The Importance of Exercise for Recovery: A Personal Journey
Getting back to exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s often essential for recovery. One fitness enthusiast recently shared their experience with returning to physical activity after several days of sickness, demonstrating both the struggles and benefits of pushing through despite not feeling 100%.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for myself. That did not help me at all,” they explained. The lack of movement had actually made their condition worse: “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 Challenge of Resuming Activity
Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they decided to push through with a short workout session. The determination to overcome physical discomfort demonstrates an important principle in fitness: consistency matters, even when scaled back.
“It’s very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight,” they observed. This reality is something many fitness experts confirm – maintaining fitness requires consistent effort, while losing ground can happen quickly during periods of inactivity.
Mind Over Matter
The mental aspect of exercise was highlighted throughout the session: “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not let your body control you, but control your body.” This approach extends beyond just movement to include nutrition habits: “Control your mouth. That’s the way you feel like eating—it is your choice. You say, no, I will not eat today. I will exercise.”
The progressive improvement was notable. While unable to sustain jogging for even five minutes a day earlier, today’s session showed marked improvement. “Because yesterday I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes. Two days ago, that was the worst.”
Starting Small for Long-Term Success
An important message for anyone looking to improve their fitness was shared: start where you are. “We must not be professional. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This gradual approach applies to cardio exercise as well. While once able to run at higher speeds (levels 9-10 on the treadmill), currently a speed of 7 was challenging but manageable. The goal wasn’t to match previous performance but to rebuild gradually.
The Rewards of Perseverance
By the end of the session, the benefits were already evident: “I was cold before, but now I’m sweating. My energy level is coming back.” This quick positive feedback demonstrates why movement can be so beneficial, even when recovering from illness (though medical clearance should always be obtained when appropriate).
The experience serves as a reminder that fitness is not about perfection but persistence. Small efforts compound over time, and even short sessions can provide benefits when returning from a setback.