The Challenges of Returning to Exercise After Illness

Returning to physical activity after being sick can be a daunting challenge, as one fitness enthusiast recently discovered. After several days of illness without exercise, they experienced significant physical discomfort, including stiffness throughout their body.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they explained during a recent workout session. “Not exercising did not help me at all. It made my body stiff.”

The physical effects of this exercise hiatus were widespread, affecting multiple areas of their body. “I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my nails, my toes, everything pained me because of lack of exercise,” they shared.

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they committed to a short 20-minute workout to begin rebuilding their fitness level. The session proved challenging, with the participant repeatedly expressing fatigue throughout the workout.

The experience highlights an important reality about fitness that many people face: “It is very hard to lose weight but very easy to gain weight,” they noted. Their advice for maintaining fitness includes three key components: “You need to push your body. Control your mouth. Control your belly. And then force your body to move.”

As the workout progressed, they began to notice positive changes. “My energy level is coming back,” they reported toward the end of the session, despite the fatigue. This demonstrates how even a short exercise session can help jumpstart recovery and energy levels after illness.

Health experts generally recommend easing back into exercise after being sick, starting with shorter, less intense workouts and gradually building back to pre-illness levels. This approach helps prevent injury while allowing the body to rebuild strength and endurance safely.