The Journey Back to Fitness: Overcoming Sickness Through Exercise
Getting back into exercise after illness can be challenging, but it’s essential for restoring health and energy. This was demonstrated recently by a fitness enthusiast who shared their experience of returning to workouts after feeling sick for several days.
“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 physical activity had noticeable negative effects: “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 Struggle to Return
Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to start moving again with a short 20-minute workout. This determination highlights an important fitness principle: sometimes we need to push through initial discomfort to begin healing.
“It is very hard to lose weight. But very easy to gain weight,” they observed, emphasizing the need for discipline. “You need to push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your body. Control your mouth.”
Signs of Progress
The improvement from just one day of resumed activity was notable. “Yesterday I could not sustain jogging for five minutes. Today I can go,” they shared, demonstrating how quickly the body can begin responding to exercise after a period of inactivity.
This experience reinforces that fitness doesn’t require professional-level intensity. As they wisely noted: “We must not be professional. We must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds. Five pounds. Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
The Importance of Adapting
Adaptation is key when returning to exercise. The fitness enthusiast mentioned adjusting their treadmill speed based on their current condition: “I used to put up to nine. But now, I can do up to seven, but not 10, not 11, not 12.”
By the end of the short session, they had burned nearly 200 calories and were already noticing positive changes: “I was cold, but now I’m sweating… My energy level is coming back.”
A Reminder About Health Priorities
Perhaps the most important takeaway was their reflection on health as a foundation for all other achievements: “Your health is wealth. When you are in good health, you can achieve. 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 we can.”
This journey serves as an inspiring reminder that fitness is not about perfection but persistence. Even a short workout after illness can be the first step back to wellness and energy.