Working Out/Running Sick

just sweat it out, unless you are deathly ill or have a high fever, you should be fine...

If it's something not severe, I work out through it. I don't remember it affecting my ability to perform in the gym. In fact, it definitely clears up my head a bit to work out.

If it's a bad case of the flu, I would abstain.

An opposing view:

I recommend against it, strongly...

unless you LIKE being sick, getting sicker, and staying sick longer, in which case you should definitely work out.

Rest is absolutely the best way to quickly beat a bug. If you exercise, you detract from your body's ability to combat the bacteria or virus in its natural way, by interfering with heat regulation, nutrient uptake/use, antibodies, etc. It's the same relationship that causes you to catch bugs when you over-train.

Even eating high-protein, slow-digestion foods such as beef can slow your recovery from illness, as the "digestion challenge" taxes your body in the same way.

You can go run outside, sure. Just don't go to the gym and get 18 other people sick.

Just stick to your normal routine. If your body can't handle it, you'll know within 10 minutes. At that point, cut it short and go home, rest, and keep drinking fluids.

I usually take a day or two off when the cold is at its worst. As it lightens up, I ease back into my routine. This usually helps my recovery, as opposed to hurting. Listen to your body. If you want to work out, do it. If feel like crap, lay off. Your body will let you know how things are going.

Soup (homemade chicken, etc), sauteed vegetables, fresh fruit, smaller portions of whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat bread), fish. Drink lots of water. A multivitamin in the morning.

Avoid beef, starchy foods (potatoes, semolina pasta, white bread, etc.), cheese.

Lots of sleep.

Lets take a look at this question.

Your body is a system. Too much stress on the system = getting sick. Exercise = applied stress to parts of your system.

Overstressed system + more stress = ...

???

Profit!

I am a firm believer in avoiding strenuous exercise until you are fully recovered. My Dutch grandfather had just recovered from a fever and was strolling on the beach when he saw a woman drowning. He swam out and saved her, then keeled over and died of a heart attack. He was only 40 years old. I think there is a lesson there.

whoa. that's so sad.

When you are sick, you need to give your body sufficient rest so it can use it to heal itself. Our bodies are very good at telling us what to do... say if you are overtraining, like I did, and your body cannot recover and you are always tired.. what should you do? Keep working out?

I have experimented with both views whilst sick/tired. Whilst having a head cold didn't really effect my workouts, it did effect my recovery from it. And resting while my body felt overly tired brought my lifts up and I was more energetic.

Just my thoughts... go with what your body is telling you. Being sick also puts you kind of out of the mood to workout, which I think is important.

My 2 cents....

rest up.

I'd just wait and let your body use its resources towards getting you well rather than repairing muscles.