How sick is too sick to work
out? We want to make sure our bodies
heal, but we also don’t want to lose our momentum. The basic rule is: listen to the body. If it feels too hard, don’t do it.
The more complicated rules
are, shockingly, more complicated.
When we have a cold and
feel congested, we probably need to take the cardio down a notch. We need to breathe to do it, after all. However, some light cardio can lift the mood
a little and provide a needed change of scenery (walk to the store for more
decongestants, anyone?).
Again, if our bodies are
already aching, heavy lifting is probably not a good idea. We need our energy for healing, so this is
not the time to spend it on building muscle.
Stretching, on the other hand, can be a very good idea. All that lying around can make us very stiff.
If we normally work out
in a gym or with others, we also need to consider whether we are
contagious. It is not nice to infect
other people. This is a good time to
reinforce all our hygiene rules about washing our hands and wiping down equipment.
Rest is both an integral
part of fitness and of healing. Rest may
be the most important workout component when we are sick.
