Overcoming Sickness: The Importance of Consistent Exercise for Health and Weight Management
After several days of illness and inactivity, getting back to exercise can be challenging but necessary. This was clearly demonstrated during a recent workout session where the benefits of maintaining regular physical activity were highlighted, especially after experiencing how quickly the body can become stiff and painful when exercise is neglected.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and it did not do any good for my system,” the fitness enthusiast shared. “Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff. I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my nails, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Challenge of Returning to Exercise
Despite still experiencing some symptoms—”I still feel my neck, my head is aching, my nose is running”—the determination to overcome physical limitations was evident. The workout session began with jogging, with a clear intention to test endurance levels after the period of illness.
“If it was yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes,” was noted during the session, highlighting the rapid improvement that can occur when returning to physical activity, even after a brief illness.
The Reality of Weight Management
A crucial insight shared during the workout was the imbalance between gaining and losing weight: “It is very hard to exercise. But very easy to get weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight.”
This observation underscores one of the fundamental challenges of fitness and weight management. The solution offered was straightforward but powerful: “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not let your body control you. Control your mouth.”
This philosophy extends to making conscious dietary choices: “When you feel like eating a shawarma, you say, no, I will not eat today’s shawarma. I will exercise. Just go ahead, control your mouth. Control your belly.”
Starting Small and Building Consistency
An important message for fitness beginners was also shared: “We must not be professionals. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds. Five pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This progressive approach to fitness acknowledges that everyone starts at different levels, and improvement comes through consistent effort rather than attempting too much too soon.
Tracking Progress
The workout included monitoring various metrics such as time, calories burned, and speed. The session revealed that adjustments to intensity are necessary based on current fitness levels: “Five is speed running. And six is also speed, and seven. It has up to twelve. When I lose weight, I’ll start running at 10. Because that way you have to pop pop pop. If I put it now, I will fall.”
This practical approach demonstrates how fitness goals should be realistic and adapted to one’s current capabilities.
The Reward of Perseverance
By the end of the short workout session, the benefits were already becoming apparent: “My energy level is coming back.” This quick positive feedback is often what motivates people to continue their fitness journey, even when starting from a place of physical discomfort or illness.
The experience shared serves as a reminder that our health is fundamental to achieving our broader goals in life. As was noted during the session, “Your health is what? When you are in good health, you cannot… It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”
This workout story demonstrates that returning to exercise after illness, while challenging, can be approached gradually and with determination, leading to rapid improvements in energy and overall well-being.