The Power of Pushing Through: Returning to Exercise After Illness
Returning to exercise after being sick can be challenging, but it’s often exactly what the body needs to recover fully. One fitness enthusiast recently shared their journey of getting back to working out after several days of illness, highlighting the importance of persistence and not letting temporary setbacks derail health goals.
“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 movement had tangible 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 knees, my toes, everything pained me. Because of lack of exercise.”
Taking the First Steps Back
Despite still feeling some lingering symptoms—”I still feel my neck, my head is aching me, my nose is growing”—they made the decision to push through with a short 20-minute workout to begin rebuilding their stamina.
This determination exemplifies an important fitness principle: sometimes we must take control rather than letting our bodies dictate our actions. “It’s not easy. But you’re going to force it,” they advised. “You control your body. Control your mouth. Control your belly. Control everything. And then force your body to move.”
Gradual Progress
The workout session demonstrated clear progress from previous days. “If it was yesterday, I cannot sustain this jogging for five minutes. No stop five minutes jogging. If it was two days ago, that was the worst.”
An important reminder was shared for those intimidated by intense fitness regimens: “We must not be professional as well. You must not lift 100 pounds. Just start by lifting 10 pounds, 5 pounds. Just little by little, we are going to be fine.”
Adjusting Intensity Based on Current Ability
The fitness enthusiast also discussed adapting workout intensity to current fitness levels, using a treadmill as an example. “When I lose weight, I’ll start running 10. Because that way you have to pop up. If I put it now, I will fall.”
They explained their progression: “I used to put up to 7. Before, I used to put up to 9. But now, I can do up to 7. But not 10. Not 11. Not 12. 12 is the highest.”
The Importance of Health for Achievement
Perhaps most importantly, they emphasized the fundamental connection between health and achievement: “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.”
By the end of the short session, results were already apparent: “My energy level is coming back.” This serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes the best remedy for feeling low energy is precisely the thing that seems most difficult—getting up and moving.
For anyone struggling to maintain fitness routines through illness or setbacks, this journey offers an inspiring example of how pushing through temporary discomfort can lead to renewed energy and a return to wellness.