Should I Workout When I’m Sick?
With the official start of fall comes pumpkin patches and cooler temperatures, and for many, the start of the cold and flu season. With the sudden body aches and pains, plus the runny nose and cough, comes the question—should I workout when I am sick?
We have all heard the saying that you should “Feed a cold and starve a fever,” but where does lifting weights and hitting the cardio factor into this equation? And for the record, it is not recommended that you ‘starve’ at all, and particularly to help you recover from illness. The Marc Pro team has some tips to help you navigate the cold and flu season so that you can continue maximizing your workouts, while feeling your best.
Stay Hydrated
This tip can be applied to your regular habits even before you get sick. Staying hydrated can help you feel better if a cold does strike, especially if you are drinking soup broth and copious amounts of water.
Fuel Properly
This tip also factors in before you ever feel sick. Fuel your body properly and you can prevent illness onset. Take inventory of how many fruits and vegetables you are consuming on a regular daily basis, and adjust how much you are consuming and what fresh ingredients you are incorporating regularly into your diet.
Don’t Workout at 100%
When you are not feeling 100%, you do not need to push your body to the limit to ‘nail a workout.’ While studies have indicated that some exercise can be beneficial during a cold, especially in how an individual feels overall with symptoms, too much exercise (above 90 minutes) can actually impact overall immunity.
Listen to Your Body
You will be able to tell if you are exercising too much and if your body could actually benefit from more rest. If you are feeling completely wiped out and exhausted from the most basic of activities, then the workout you might best benefit from is a long nap.
Do a “Neck Check” Before Exercising
If your symptoms are above the neck and include a sore throat, sneezing, watery eyes, and nasal congestion, then exercising is not an issue. However, if you are experiencing symptoms below the neck such as coughing, body aches, fever, and overall fatigue, then consider holding off on the exercise until these symptoms improve.
Do you typically power through a workout while you are sick, or take the time to fully recover? What are your “go-to” tips for recovering from a cold or the flu? Tweet @themarcpro with your best ‘get well soon’ suggestions!