Training while unwell - a no-no?

incisor71

Hi all,

For those who train regularly but still fall foul of cold/flu symptoms every once in a while (as as happening to me), are there any consequences worth noting by continuing to train through the period of sickness?

For reasons unknown to me, I get a mild flu every 3-4 months, and it lasts for about a week, but then it takes me another 2 weeks to get back on track in the gym (effectively wiping out a large chunk of a month!)

Should I just brave the storm and train regardless?

Dragan

Nope, when you train it impacts your central nervous and immune systems. Training while ill will only make you worse, not to mention get other gym members ill also.

I would suggest you stick it out and home, but maybe review your diet. There has to be some reason as to why you always get sick.

tomED

What if you're really tired?

Does it have a similar effect OR is it just that your workouts won't be as intensive?

meldrew

If you're really tired all the time you would want to check out whats causing the tiredness , you could be overtraining .

Dragan

meldrew wrote:

If you're really tired all the time you would want to check out whats causing the tiredness , you could be overtraining .

Good point, but most people don't over train, they under eat. Through proper training you can get yourself to a very good place physically, the human body can take quite a beating, but only if you feed it and rest it.

For example, my gym buddy trains weights with me four days a week, and runs with me 4 days a week. He also does Indonesian Silat with me once a week. On top of that, he will do two kickboxing classes and a boxing session ( that 2 and a hours of solid work ). That's just during the week. He will also do one Escrima session, one Thai Chi session and some padwork and sparring in kick boxing all on a Saturday as well.

Now then, thats a lot for anybody to do, and why is he not tired. Simply, he is getting some good quality sleep, and he is eating right and eat lots.

Don't worry about overtraining, worry about under recovering.

incisor71

I'd put his level of training intensity down to superior genetics - and/or chronic hyperactivity!

On the whole question of eating, though, does anyone find that they actually get sick of eating every now and then? I know I do... I'm trying to lose size, so there are times when I can't face and don't enjoy having five/six half-size meals every day.

Dragan

Nope. I love eating.

Food, food, food, down into my belly!!!!

incisor71

I can only assume that I'd enjoy eating more if I could eat more diversely and didn't have multiple food allergies!

Dragan

I'm allergic to lack of food.

Makes me feel bad.

tomED

meldrew wrote:

If you're really tired all the time you would want to check out whats causing the tiredness , you could be overtraining .

No that's not what I mean - I mean if one day you are just really tired! Maybe lack of sleep catching up on your or something.

Dragan

tomED wrote:

No that's not what I mean - I mean if one day you are just really tired! Maybe lack of sleep catching up on your or something.

Just work through it. If i didn;t go to the gym everytime i felt tired , or a little off, i would never go.

g'em

Dragan wrote:

Just work through it. If i didn;t go to the gym everytime i felt tired , or a little off, i would never go.

I agree with that to an extent. The mroe you train though, and the more you get to know your body, there are days when you know you should take it a little easier, and days when you know you're able to push through the barrier. Some days I know I'm just being lazy and I should get my arse into it, and others when I know if I push it, I'll pay for it badly.

But I guess to start out, chances are you can work through a bit of lethargy like you said.

tomED

Ok, I'm not one for shirking my duties. If I'm a little tired I'll definitely go. I'm really talking about being really tired - i.e. maybe out late the night before (not drinking now - just out late) Or had a really hard week in work.

incisor71

g'em wrote:

there are days when you know you should take it a little easier, and days when you know you're able to push through the barrier.

What I find particularly difficult is hopping out of bed at 6:30am for a workout when I haven't slept well that same night (like last night... I couldn't get the brain to quieten, so I only had a couple of hours' of quality sleep)

But in 90% of cases I'll push myself and go anyhow (like this morning), even if initially I'm totally dependent on Auto-Pilot. If I absolutely cannot muster up the energy, I'll always make up for it another day in the week, so as to meet the weekly "gym visits quota".

Nobody said it was going to be easy, especially when the rest of the world is either sleeping or watching telly, but making every effort to overcome pure laziness and more makes all the difference!