To work out or not to work out?

It seems to me that most people I talk to right now are either sick or know someone that is sick. Cold and flu season is upon us and it is apparent! This past Tuesday I woke up with a sore throat, one of the first signs of sickness and I do NOT have time to get sick, so I take immediate action.

Rest
Orange Juice
Vitamins
.....but do I work out?

Many people think that it is okay to work out while being sick but this isn't always true.


When it's okay to work out while sick:

• You just have a mild head cold
• It has been a couple days and the worst of the sickness is over.
• If all of your symptoms are above the neck, like runny nose or sore throat

When deciding to work out while having a mild cold make sure that your exercise intensity is very low...like the intensity of a warm up. The duration of your work out should be shortened to 20 or 30 minutes. Your reason for working out shouldn't be to improve fitness during times of sickness, it should be to help you feel better.

When it is NOT okay to work out:

• You have a fever
• You feel nauseous
• You are highly contagious and in a public gym
• You have chest congestion
• You have muscle or joint pain

If you work out while very sick you are taking the risk of getting sicker and/or prolonging your recovery. The energy your body would use to help boost your immune system is now being used to repair muscle damage. You are also making the decision to share your illness with everyone else around you if you are working out in a public gym. Do yourself and everyone else a favor .... STAY HOME AND REST!