Skip to main content

Sick? When to Call it Quits


I would love to be sharing my workouts with you. Would love to tell you I was a badass and ran with Amy when it was 10 degrees yesterday, or that I got in a kick butt weight workout on Monday. But, whatever sickness has taken over has totally sidelined me.

There are many times when I am feeling less than stellar but am still able to get in a workout. I tend to try to listen to my body and do what I can. As a lifelong asthmatic, I know that if it's in my chest, then working out is a no go plain and simple. But sniffles and sneezing just mean that I need extra tissues.

It's been a really long time since I've been too sick to even think about working out. There are times when I feel under the weather and think about it, but then decide on a rest day. This time? Not even an inkling of a thought. I hardly even have the energy to move off the couch to go get water let alone run even half a mile.

To add to my list of when not to workout is a fever. The fever knocked me out for the count. I slept more hours than I was even awake, though the sleep was fitful at best. 

I know many of us push ourselves hard. We push during our workouts. We push to go farther, faster. We push to lift heavier. We crave the challenge and discipline. But sometimes it takes discipline (and smarts) to know when to back off. When to throw in the towel and let the body rest. 

Many of us say that we listen to our bodies. We back off when our bodies tell us to. But do we really? I  will readily admit that I likely do not listen as closely as I proclaim. Oh, I listen. I hear it. But sometimes I tell it to please quieten down a bit. I'll get back to you in a minute, after I'm done working out. Sometimes I back down on intensity, but don't fully rest. But in comparison ... it feels like rest. Perspective right?

After doing some reading, here's what I found about working out when sick. Basically, listen to your body. But really and truly listen. Don't tell it to hush. Also suggested is the neck test. If it's above the neck (sneezing, sore throat, runny nose) then it's probably ok to work out. Below the neck is a no go as well as a fever.

In fact, a "fever is the limiting factor, says Lewis G. Maharam, MD, a New York City-based sports medicine expert. 'The danger is exercising and raising your body temperature internally if you already have a fever, because that can make you even sicker,' he tells WebMD. If you have a fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, sit this one out."

Yikes. Did you know that? I never thought of that. I just know that when I had a fever these past few days, I was too achy and too fatigued to move. 

What's your limiting factor for working out when you're sick? Do you really and truly listen to your body or do you tell it to hush up so you can push on?

Today I am finally feeling mostly human. Thoughts of possible workouts are creeping in my head. The weather is iffy for rain, probably a good thing because that'll keep me from running. So now I'm thinking of ways to ease slowly into workouts. Low intensity. Low impact. Short on time. I know my body will feel weaker. But getting moving again will also make me feel better. My mantra this week will be "easy does it."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Love in Photos

In honor of Valentine's Day - Love in Photos Husband Family and Furbabies Friends Even if you're not a fan of Valentine's Day - I hope you have a wonderful day and remember the loves in your life.

Hump Day and More Pineapples

Full-Body Workout  I'll readily admit that getting up this morning was quite painful and almost didn't happen. I forced myself out of bed though not exactly excited about tackling a full-body Pyramid workout. Sort of daunting at 5 am really. I did the warm up from Shock Cardio Cardio Core Circuit (cardio only premix) then hit the weights. It was a pyramid up only so I increased my starting weight. I topped it all off with the first 2 1/2 drills from the cardio workout. I ran short on time and was basically spent. Squats into Plie Squats Step Ups (seriously hate these especially at 5:30 am) Incline Chest Flyes into Chest Press Pullovers into DB Underhand Rows Step Ups (freaking again) Static Lunges Overhead DB Press into Lateral Raises Deadlifts Kickbacks into Overhead Extensions Hammer Curls into Alternating Curls Calf Raises I am so excited to report that my new cross-trainers and running shoes arrived today. Can't wait to test both of them out. I waited way way way too

Hitting the Gym and Lazy Means Creative Tex-Mex Creation

Sunday, Gym Day Why do vacations and min-vacations go by so quickly? Just doesn't seem quite right. Anyway, we left Branson around 9:30 am to head back home. It was a pretty uneventful drive back, which is usually a good thing. We got home and unpacked, then I headed up to the gym. I started with a 10-minute treadmill run to warm up before hitting the weights for back and light legs then abs. I went with a giant set for back then supersets for legs. GS - 4x8 Underhand barbell rows Pullovers Double-arm rows SS#1 Rear-leg elevated lunges (Bulgarian Split Squats) - 3x8 Calf raises - 3x20 SS#2 - 2x8 Walking lunges Plie squats with low-end pulse Single-leg deadlifts - 2x8 I did some ab exercises, stretched, and called it quits. Lazy = Crazy Dinner I may have made it to the gym and washed a few loads of laundry, but I never made it to the grocery store - lounging in the pool trumped grocery shopping. This meant getting creative with dinner. We had another package