The Struggle and Importance of Exercise After Illness: A Personal Journey

Getting back into exercise after being ill can be challenging, as our recent contributor discovered. After several days of sickness and inactivity, they experienced stiffness throughout their body – from legs to toes – making the return to physical activity both necessary and difficult.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they shared during a recent workout session. “Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff.”

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they pushed through a 20-minute workout to begin reclaiming their health and energy.

The Reality of Weight Management

One of the most frustrating realities of fitness is how the scales are tipped against us: “It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to get weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight.”

The key, according to our contributor, lies in mental discipline: “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not let your body control you, but control your body. Control your mouth. Control your cravings. Control everything.”

Starting Small for Sustainable Results

For those intimidated by intense workout regimens, there’s wisdom in beginning with manageable goals: “We must not lift 100 pounds, just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds… Little by little, we are going to be fine.”

This approach applies to cardio exercise as well. The contributor mentioned using a treadmill with various settings, acknowledging their current limitations while remembering past capabilities: “I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12. 12 is the highest.”

The Value of Health

Perhaps the most poignant observation came when discussing how illness affects productivity: “Your health is what… when you are in good health you can achieve, it’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”

This perspective underscores why regular exercise matters – not just for physical appearance, but for maintaining the capacity to pursue our ambitions and responsibilities.

By the end of the session, energy levels were noticeably improved, with the contributor burning nearly 200 calories and feeling reinvigorated despite initial fatigue.

For anyone struggling to restart an exercise routine after illness or a period of inactivity, this journey reminds us that even small efforts can yield significant benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing.