No matter how healthy you are, sooner or later some bug will catch up with you.
When it does do you you still maintain your work outs or stop all together until you are completely over it?
The answer is yes……and no……maybe.
If you are running a fever, you are nauseous or have a major headache, then no, it isn’t smart to do anything strenuous, even if you can make yourself. Your body is telling you to rest, so it can heal.
If you have the “sniffles” or something mild,, then studies support that moderate exercise might lessen your symptoms by loosening congestion and increasing circulation.
It’s important however to not feel guilty about taking a few days off, and not to expose people to your illness when it is in an active phase.
Hydrate, relax, get some extra sleep.
Some of us feel intuitively when it makes sense to keep moving and when to lay low, the body talks! But some feel that stopping even for a day or two destroys all gains and momentum.
So not true, in fact some of us experience what feels like a post illness energy boost!
What you can do that may help you relax and heal is some gentle stretching or yoga that you can do at home. Some also find mindful breathing, counting breathes, and visualization of healing scenes can be helpful.
A bit of good news; even if being a regular exerciser won’t totally save you from everything germ/virus out there, being fit is generally associated with fewer illness and less severity/duration when it does occur.
So relax and feel better! Sandra
Tags: http://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-flu/exercise-for-common-cold.aspx
