The Journey Back to Fitness: Overcoming Illness Through Exercise

Returning to exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s often the best way to rebuild strength and stamina. As one fitness enthusiast recently discovered, even a few days without physical activity can leave the body feeling stiff and uncomfortable.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and 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.”

The Importance of Pushing Through

Despite still experiencing symptoms like headache and congestion, they made the decision to gradually return to their fitness routine with a short 20-minute workout. This determination highlights an important aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle – sometimes you need to push your body even when it’s difficult.

“It’s very hard to lose weight, very easy to gain weight,” they noted. “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you… Control your mouth. Control your belly. Force your body to move. It’s not easy, but you are going to force it.”

Tracking Progress

During the workout session, they monitored various metrics on their exercise equipment, including time, calories burned, and speed. They mentioned working at a moderate pace appropriate for their current fitness level and weight.

“When I lose weight, I’ll start running at 10 because that way you have to really move quickly. If I put it at 10 now, I would fall because of my weight. I used to be able to go up to seven, and before that even up to nine. But not 10, not 11, not 12. Twelve is the highest.”

The Mental Health Connection

Beyond the physical benefits, the workout provided a mental boost as well. Despite initial fatigue, their energy level began to return during the session, demonstrating the powerful connection between physical activity and overall wellbeing.

“Your health is what? When you are in good health, you can achieve all. It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run, we need to exercise anyhow we can.”

Starting Small

For those looking to begin their own fitness journey, they offered encouraging advice: “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 to fitness is especially important when recovering from illness or when beginning a new exercise regimen. The body needs time to adapt and strengthen, and pushing too hard too quickly can lead to injury or burnout.

As this fitness journey shows, consistency and determination are key factors in maintaining physical health, even when facing setbacks like illness. By listening to your body while still challenging it appropriately, you can work toward better health one workout at a time.