Do you still work out when you have a cold?

[DVC Jen]

I came down with an icky headcold on Saturday after I had done an amazing workout. Sunday I got a lovely sinus that turned into migraine headache to go with it.

I got up this morning and even though it killed me I got on the treadmill. I wasn't able to go my normal 70 minutes, but at least I got 45 in.

I am so wiped out now this afternoon. I can't blame it all on the working out while sick thing though. I didn't sleep well last night, and I have a very fast paced job (preschool teacher).

I am still 30 minutes behind of my april challenge. I really want to get caught up this week. I know I can't push myself too hard while sick or I may get worse.

How many of you still work out while sick? Do you tone it down a bit or try to keep your regular routine even if your body is screaming to chill a bit?

 

[Zoesmama03]

In the past I would skip and be completely off program for months. This time I was sick last week and did my workout anyway. I only got 2 in because of other life happenings but I did my workout despite a little cold.

 

[Zela]

Even if I am sick, I will normally go ahead and do my workout. Normally, I will stew about whether or not I am going to do it. I will make all kinds of excuses as to why I shouldn't do it ("I feel too bad", "I cant breathe through my nose",yada,yada,yada). Then I will end up at least making myself get on the treadmill and do the warmup. Once I get started, it's hard for me to stop. I figure, I'm already moving why not continue (good old law of inertia ). I always feel way better after I finish my exercise than before.

 

[mking624]

I do not work out. But that's because I rarely get sick and when I DO get sick, it MAJORLY takes me down. Even a cold will seriously get me down the first couple of days. So I just use those days to relax.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I still workout if I have a headcold, it just may not be as intense. Also a good rule of thumb is it is usually ok to workout if you are sick UNLESS it is in your lungs. So headcold yes , bronchitis - no.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

As DVC Jen said, the general rule is 'if symptoms are above the neck exercise, if they are below then don't' ie just sneezing okay, coughing, muscles aches don't. However, just one word of warning as I see the 70 minute thing there. Moderate exercise (ie fast walking/running) up to 60 minutes is immunity boosting, exercise over 90 minutes is immuno-suppressive so potentially could cause cold to get worse as immune system gets sluggish afterwards. If I have even a small cold I keep my runs to an hour or less.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My rule of thumb on illness:

If I feel like crap due to illness and my body is saying "no don't go"--I listen to the body. If I'm not sick and it says that, I ignore it

Just regular old exercise--skip it if you don't feel well. Sometimes exercise will make you feel better--but usually when your body is achy sick, it makes you feel a lot worse. I hardly ever run with headaches--b/c when I get them, they involve my neck and shoulders as well. I've been known to make exceptions for races.

Don't feel bad about skipping a day or two--it would take missing two weeks before the absence of exercise started taking your body in reverse on fitness.

 

[rcyannacci]

Whenever I get a cold, it usually turns to asthma, so I don't want to aggrivate my lungs. I got sick this past Feb. and took a week off. Going back was tough, but I was motivated and by the end of the week had built back my strength.

I try to look at exercise as being kind of myself, so when I'm really sick, it just seems counterproductive