There you are, crushing your goals, making things happen, and staying dedicated to your workouts. Then, here comes the runny nose, the tickle in your throat, or, even worse, a fever and body aches so fierce you feel like you’ve been hit by a Mack truck.
Sometime, it’s obvious when a workout is the last thing we should do, but what about that gray area? How do we decide what’s best for our bodies and our goals?
Exercise doesn’t just keep our muscles and hearts strong; it bolsters our immune systems too. That’s right. The powers and benefits of exercise are vast! Exercise can even help us turn things around during a mild illness. Now, I am talking regular, balanced exercise—not running a marathon. While I have the upmost respect and admiration of folks who conquer these types of feats, too strenuous exercise and training can actually have the opposite effect for us.
So, where is the sweet spot, and how do I know if I am doing my body good or harm? While many factors like age, general fitness level, and diet also play important roles in this question there is a good rule of thumb. If illness is mild and above the neck, you are typically ok to continue with exercise (maybe a gentler version of the usual). Anything below the neck, give yourself a rest! Let’s walk and talk a bit more.
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