For about the last week or 2, I've been fighting off some kind of bug (flu?) and haven't been to the gym. I try to NOT go to the gym or put my body through any undue stresses when I'm sick, but a few people I've talked to say that doing some good cardio will assist in "sweating it out." I'm a little leary about going to the gym when my immune system's in less than ideal shape, fighting off some bug, but I was curious as to other's input.

I'm a little leary about going to the gym when my immune system's in less than ideal shape, fighting off some bug, but I was curious as to other's input.

Somebody posts this thread... oh, just about every other week or so.

You came to the right conclusion yourself, we'll just give you a thumbs up for proposing it. Your body is compromised and needs its strength to heal, not to sweat. Common sense. Let others do what they will, but working out - in any way - when sick is not something most here would recommend.

My husband swears by running off a cold after the fever is broken, to "shake up" the lungs and "get he mucous out."

Now, at the tail end of a cold, that might not be a bad idea. But during? Heh.

Somebody posts this thread... oh, just about every other week or so.

You came to the right conclusion yourself, we'll just give you a thumbs up for proposing it. Your body is compromised and needs its strength to heal, not to sweat. Common sense. Let others do what they will, but working out - in any way - when sick is not something most here would recommend.

Odd - I did a quick search, and didn't come up with much.

It's odd - just as I start really getting back into weights and fitness, I get sick. I guess it figures.

During winter last year I got a couple of colds. I was brought up on a work ethic of "Unless you're dead, or nearly dead, you go to work." I seemed to naturally apply the same to the gym.

I was stunned at how much weaker I was during a cold. My cardio sessions were 10-20% doewn on average, no matter how hard I tried. I guess my point is that your body is applying its energy elsewhere. Rest up!

Having said that, I'll probably still go to the gym next time I get sick. I don't buy this "sweat it out" crap, but I don't seem to be able to help myself.

i think i read someething somewhere. if its like above the neck, stay away. unless you have a home gym.
if below, then mkay?

i forget now lol. but i think the thing isnt really about YOU and if you should work out while sick. think about the people at your gym if you go to one. they dont want to get sick or catch something there cuz of a sneeze or nagging cough or anything.

if sick, i say rest.

See this thread...
http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=11977

See this thread...
http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=11977


Ahh, that's exactly what I was looking for. You spelled sick wrong, so my search didn't catch it. :)

Feel free to close this thread then. Don't need 2 threads on the same thing 10 days apart.

Ahh, that's exactly what I was looking for. You spelled sick wrong, so my search didn't catch it. :)

Feel free to close this thread then. Don't need 2 threads on the same thing 10 days apart.

I posted this in Wh0Arme's thread, so I thought I'd post it here for you too in case you don't get a chance to read it. Hope you feel better soon! :tu:

When you're sick, your body is trying to use all of its resources to kill the virus that's invading your body. By exercising during this process, you impede the body's ability to fight off the attacking viruses. Sadly you're in a no win situation exercise-wise because when you're sick, your body doesn't focus on muscle building because it's first priority is to bring you back to health and kill off any invading viruses.

Furthermore, if you're still contagious, you're making others in the gym sick by your being there and you're also more suceptible to other germs floating around in the gym.

So, I would suggest taking about 5-7 days off so that you can fight whatever is making you so sick, continue to eat properly and get TONS of rest. Your immune system is struggling and you want to give it as much of an advantage as you can. If you take time off to get better when you first start feeling bad, the cold will be gone much sooner and you can train again.

Some preventative measures you can take in the future to make sure you don't get sick are to:

1. wash your hands frequently.
2. take a multivitamin/multimineral EVERY DAY.
3. at the first sign of feeling bad, stop working out for a few days and get some sleep. Your body does its best germ fighting (and muscle growth) when you're asleep.

Anywho, I hope this helps. Get better soon.

- Skip :)