune system and allow €˜unwelcome guests’ to make the illness worse.
Unfortunately, I read all of this later than I should have and did go to the gym for a workout yesterday evening. I was well medicated, and had slept a lot during the day, so I thought it’d be okay for me to workout. While training, I’d have to say I felt weaker. However, at the end of the workout, I felt good that I made it through … but I was physically very tired as I made my way home.
For me, I find it’s a mental thing when it comes to taking a day off from the gym. I feel guilty, and I feel I’ll lose all that I’ve achieved. I have to shift that thinking to realizing that taking the time when you’re body is telling you to do so is better for the body and won’t impede the progress that I’ve made.
As such, I am glad today is my non-training day. I’m going to reschedule my Fitness Assessment Test for next week, get home early today and aim for 8 hours sleep tonight. I need to shake this feeling and quick. Tomorrow is a leg day, and I definitely don’t want to miss or postpone it.
Here are some good gym precautions that I found while surfing.
1. Wash hands immediately after your workout.
2. Bring your own water to the gym to avoid touching the water fountain. The water is OK, but the fountain itself has many users.
3. Bring two towels, one to wipe the equipment, the other for your face and hands.
It’s all about getting better, so lots of Vitamin C, fluids, and sleep!
Have a good day and see ya tomorrow.
Cheers,
Nke
February 28, 2007 at 5:26 am
Great advice to give to some of these people who unconsciously ignore colds and hit the gym, unknowingly putting others at risk and increasing the length of the cold itself. The body is fit to attack one invasion (bacteria, virus) at a time, so if you fatigued it and expect to be able it fight a cold also, thats not the answer. Have a good one.