Comments on: Should I Still Exercise Even When I Have Cold or Flu?

By: littlebufftoughstuff

littlebufftoughstuff — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:57:55 +0000

Reading this article just stopped me from making a potential mistake. I sit here in the office coughing up goo and completely stuffed up. I wanted badly to go to the gym for some heavy lifting as my work day is over and vacation is a week away, however as a scientist I had a nagging “don’t go! Your body is sick and needs to recover.” in my head. Thought I’d check with the fitness buffs for their opinnion. It was reassuring to remember that my little jacked muscles wont waste away in a week (scientificially 2 weeks until any muscle loss at no activity-yup Im a geek!) and reading others’ comments further pushed me away from the gym and into the kitchen to make some chicken soup then off to bed early. Thank you!

By: linda

linda — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:16:41 +0000

i worked out during a cold which caused my cold to last three weeks. THREE. i would get better and get immediately sick again. i was scared to miss a good workout for a week in case i lost any progress or gained weight, so when i did workout during that week, it ended up getting me so ill that i couldnt work out for an addition two more weeks.

By: foongpc

foongpc — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:47:16 +0000

Excellent post! I have attempted to work out with a flu once and after that, my flu got much worse and I was sick for more than 2 weeks!
Lesson learnt : Never do any intensive workouts when sick and especially at the early stage of sickness for 2 reasons.
Reason 1 – our immune system already weakened from the sickness will have a uphill task of fighting the sickness if it’s further weakened by intensive exercise.
Reason 2 – it’s bad on our part to spread virus in the gym. Flu virus spread easier by touch more than by air, so if you don’t wipe all those machines you touched with a disinfectant, you will very likely pass to others. And since most people’s immune system are temporarily weakened during their workout in the gym, they stand a high chance of getting the flu.

By: Ava Semerau

Ava Semerau — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:41:17 +0000

Good information. I’m in training for a half-marathon – my first real running adventure – and I’m like sponge when it comes to what to do and not to do. Seems over the years, I’ve forgotten how to listen to my body – imagine that! Thanks.

By: Tom Parker

Tom Parker — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:17:08 +0000

Good post Mun. You have got it spot on when you say “Missing a week of workout will not deteriorate your fitness level significantly”. In fact I usually take a week off from the gym every 8 weeks or so just to give my body a rest, regardless of whether I am ill or not. I think it’s good to have a rest period a few times a year just to let your body fully recharge.

By: Lisan

Lisan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:45:35 +0000

Thanks for the information! Otherwise I’ll continue my mistake forever. I always thought exercising will make my fever go away as I sweat. Last week I was down with quite a terrible flu, all symtoms mentioned above were significant including a lower, back neck muscle pain. So I thought exercising is a good idea. Naturally my stamina was lousy and feel very tired easily but my fever was gone after I sweated. So I thought that was the end of my fever, heck, but noooo…….it got worst after a few hours! My throat got even drier, neck muscle more painful, even worst fever than before because I feel very cold in normal tempreture. Luckily I went to see the doctor and I recovered the next day. Thank goodness! :-) Now only I know exercise isn’t a good idea when we aren’t feeling well.

By: mang0

mang0 — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:03:52 +0000

My yoga teacher has also told us not to exercise when we are sick.
Anyway, I’m not that “hardworking” to think of exercising when I’m sick. Lots of rest and lots of water is the best medicine.

By: Yoga Lover

Yoga Lover — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:09:51 +0000

Thanks for the info as I was wondering about this question for quite some time. I went for a pilates class when I got cold. As a result it made me worse and got to visit the doctor at last. I was warned by elderly that not suppose to do any exercise when get cold or flu.