The Journey Back to Fitness: Overcoming Sickness and Regaining Energy
Returning to exercise after illness can be challenging, but the rewards are immense. This is exactly what one fitness enthusiast discovered after being sidelined by sickness for several days.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for myself. That did not help me at all,” they explained during a recent workout session. “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.”
The Importance of Pushing Through
Despite still experiencing some symptoms like neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to get moving again with a short 20-minute workout. The determination to overcome physical discomfort demonstrates a powerful mindset that many fitness experts recommend.
“It is very hard to lose weight, but very easy to gain weight,” they noted. “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.”
Starting Small and Building Momentum
The workout featured light jogging, which just days before had been impossible to sustain for even five minutes. This progress highlights how quickly the body can begin to recover when given the opportunity to move again.
“Your health is wealth. When you are in good health, you can do anything. It’s only when you cannot do certain things that you cannot achieve your goals. That is why we need to run. We need to exercise anyhow.”
An important takeaway from this fitness journey is that you don’t need to start with intense workouts: “We must not be professional. 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.”
Tracking Progress
Using a treadmill with various settings helped monitor the workout. The machine tracked minutes, calories (reaching almost 200 during this session), and speed. Currently comfortable at speeds up to seven (on a scale that goes to 12), there’s acknowledgment that higher speeds will become possible with continued weight loss and conditioning.
“When I lose weight, I’ll start running at 10. Before, I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12.”
The Recovery Process
By the end of the workout, positive changes were already noticeable: “I was cold before, but now I’m sweating. My energy level is coming back.”
This experience serves as a reminder that consistency in physical activity is crucial for maintaining mobility, energy, and overall health. Even short workouts after a period of inactivity can help the body begin to reclaim its strength and flexibility.