Rowing (exercising) while sick
Rowing (exercising) while sick
Is it better when fighting a cold to try to continue a light workout or to let the body rest altogether?
- johnlvs2run
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Re: Rowing (exercising) while sick
I worked out while sick with a sore throat yesterday - and then went shopping. Perils of taking pseudoephedrine (stimulant) to feel better while I'm sick. I start to feel like going out. I thought a lot while I was going around doing all this (I work out pretty vigorously) - I really should be in bed.
At least I ride my bike to the gym. If I'm not feeling up to biking around I don't work out.
It probably doesn't affect the course of the sickness. I've worked out sometimes while just getting over being sick and that felt OK.
I have food intolerance reactions and they make me feel all woozy and groggy for several days. I do work out while those are going on. It actually feels good to get out and work out. At least for a bit I'm not thinking every 2 seconds "groan, I feel so awful", just waiting for the food reaction to be over. I feel tired instead!
But the food reactions don't involve the bone deep tired feeling that I get when I have an infection. I'm still physically vigorous though my head might feel full and bad when it gets jarred around.
I hoped for a bit that working out might help me get over the reaction - you might figure it would help clear it out of your body. But it doesn't.
Laura
At least I ride my bike to the gym. If I'm not feeling up to biking around I don't work out.
It probably doesn't affect the course of the sickness. I've worked out sometimes while just getting over being sick and that felt OK.
I have food intolerance reactions and they make me feel all woozy and groggy for several days. I do work out while those are going on. It actually feels good to get out and work out. At least for a bit I'm not thinking every 2 seconds "groan, I feel so awful", just waiting for the food reaction to be over. I feel tired instead!
But the food reactions don't involve the bone deep tired feeling that I get when I have an infection. I'm still physically vigorous though my head might feel full and bad when it gets jarred around.
I hoped for a bit that working out might help me get over the reaction - you might figure it would help clear it out of your body. But it doesn't.
Laura
For the years that I have been involved in triathlons the general rule was work out as long as the sickness has not passed below your neck. That is if it is just nasal/throat problems without chest congestions then continue to work out. When it goes below the neck or involves fever then rest only. I stick with this rule; it seems to work.
If you do workout when feeling less then optimal, don't go hard. There is scientific evidence that says that really hard workouts decrease the immune system's barriers to infection.
If you do workout when feeling less then optimal, don't go hard. There is scientific evidence that says that really hard workouts decrease the immune system's barriers to infection.