The Journey Back: Overcoming Illness Through Exercise
Getting back to exercise after being sick can be challenging, but it’s often the best medicine for our bodies. This was demonstrated clearly in a recent fitness journey shared by a determined individual working to regain their strength and energy.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised, and that did not help me at all,” they explained. “Not exercising did not help me, but made my body 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 experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to push through with a short 20-minute workout. This determination highlights an important principle in fitness and health recovery: sometimes we need to gently push our bodies rather than waiting until we feel completely better.
The Mindset of Fitness Success
One of the most powerful insights shared during this exercise session was about the mental approach to fitness: “It is very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight. All you need to do is to push your body. Don’t let your body control you – you control your body. Control your mouth.”
This philosophy of mind over matter is central to consistent fitness progress. When the body craves unhealthy options or rest, sometimes the disciplined choice is to say no and push forward with exercise plans.
Progress Is Visible
The improvement in stamina was noticeable compared to previous days. “Yesterday, I couldn’t sustain jogging for five minutes without stopping,” they noted, whereas in this session, they were able to continue much longer, tracking calories burned and maintaining a consistent pace.
This rapid improvement demonstrates how quickly the body can respond to renewed activity, even when recovering from illness. The workout included tracking various metrics including time, calories burned, and maintaining an appropriate speed level for their current fitness state.
The Importance of Gradual Progress
An important message for fitness beginners was also shared: “We must not be professional. You must not lift 100 pounds – just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. Little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This approach of starting where you are and gradually building strength and endurance is the cornerstone of sustainable fitness. The individual mentioned that they previously could run at higher speeds on the treadmill but currently needed to stay at a more moderate pace due to their current condition and weight.
By the end of the session, they were approaching 200 calories burned and noticing their energy levels returning – a powerful reminder that sometimes the best way to feel better is to get moving, even when it’s the last thing we feel like doing.