excersising when slightly sick

[taurushead]

hey wisdom holders??

is it ok to excersise when not 100% well?? I've had a few days off (and i dont mean going to the gym, i mean going for walks. a light boxing session. that kinda thing. my 'days off' were literally lying down all day unable to move. ) and i just don't feel RIGHT without moving a little y'know??
Thing is..after the days of lying around..i dont wanna back track. i never get sick like that so im not sure how it works. am i better off leaving until throat is entirely better and headache fades, knowing that if i dont do anything today ill probably be fine by tomorrow? or will it really make no difference, maybe even help ?

:o

[Texaspice]

I would not exercise if you have a fever. You body is fighting pretty hard so I wouldn't add an extra stress to it. (plus that seems miserable)

But I will exercise during a 'head cold' with mild symptoms like slight sore throat, stuffy and/or runny nose, headache etc... I do take it easier on those days and generally exercising makes me feel bettter - clears out some of the congestion.

Only you know how you are feeling - so listen to your body and if it is saying 'Stay home and rest today' listen to it! :hamster:

[taurushead]

thanks for the wise words :P :) :) very helpful. i think ill give it a whirl. i have so much to do today. so if another day lying around isn't crucial..well...f*ck it:)

[Cassiel]

The guideline I've been taught is, if it's above the neck (head cold, for instance) you're fine to exercise pretty much as usual. If it's below the neck (chest cold, pneumonia, etc), forget it. And I wouldn't exercise with a fever either, as Texaspice said. But when I have a headcold I really believe I get over it faster if I keep running - it clears out my head and I've noticed that since I started doing that, I haven't developed a sinus infection from my colds (which I used to do).

[Bios]

I exercise mildly when mildly sick. It helps out the aches and improves attitude and appetite, for me. I just make sure not to overdo, and to choose something I can abort if necessary -- no getting far from home. The increased blood flow is good for congestion too.

My doc encourages this, btw.

[asp3]

I generally exercise at a slower pace when I have some sort of illness. I've found that compared with just getting rest and taking it easy I seem to recover more quickly when I exercise.

This seems to be most effective for me when I exercise just as I feel something coming on. In fact if I'm just a little under the weather doing a regular, full workout usually nips the illness in the bud and prevents it from taking hold. Of course your body may work differently and you should follow what eventually works for you.

[taurushead]

great. thanks. i didn't excersise when i had temperature, nor the next two days when i just felt kinda blah. and i still slept like a baby for like..double the hours i normally do. today though i slept for just 5, and have lots of energy, except have a raging cough and no voice. but i think ill excersise today, just coz rest of me feels fine and coz i think i didn't sleep as well because im not as sick and hadn't moved all day:) your answers were so helpful!:):)

[veganinohio]

Just use common sense.

If you're really out of it, you're obviously gonna make it worse.

If it just seems like a cold, go for it.