Getting ill at the gym.

[Phil Scafe]

I really enjoy going to a gym to work out. The problem is that without fail, after about a week or so I wind up with a wicked case of the flu. When I am at the gym, I try to keep to myself, wipe down my stations, bring my own water and shower before leaving. I am wondering if any other readers have experienced this and do you have any tips that might help my situation.
:-/

[cstadt]

Wear some flip flops in the showers/locker room
Try not to touch door knobs or the toilet flusher knob

are what I can think of right now...
are there lots of people at your gym most of the time?

[sarahjayn1980]

Go often and deal with being sick would be my tactic. I work with kids, and in the beginning I was sick ALL THE TIME. Now, its ocassional. Are my students less germy? I can tell you that's a flat no, but I've built up some immunity.

[abroadinSacto]

Why are you convinced it's the gym that's making you sick?

[Phil Scafe]

cstadt, Flip flops? That's a great idea! I will try that.

sarajayn1980, Go sick? Hmmm. I suppose that I would eventually build up a resistance as well, wouldn't you think it a bit immoral to expose other health nuts to disease and drudgery? Maybe if we all had your strength, it wouldn,t be a problem.

abroadinSacto, I'm not really convinced that the gym is where I am picking up the germs. It may be coincidence only that I get sick within 1 week of being at a gym. I have tried quite a few gyms with the same results. I hope to be back to mine soon though!

[Beancounter]

I don't know about the gym specifically, but often when I start going somewhere new, or a place I rarely go to, I'll get sick. It may be tension or nervousness at being somewhere new that lowers your resistance.

Just a thought.

[greensgood]

sometimes working out too much or inconsistently can compromise your immune system. i did a four day intense training session once on a team in college and on the fifth day was sick as a dog.

[Pixelle]

I really enjoy going to a gym to work out. The problem is that without fail, after about a week or so I wind up with a wicked case of the flu. When I am at the gym, I try to keep to myself, wipe down my stations, bring my own water and shower before leaving. I am wondering if any other readers have experienced this and do you have any tips that might help my situation.
:-/

How often do you go the gym?

[evelinadatta]

You get the FLU every time you go to the gym?? Do you have a compromised immune system? I haven't had the flu in at least four years, and I go to the gym at least three times a week to work out on the machines, and also to have a class that involves a high degree of body contact (jujitsu).

[Phil Scafe]

I think you hit the nail on the head. I was thinking that I may have over done it each time that I get to the gym. I will have to take it a lot slower when I get back into it. Thanks.