Should I Still Workout When I’m Sick??

Should I Still Workout When I’m Sick??

As a personal trainer I have often come across clients who are sick with a flu or a cold, and desire to workout in spite of that fact.  Well, I usually send them home with instructions to rest up and drink plenty of fluids. Whether or not you should work out when you’re sick is often a judgment call. Here are some things to consider before deciding whether you should take a break or break a sweat.

1. Evaluate The Situation: First things first, not all symptoms should be created equal. Assess your symptoms to see if they are above the neck (sniffling, sneezing, sore throat, etc.). If that’s what you’re experiencing, you can probably do some light physical activity if you are feeling up for it. However, if your symptoms are below the neck (coughing, aches, stomach pains, etc.), take a break. If you have a fever, nausea or stomach issues, rest! Because you are already at a higher risk of dehydration, and a sweat-filled training session isn’t the best thing you can do for your body while trying to recover, skip the workout and rest!

2. Monitor the Intensity: After evaluating the situation and if you meet the above-the-neck guidelines, you probably aren’t going to be able to kill your workout with the same intensity as you normally would, but that’s ok. Because physical symptoms is an indication that your body is still recovering, take it easy, substitute your usual routine for something less intensive— such as gentle stretching, an easy-paced walk or, depending on your fitness level, a modified version of your typical workout. While it’s always important to listen to your body, it’s more important than ever while you are feeling sick or recovering from an illness. Staying hydrated is imperative, monitor your exertion level and stay in tune with your body to see if what you are doing is making you feel better or worse than before you started exercising.

3. Avoid the Gym: Out of consideration for others, it’s still a good idea to skip the gym even if you’re stir-crazy at home and feel well enough to do some activity. An at-home routine can, not only help prevent you from spreading germs, it also allows you to quickly stop your session if you aren’t feeling as well as you thought. If you are dying to get out of the house, consider taking a walk around your neighborhood to get some fresh air without exposing others, but stay close enough to home that you can make a swift return to bed if needed.

Illness, injuries or other obstacles that may arise often require modifications to your workout routine. For more information on how to overcome these obstacles, or if you’re looking to improve your health, lose weight, or build strength contact us.