Training while sick

[vin01]

I have a pretty bad cold, but am itching to lift. (I think I may be getting the flu)

Question: What physiological effects will exercise have on my sickness? I know I won't be as strong in the gym, but will lifting/exercising compromise or strengthen my immune system?

Any comments/experience/medical studies are appreciated.

 

[super_rice]

If you feel good enough to lift, then go do it. If you feel terrible, but have the energy to go to the gym, do it. Take some light triples or something like that in exercises that will involve your whole body to get the circulation going (some power cleans with the bar, some light squats, some pulling, etc). I give you my word that you will feel great afterwards. Always does the trick for me

 

[Chambewy20]

Absolutely, in the past i have felt sick all day but when i walk throug those doors, it's just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Phaded]

or working out will make you feel sicker..

 

[thelion2005]

I have a pretty bad cold, but am itching to lift. (I think I may be getting the flu)

Question: What physiological effects will exercise have on my sickness? I know I won't be as strong in the gym, but will lifting/exercising compromise or strengthen my immune system?

Any comments/experience/medical studies are appreciated.

IMO .....
Your body is very busy fighting this infection and is tapping into your reserves. Rest.

I used to never let anything stop me from working out. If I had a head cold....loaded up on NyQuil and went to the gym.

And it took 2-3 weeks to get over a simple cold and one time I got worse.

Now I take a couple of extra rest days.

 

[njlw226]

I have always heard the rule of thumb that if you are sick and its just something with your head (soar throat, runny nose, headaches, etc) then you are fine, but if its below (upset stomach etc etc) then do not lift. Regardless, try to make sure you are getting 8-10 hours of sleep so you recover, and a clean diet to get all the nutrients you need.

 

[gstacker]

deff rest....or lengthen your sick time

 

[myfault]

if it is sinus/allergy problems, then working out will be fine (as long as you feel ok doing it)
but if it is a viral/bacterial infection, your body needs all the rest it can get to fight off the illness.

just my .02

 

[Reubsf]

IMO .....
Your body is very busy fighting this infection and is tapping into your reserves. Rest.

I used to never let anything stop me from working out. If I had a head cold....loaded up on NyQuil and went to the gym.

And it took 2-3 weeks to get over a simple cold and one time I got worse.

Now I take a couple of extra rest days.

^^^Sound advice^^^

 

[vin01]

It's just a head cold.. but I decided to rest anyway. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll feel much better b/c I plan to hit the weights anyway.

I'm loading up on Ester-C and H20 regardless.

Great advice NJLW. That's something I'll stick to in the future.

I was just curious the effect it'd have on the immune system

 

[pgsam]

good call- just to share my personal experience, I've been battling sickness (viral throat infection) for over a month, and in retrospect i believe it was because i continued lifting through it.

 

[nelmsjer]

My personal experience: never lift when sick. I tried and tried when I was a teenager and early 20's to push through when sick, and it literally made me worse every time. Your body is working overtime to fight an infection of some sort. Don't put your body in the position that it has to both fight an infection AND repair muscle tissue at the same time, because it will take more than twice as long as normal to take care of both problems.

Train smart, and get well soon. Don't forget you've got MANY years of lifting ahead of you, so you can take a few days off.

 

[sousgal80]

My only concern is getting other people sick. Its fine if you want to workout sick, but I hate standing next to the guy that sounds like he's going to cough up a lung, and showers me in spittle. Especially with any sort of deep breathing, I can almost feel the bacteria getting sucked in. My vote goes to waiting until you aren't sick.

 

[vin01]

Well, after downing 500mg of Ester-C and cups of tea every 6 hours for the past 2 days, I finally made it to the gym (a 5 day rest). I must say my strength on all exercises was through the roof.

Can't tell if it was because I am: 1) magically stronger, 2) just excited and amped to be back, or 3) a coincidence.

Either way, sickness is gone, and from now on I think I'll stick to resting while sick.