SHOULD YOU WORK OUT WHEN YOU'RE SICK?
Is it safe to workout while you’re sick?
Getting sick is the worst and unless you are superhuman, it’s unavoidable. So the question remains.
Do you scrap it and eat potato chips?
Do you push yourself just enough that you can make it through it?
Only way to answer this is by taking the “head or below test”.
This means if your symptoms are primarily in your head (runny nose,burning sensation in your eyes, a slight cough or itchy ears) then you should be alright to get your session in. BUT that sessions should be a lot lighter in volume. So decrease your weight and focus on perfecting your reps. Don’t be a hero.
Now if your symptoms are below the neck, (fever, chills, body ache and pains) stay put and rest.
Missing a workout here and there when you’re sick doesn't mean that your journey is doomed and it certainly doesn’t mean you should throw those few days into the fuck it bucket. What it means is you want to look at the lowest hanging fruit (focusing on the areas that you still have control over).
A hierarchy that usually looks like this:
1 - Nutrition - being sick doesn't give you a reason to pull the handbrake here. You still have the ability to hit your calories even if you can only get it from chicken noodle soup.
2- Daily Steps - I’m not talking about “10k everyday”, just a little movement each and every day. If you’re feeling up to it, get outside otherwise move around your house. It doesn't have to be your normal steps count, just enough to get your body moving.
3 - Weights - This only happens if the symptoms are above the neck, and remember to drop that volume and perfect your form.
4 - Cardio - If you are able to pull this off guaranteed you aren’t sick, you’re just faking it. Enough said.
Obviously you don’t want to be “that'' person going to the gym coughing and sneezing in everyone’s space (especially not during the covid area) so wear a mask or keep your distance and wipe your shit down. Better yet, if you can do your workout from home, do it there.
Your Coach,
Ed