The Journey Back to Fitness After Illness: Why Consistency Matters
Getting back into exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s a crucial step toward regaining strength and overall well-being. After several days of feeling unwell and avoiding physical activity, one fitness enthusiast shares their experience of returning to exercise despite lingering symptoms.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” they explain. “That did not help me at all. Not exercising did not help me, but made my body to be stiff.”
The Consequences of Inactivity
The physical consequences of taking time off from regular exercise became quickly apparent. “I tried to stretch, even the back of my legs, my knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise,” they shared during their workout session.
Despite still experiencing some symptoms—”I still feel my neck, my head is aching, my nose is running”—they made the decision to push through with a gentle workout to begin rebuilding their strength and mobility.
The Mental Challenge of Exercise
One of the most significant insights shared during this fitness journey is about the mental aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s about taking control rather than letting momentary discomfort dictate your choices.
“It is very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight,” they note. “All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you—you control your body. Control your mouth.”
This mental fortitude extends to making conscious choices: “When you feel like eating a snack, you say, ‘No. I will not eat today. I will exercise.’ Just go ahead. Control your mouth. Control your belly.”
Starting Small and Building Consistency
An important reminder for anyone looking to improve their fitness is that you don’t need to start with intense workouts:
“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 gradual approach applies to cardio exercise as well. The fitness enthusiast mentions adjusting the speed on their treadmill based on their current capability: “I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12.”
The Rewards of Perseverance
By the end of the short workout session, there was already a noticeable improvement in energy and outlook: “My energy level is coming back,” they shared, despite acknowledging the fatigue.
This real-time demonstration of pushing through initial discomfort to reap the benefits of exercise serves as motivation for anyone who might be struggling to get back into a fitness routine after illness or a period of inactivity.
The key takeaway? Health is wealth, and sometimes maintaining it requires pushing through discomfort to rebuild what was temporarily lost. As they aptly put it: “When you are in good health, you can achieve. It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals.”