The Journey Back to Fitness After Illness: Why Exercise Matters

Returning to exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s an essential step toward recovery. This was clearly demonstrated in a recent fitness journey where the struggle to regain strength and endurance became apparent.

“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system,” noted the individual beginning their workout. “Not exercising did not help me, 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 Importance of Moving Again

After several days of illness, the body becomes stiff and uncooperative. Symptoms like headaches, nasal congestion, and general discomfort persist, but movement becomes a critical part of the healing process. Despite feeling unwell, making the decision to exercise again – even briefly – can jumpstart recovery.

The workout session was planned as a short 20-minute exercise to reactivate the body. This moderate approach is ideal for those recovering from illness, as it challenges the body without overtaxing it.

Mental Control Over Physical Limitations

Perhaps the most valuable insight shared during this fitness session was about the mental aspect of exercise and healthy living:

“All you need to do is to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your body. Control your mouth. When you feel like eating something unhealthy, you say no. 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.”

This mental discipline extends beyond exercise to overall health choices, emphasizing that taking control of impulses is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Gradual Progress is Key

The session demonstrated that after illness, endurance decreases significantly. “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 importance of starting small was emphasized: “We must not be professional as well. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. If we cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”

Adjusting Intensity Appropriately

Understanding personal limitations is crucial when returning to exercise. During the session, there was mention of speed settings on the treadmill, with acknowledgment that certain speeds were currently too challenging: “Five is speed running. And it’s also speed on seven. When I lose weight, I will start running 10. But if I put it now, I will fall. Because of my weight.”

This realistic approach to fitness is refreshing and important – recognizing current limitations while still challenging oneself appropriately.

The Health-Achievement Connection

Perhaps most profound was the observation about how health impacts all other aspects of life: “Your health is what? When you are in good health, you can achieve. It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve yourself. You cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run. We need to exercise anyhow we can.”

This powerful reminder serves as motivation for maintaining physical activity even during challenging times.

As this fitness journey demonstrates, returning to exercise after illness is not about immediate performance but about reestablishing the habit of movement. By taking small steps and maintaining mental discipline, the body begins its return to strength and health – one workout at a time.