The Power of Perseverance: Returning to Exercise After Illness

Returning to exercise after being sick can be challenging, but it’s a crucial step in regaining health and energy. Recently, one fitness enthusiast shared their journey of getting back to physical activity after several days of illness.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they explained. “Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me because of lack of exercise.”

The Importance of Pushing Through

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to engage in a short 20-minute workout to gradually reintroduce physical activity.

“It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight,” they noted. “All you need to do is to push your body. Force it. Don’t let your body control you, control your body.”

Progress is Visible

The improvement from previous days was noticeable. “If it was yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes without stopping,” they shared. “Two days ago was the worst of them all.”

Even while not feeling 100%, they managed to maintain a steady jog, monitoring calories burned and gradually increasing their endurance.

Starting Small

An important message conveyed was the value of starting with manageable goals. “We must not be professional exercisers. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”

When it comes to using exercise equipment like treadmills, they advised adapting the settings to your current fitness level. “When I lose weight, I’ll start running at speed 10… But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12.”

The Link Between Health and Achievement

Perhaps the most powerful insight shared was the connection between health and achieving life goals: “Your health is what matters. When you are in good health, you can achieve your goals. It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run. We need to exercise.”

By pushing through discomfort and gradually rebuilding stamina, this fitness journey demonstrates how persistence and dedication can help overcome setbacks and get back on track toward better health.