The Importance of Exercise for Recovery and Wellness

Regular exercise is crucial for maintaining good health, and sometimes it’s even more important during recovery from illness. One fitness enthusiast recently shared their experience of returning to exercise after feeling sick for several days.

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

This experience highlights an important health principle: inactivity during illness can sometimes prolong recovery and create additional discomfort through muscle stiffness and tension.

Getting Back to Movement

Despite still experiencing some symptoms – “I still feel my neck, my head is aching, my nose is running” – they made the decision to return to gentle exercise, starting with a short 20-minute workout to gradually rebuild stamina.

The improvement was noticeable compared to previous attempts. “Yesterday I couldn’t sustain jogging for five minutes without stopping,” they mentioned, demonstrating how quickly the body can begin to rebuild endurance when given the opportunity.

Mind Over Matter

A key aspect of their approach involves mental discipline: “It is very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight. All you need to do is to push your body. Not letting your body control you – you control your body.”

This philosophy extends to dietary choices as well: “Control your mouth. When you feel like eating something unhealthy, you say no.”

Starting Small

For those intimidated by exercise, the message is clear – start with what you can manage: “We must not be professionals. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. Just little by little we are going to be fine.”

This approach applies to cardio exercise too. The fitness enthusiast described how they adapted treadmill settings to their current ability level, working at speeds that challenged them without being overwhelming.

The Reward of Persistence

By the end of the session, nearly 200 calories had been burned, and there was a noticeable improvement in energy levels. “My energy level is coming back,” they noted with satisfaction.

This experience serves as an important reminder that health is foundational to achieving our goals: “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.”

Whether recovering from illness or simply maintaining wellness, regular movement remains one of the most powerful tools available for physical and mental health.