Hey Chickies! Many of us – or our kids – have been sick during the past few weeks with the stomach virus going around or with our annual autumn colds. I thought I would re-post this information, you know, just to be helpful. I’m also avoiding my own workout as I sit here with a fever and feeling all achy and run over by a truck. Thank you DirtBike, for sharing your germs with me.
Many of us are working our tails off trying to shed the body clutter and reclaim our health. So what should we do when illness and exercise collide? I wondered myself, so I did two things. Checked out info over at MayoClinic.com and called my Nurse Practitioner. They both said the same thing.
As a rule of thumb for exercise and illness:
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It’s okay to work out if your symptoms are “above the neck” — such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or sore throat. Be prepared to reduce the intensity of your workout if needed, however.
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Postpone your exercise if your symptoms are “below the neck” — such as chest congestion, hacking cough or upset stomach.
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Don’t exercise at all if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches. (Gentle stretching is okay to help relieve the muscle aches.)
Mild to moderate physical activity is usually okay if you have a cold but no fever. Exercise may even help you feel better by temporarily relieving nasal congestion. If you choose to exercise when you’re sick, listen to your body. If your symptoms get worse with physical activity, stop and rest.
Yes, rest. Your body is an amazing machine with self-healing super powers, but it needs rest to do its work. So if you feel like crud, don’t go running! Resume your workout routine gradually as you begin to feel better.
Stay Healthy. Keep the Faith.
Keeping the Faith 
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. I love that above and below the neck tip. Thanks.
See, that’s why I don’t exercise! I ache constantly!
Okay, mild exercise usually helps, especially stretching, but fibromyalgia changes all the rules. I just hope my new diet changes the fibro!
get better!
I didn’t know about the above neck/below neck thing, that’s cool to remember. I find it so hard to listen to my body. My mind thinks it just needs to go and go and go and sometimes my body just says stop but I still push it and end up wishing I didn’t. I guess I need to learn lots more.
Thanks for stopping by. My leg is screaming today so made an appointment with my normal doctor just to double check things. A second opinion will make my mama and aunt happy since they have a history of this. Just can’t get in until next Tuesday and with my luck I’ll feel great that day.
Have a great day Angela and enjoy it’s Friday!! Blessings my friend.
Thanks for the tip on above/below neck! I was browsing secretly hoping to find an excuse to skip my workout today, but it seems the running nose shouldn’t stop me from 40 minutes walking on the treadmill:)