The Power of Perseverance: Returning to Exercise After Illness

Making a comeback after illness can be challenging, but pushing through physical discomfort to restore health and fitness is a journey worth undertaking. One fitness enthusiast recently shared their experience of returning to exercise after several days of sickness, highlighting both the struggles and triumphs of this process.

“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 consequences: “That did not help me at all. 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 Challenges of Resuming Activity

Despite still experiencing symptoms including neck pain, headache, and nasal congestion, they made the decision to push forward with a gentle workout. This determination exemplifies an important aspect of fitness maintenance – consistency even through difficult periods.

The individual noted the irony many fitness enthusiasts recognize: “It is very hard to exercise but very easy to gain weight, very hard to lose weight, very easy to get weight.” This observation highlights one of the fundamental challenges of maintaining physical fitness.

Mental Discipline: The Key to Consistency

A significant portion of the fitness journey involves mental discipline. As they put it: “All you need to do is to push your body… not letting your body control you. Control your mouth, control your belly… and then force your body to move. Force it. It’s not easy but I’m gonna force it.”

This mindset – taking control rather than being controlled by impulses – represents the psychological foundation of sustainable fitness habits.

Tracking Progress

Using fitness equipment with tracking capabilities provides important metrics for monitoring progress. The individual mentioned tracking calories burned (approaching 200 during the session) and carefully managing speed settings based on current fitness levels.

“When I lose weight, I’ll start running at 10,” they explained, demonstrating an understanding of progressive overload principles. “Because of my weight, but I used to put seven. I used to put up to seven. Before, I used to put up to nine.”

Signs of Recovery

Despite the lingering effects of illness, positive indicators of recovery emerged during the workout: “I’m sweating now. I was cold now, but now I’m sweating.” This physiological response signals the body’s gradual return to normal functioning.

The improvement was notable compared to previous days: “If it was yesterday I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes… if it was two days ago, that was the worst.”

The Bigger Picture

Perhaps most importantly, this fitness journey demonstrates the connection between physical health and overall life goals: “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 your goals. That is why we need to run, we need to exercise anyhow we can.”

This perspective places physical fitness in its proper context – not merely as an aesthetic pursuit, but as a foundational element of a productive, fulfilling life.

The experience serves as a reminder that fitness journeys aren’t always linear. Sometimes they involve setbacks, periods of illness, and the challenge of beginning again. What matters most is the willingness to return to healthy habits, even when it’s difficult.