The Power of Perseverance: Returning to Exercise After Illness
Getting back to exercise after feeling sick can be challenging, but the benefits are worth the effort. After several days of illness that left her body stiff and achy, one fitness enthusiast shares her experience of returning to her workout routine despite still feeling some lingering symptoms.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” she explains. “Not exercising did not help me at all, 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.”
Despite still feeling neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, she committed to a short 20-minute workout to begin rebuilding her strength and endurance. This determination highlights an important fitness principle: consistency matters more than intensity.
The Challenge of Weight Management
One of the most relatable observations shared was about the asymmetry of weight management: “It is very hard to dress as nice, but very easy to get weight. Very hard to lose weight, very easy to get weight.”
The solution? Self-discipline and body control. “All you need to do is to push your body, you force it. Not lay your body, control your body, control your mouth,” she advises. This mental fortitude is often what separates successful fitness journeys from abandoned ones.
Starting Small
For those intimidated by fitness, the advice is clear: start where you are. “We must not lift 100 pounds to 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds… Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This progressive approach applies to cardio exercise as well. While adjusting the speed on her treadmill, she notes that she once ran at higher speeds before gaining weight. Now she’s working her way back up gradually: “I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven.”
The Value of Health
Perhaps the most powerful message is about the fundamental importance of health: “Your health is what? When you are in good health, you can achieve. It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”
By pushing through her workout despite not feeling 100%, she demonstrates that consistency in fitness is not about perfection—it’s about showing up and doing what you can with what you have.
For those struggling to maintain fitness habits, this story serves as a reminder that even small efforts compound over time. Every workout counts, especially the ones you do when you don’t feel like it.