The Power of Perseverance: Exercising Through Illness and Recovery

Maintaining a consistent exercise routine can be challenging, especially when dealing with illness. This is a reality many fitness enthusiasts face, as demonstrated by one individual’s journey back to physical activity after several days of feeling unwell.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they shared during a live workout session. “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 nails, my toes, everything pained me because of lack of exercise.”

The Difficult Return to Exercise

Despite still experiencing symptoms like neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they pushed through with a short 20-minute workout to gradually reintroduce their body to physical activity. This approach highlights an important aspect of fitness consistency – sometimes, doing something small is better than doing nothing at all.

“It is very hard to exercise, but very easy to gain weight. Very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight,” they observed. This sentiment resonates with many who struggle with fitness consistency and weight management.

Mental Discipline in Fitness

The workout session emphasized the mental aspect of fitness as much as the physical component. “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you,” they advised. “Control your mouth. When you feel like eating a snack, you say no. Control your lungs. Control your belly. Control your abdomen. Control everything, and then force your body to move.”

This philosophy of mind over matter is often what separates successful fitness journeys from abandoned ones. It’s about developing the mental discipline to continue even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.

Progress and Celebration

The joy of recovery was evident throughout the session. “No more lying down! I got up! I checked my body! No more lying down! No more sickness! No more headache! I’m better now!” This enthusiasm highlighted the psychological boost that comes from returning to physical activity after a period of illness.

There was also a notable difference in stamina compared to previous days. “If it was yesterday, I could not sustain this jogging for 5 minutes! No stop 5 minutes jogging! If it was 2 days ago, that was the worst!”

Gradual Progression in Fitness

An important message shared during the workout was the value of starting small and progressing gradually. “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… Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”

This approach to fitness – focusing on consistency rather than intensity – is often more sustainable in the long run, particularly for those returning from illness or just beginning their fitness journey.

The Tools of Exercise

The session took place on a treadmill with various features including incline options and speed settings. “The treadmill has timer, has calories, has number of stairs… it has also the speed limit. Like if you’re using three, you’re using two, you’re using five. Five is speed running.”

Weight was mentioned as a factor in determining appropriate exercise intensity. “When I lose weight, I’ll start running at 10… If I put it now, I will fall. Because of my weight. But I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine.”

The Rewards of Perseverance

By the end of the session, there were clear signs of progress. “I’m sweating now. I was cold earlier, but now I’m sweating” and “My energy level is coming back” indicated the positive physical responses to resuming exercise.

The calorie counter approaching 200 provided tangible evidence of effort, even in a relatively short workout session.

This journey of exercising through recovery serves as a reminder that fitness is not about perfection but persistence. Sometimes the most important workout is the one that gets you back on track after a setback, regardless of its intensity or duration.