Monday, 08 February 2010
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Advice: Should You Workout When You're Sick?
This comes from our Advice column!
"Should you workout when you're sick?"
Think you have some good advice? Hop over and share your answer!: "Should you workout when you're sick?"
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Comments (31)
i don't workout when i'm sick because i feel like i'm going to pass out.
ehh depends on how sick.......I try to anyway. makes me feel better. I feel like Im sweating out all the germs and toxins out of my body.
making a speedy recovery.
I remember I was releee sick. Called out of work but went to the gym with a friend. Couldnt work out as intense but still did it. I felt like I was gonna pass out and I was high on the niquil I accidently took...oddest feeling ever.
Was better by the next day though!
depends on how sick you are and what exercise you're doing. i'd say yoga, yes; running in the frigid cold, no.
@sexncookies@xanga - i agree.
feels like im sweating out the sick when i exercise while sick.
do it. sweat a little bit. don't overexert yourself, obviously. i'm actually sick now and did a little over a 2 mile run. i feel much better. granted, i only have a head cold.
My rule of thumb is: if my nose or throat bother me, I try to work out. If I have body aches and a fever, I don't work out. Cold, yes workout, flu no workout.
What DixieD said
It depends on how sick you are and what illness you have. If you're coughing alot, body aches, and/or have a fever, then rest up.
I'm definitely a stubborn warrior. I workout even if I have a broken arm. I believe in the "sweat it out" theory.
You might not want to do it while you're having major headaches. Might black out.
Depends on the type and severity of the sickness. And don't get others sick. It's like when a parent lets their sick kid come to your kid's elementary school and that sick kid gets everyone else in the classroom sick! lol ok tangent there.
Not if it'll influence your breathing. Otherwise, yeah, it feels amazing.
You don't always have to work out - you can just go on a light walk or something. I had a horrendous cold the other day and got so sick of staying inside. I took the kids out in the double stroller and did a walk around the neighborhood. No, it wasn't any 30 day Shred, but hey, it made me feel a ton better.
And I totally buy into that "sweating off the cold" theory. It works!
wow, i needed this. i'm coming down with a cold.
thanks healthkicker!
only if the doctor says I can. I guess it depends on how sick and what kind of exercise.
warning though: I have a friend who had the early stages of a cold (didn't even realise he was sick) and had a cadiovascular shut down at the gym (he's never even had a history of asthma or chest problems).
So better be safe than sorry and check with the doc.
If you're just starting to get a cold, getting your body temperature up with cardio can actually speed up your recovery as long as you don't overexert. You're essentially giving yourself a mini fever that gets the enzymes in your immune system to work faster.
If i work out when it feels like my ovaries are falling out I'll work out when I'm sick.
nooooooooo
Do it up motherfuckers
I dont work out if I have a migraine or a stomach ache (as I did today) because running = impact and makes me head throb even more. but if I have a sore throat and a cough, I'll still work out.
I never feel up to excercizing when I'm sick.
I don't see a problem with working out while you're sick if it's not serious. But for the sake of others, please wash your hands frequently, otherwise you're just spreading your disease to the rest of the gym. Not cool.
I personally start doing some push ups and curls when ever i'm sick. And I always seem start feeling better sooner when i do.
My human health and wellness teacher says that exercise can be a good way to overcome your sickness depending on what it is and how bad it is. Sometimes you need a little refreshener, and exercise is a good way of doing that. Me, personally, do not exercise when I'm sick. I like to take care of myself in other ways.
Like everyone else said,
it kind of depends on how sick you are.
If you are just a little bit sick,
try just a bit of exercise to boost your immune system, but nothing
that will make you feel exhausted.
If you are severely sick (like if you have a fever),
a lot of your energy is probably used to fight the virus/bacteria or whatever it is you have,
so you need to give yourself a rest and conserve that energy.
Either way,
drink lots of fluids and stay warm!
Hope you feel better!