The Journey to Recovery: How Exercise Helps Overcome Illness
After several days of feeling sick and avoiding physical activity, one fitness enthusiast shares their personal experience of returning to exercise and the immediate benefits they noticed. This real-life account demonstrates how even a short workout can begin to reverse the negative effects of inactivity during illness.
“I have been feeling sick for some days, I have not really exercised and I did not do any good for my system. That did not help me at all,” they explained at the beginning of their 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 ankles, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
The Importance of Pushing Through
Despite still experiencing some symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to engage in a short 20-minute exercise routine. This determination highlights an important principle in fitness: sometimes we need to gently push our bodies rather than waiting until we feel completely recovered.
“No more lying down. I got up. And I… I shake my body. No more lying down. No more sickness. No more headache,” they shared, noting the immediate improvement in their condition compared to previous days when they couldn’t sustain even five minutes of jogging.
The Challenge of Weight Management
The fitness enthusiast also touched on the challenges of weight management, sharing an observation many can relate to: “It is very hard to lose weight. Very easy to get weight.”
They offered straightforward advice for those struggling with weight loss: “All you need to do is push your body. You force it. Not letting your body control you. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move.”
Starting Small for Sustainable Results
An important message throughout the session was the value of starting small and building gradually. “We must not be professional as well. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. So if you cannot lift 10 pounds, just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
This incremental approach applies to cardiovascular exercise as well. The individual mentioned using a treadmill with various speed settings ranging from 1 to 12, noting that they currently work at speed 7 but had previously managed speed 9, with a goal to eventually reach speeds 10-12 as their fitness improves.
The Connection Between Health and Achievement
Perhaps the most profound insight shared was the connection between physical health and our ability to achieve life goals: “When you are in good health, you can achieve all. 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.”
By the end of the short session, the individual was approaching 200 calories burned and noticed their energy levels returning – a testament to how quickly the body can respond to positive activity, even when recovering from illness.