The Importance of Staying Active: A Personal Journey Through Illness

Physical activity is crucial for maintaining health, even during periods of illness. A recent personal experience highlighted how quickly the body can become stiff and uncomfortable when regular exercise is abandoned.

After feeling sick for several days and avoiding exercise, the negative effects became immediately apparent. “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,” the fitness enthusiast shared. “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.”

Getting Back into Action

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, the determination to return to physical activity prevailed. The workout session was deliberately kept short – just 20 minutes – to ease back into a routine without overexertion.

This approach demonstrates an important principle in fitness: consistency matters more than intensity. Even a brief workout can help maintain mobility and prevent the stiffness that comes with inactivity.

Mind Over Matter

One of the key insights shared during the session was about mental discipline: “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your body.”

This extends beyond exercise to nutrition as well: “Control your mouth. That’s why when you feel like eating a snack, you say no. I will not eat today’s snack. I will exercise. Just go ahead.”

The challenge of weight management was also addressed: “It is very hard to lose weight. Very easy to gain weight.” This reality makes consistent physical activity all the more important.

Gradual Progress

The fitness journey described embraces a gradual approach to improvement. “We must not be professional. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds. Five pounds. If you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”

Even the running intensity is carefully modulated, with the treadmill set at a manageable speed. “When I lose weight, I’ll start running at 10. Because at that speed you have to really move. If I put it at 10 now, I would fall.”

The Benefits of Consistency

By the end of the short session, positive effects were already noticeable: “I was cold before, but now I’m sweating.” The workout generated nearly 200 calories burned, and most importantly, energy levels began to return.

This experience serves as a reminder that health is the foundation of everything we do. As noted during the session, “Your health is wealth. When you are in good health, you can do anything. It’s only when you’re not well that you cannot achieve your goals.”

Whether recovering from illness or simply maintaining fitness, consistency with exercise – even in small doses – remains one of the most effective ways to support overall wellbeing.