The Power of Persistence: Returning to Exercise After Illness
Recovery from illness can be challenging, especially when it comes to resuming physical activity. After several days of feeling unwell and avoiding exercise, one fitness enthusiast discovered that the lack of movement only made things worse, causing stiffness throughout the body.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system. That did not help me at all,” they shared during a recent workout session. “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 some discomfort—”I still feel my neck, my head is aching, my nose is growing”—they pushed through a 20-minute exercise routine to get their body moving again. By the following day, the improvement was noticeable: “The energy is coming back! No more lying down, no more sickness, no more headache!”
Mind Over Matter
One of the key insights shared during the workout was the importance of mental discipline when it comes to fitness: “You need to do it. Push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you, but you control your body. Control your mouth.”
This principle extends to dietary choices as well. As they explained, it’s about making conscious decisions rather than giving in to cravings: “That’s why when you feel like eating shawarma, you say, ‘No. I will not eat shawarma today. I will exercise.’ Control your mouth. Control your belly.”
Starting Small
The workout session also emphasized the importance of starting where you are, rather than trying to match professional standards: “We need to run, we need to exercise anyhow we can. We must not be professional as well. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds.”
Even with a treadmill, the approach was measured. While they had previously been able to run at speeds of 7-9, and noted that the machine goes up to 12, they recognized their current limitations: “If I put 10, I will fall because of my weight. But I used to put seven, I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine.”
The Rewards of Consistency
By the end of the session, there was a sense of accomplishment in burning nearly 200 calories and testing endurance: “I am getting tired. But I still want to see how long I can go with the jogging.”
The experience serves as a reminder that maintaining a fitness routine—even through periods of illness or low energy—can significantly impact overall wellbeing. Sometimes, the hardest workout is the one that gets you back on track.