The Importance of Exercise During Recovery: A Personal Journey

After several days of illness, getting back to exercise can be challenging but crucial for recovery. This was the experience shared during a recent workout session where the individual described returning to physical activity after 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 explained. The lack of movement had significant consequences: “That did not help me at all. 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.”

Pushing Through Discomfort

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to engage in light exercise. “I still feel my neck, my head is aching me, my nose is growing, but I will be fine,” they shared, demonstrating determination to overcome physical discomfort.

The workout focused on gentle jogging, with the participant noting their improved stamina compared to previous days. “Yesterday I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes. No stop five minutes jogging. Because two days ago, that was the worst of them.”

The Mental Battle of Exercise

A significant portion of the session addressed the mental challenges associated with maintaining physical fitness: “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? Mind over matter: “You need to do it. You need to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move. Force it. It’s not easy. But you’re gonna force it.”

Gradual Progress

The importance of incremental improvements was emphasized throughout the session. “We need to exercise anyhow… We must not be professional as well. We 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 extended to their cardio routine as well, with acknowledgment that current limitations were temporary: “When I lose weight, I’ll start running 10. Because I want to pop up. If I put it now, I will fall. Because of my weight. But I used to put seven. I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine.”

The Rewards of Persistence

By the end of the short workout, positive results were already noticeable: “I’m sweating. I was cold now, but now I’m sweating.” The participant also noted burning nearly 200 calories and feeling their “energy level coming back.”

This experience serves as a reminder that even small amounts of physical activity can make a significant difference in how we feel, especially when recovering from illness. The journey back to health often requires gentle persistence and a willingness to work through initial discomfort for greater wellness.