The Journey Back to Fitness: Overcoming Sickness Through Exercise

Returning to exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s often the best way to recover strength and energy. After several days of feeling sick and avoiding physical activity, one fitness enthusiast shares their experience of getting back on track.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they explain. “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.”

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they decided to push through with a short 20-minute workout to begin the recovery process.

The Challenge of Fitness Discipline

The article’s subject offers some candid insights about the difficulties of maintaining fitness: “It is very hard to dress up but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight, very easy to get weight.”

They emphasize the importance of self-control: “All you need to do is to push your body, you force it. Not letting your body control you… you control your mouth. That’s why you feel like it is shawarma, you say no, I will not eat today shawarma, I will exercise.”

Gradual Progress is Key

For those intimidated by intensive workout routines, the fitness enthusiast recommends starting small: “You must not lift 100 pounds… Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. So if you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”

During the workout session, they demonstrate this principle by jogging at a moderate pace on a treadmill, noting that they previously could maintain higher speeds but are currently working within their capabilities.

“I used to put up to seven. Before, 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,” they explain about their treadmill speed settings.

The Reward of Persistence

By the end of the short workout session, positive results were already evident. “I’m sweating now. I was cold before, but now I’m sweating,” they report.

The most encouraging sign came toward the conclusion of the exercise: “My energy level is coming back. My energy level is coming back.”

This experience demonstrates how even a brief return to physical activity can begin to reverse the negative effects of illness-induced inactivity, reinforcing the connection between regular exercise and overall health.