As of late, I've been fielding lots of questions about exercising while sick...
Well the truth of the matter is it really depends on what kind of sick we're talking about.
Do you have a runny nose, dry cough, sneezing, watery eyes kind of sick - symptoms above the neck? Or, are you dealing with something a more systemic - all over the body - including symptoms like fever, chills, aches and pains, nausea?
[tweet_box design="box_12"]Being sick is just your body's way of saying you're way too awesome and you need to slow down so everyone can catch up.[/tweet_box]
The above the neck kind of cold, bottom line, yes you can do light to moderate activity. In fact it's been shown that this type of activity boosts immune function ! So consider going for a walk, light jog, a swim or maybe take in a Tai Chi or yoga class. Avoid anything super strenuous.
As for the flu-like sickness - answer: No, don't exercise. Rest. And if after a couple of days of that, symptoms continue, than consult with your doctor.
To help you better understand what's the best option for you, here's a fantastic infographic from Precision Nutrition.
[caption id="attachment_21712" align="aligncenter" width="1250"]
Image Source: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/working-out-when-sick-infographic
[/caption]
Should I - Can I - workout when I'm sick?
Well the truth of the matter is it really depends on what kind of sick we're talking about.
Do you have a runny nose, dry cough, sneezing, watery eyes kind of sick - symptoms above the neck? Or, are you dealing with something a more systemic - all over the body - including symptoms like fever, chills, aches and pains, nausea?
[tweet_box design="box_12"]Being sick is just your body's way of saying you're way too awesome and you need to slow down so everyone can catch up.[/tweet_box]
The above the neck kind of cold, bottom line, yes you can do light to moderate activity. In fact it's been shown that this type of activity boosts immune function ! So consider going for a walk, light jog, a swim or maybe take in a Tai Chi or yoga class. Avoid anything super strenuous.
As for the flu-like sickness - answer: No, don't exercise. Rest. And if after a couple of days of that, symptoms continue, than consult with your doctor.
To help you better understand what's the best option for you, here's a fantastic infographic from Precision Nutrition.
Exercise when sick? Should you sweat it out? Or, rest and recover? [infographic]
[caption id="attachment_21712" align="aligncenter" width="1250"]
Image Source: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/working-out-when-sick-infographic
[/caption]
