[cccsouthpaw20]

quick question... I have recently gotten a cold, my head's all stuffy, nose runny, the whole nine yards! what is the recommendation for working out when youre sick? I mean, I have a little energy but not like usual. but taking a whole day off seems like too much! any suggestions?

[Carolrs]

I guess you could try it and see how you feel. Everyone is different. When you're sick your body needs all its energy to fight the infection or virus, but a less intense workout might not tax it too much.

Carol
:)

[Jason Bonn]

Hey. Personally, I find it helps clear up that stuffiness a bit.

[Roland Fisher 1]

Strength goes up with a cold/flu, but your ability to tolerate volume goes down. I always go in and work two or three compound lifts up to a 3RM over maybe five sets. Ex. Bench 45x5, 95x5, 135x3, 185x1, 225x3

That said, if you haven't had any time off in the past three months or more, and you've hit it hard in that time, assuming you're not training for an athletic event just on the horizon, take a week off, you need it.

[thorbs]

Personally I like to train moderately heavy or at least run/do some sprints, but when I'm sick I emphasize the recovery period, almost ramp it up a bit.

I doubt there's any science to it, but I find taxing my body a bit and then exaggerating my recovery really helps get me better quickly.

[bluewolf]

I think if you talk to a real doctor they will simply say, "Don't." This makes a certain amount of sense given the fact that you can easily overtax your body and draw out the length of the illness if you exercise heavily.

Also, if you work out at a public gym, consider how effectively you're spreading a contagious illness. You're putting your hands on equipment that lots of other people touch? That's the main avenue for passing a cold. (It's also a good reason to NEVER touch your eyes or nose during a gym workout, and wear workout gloves and wash your hands THOROUGHLY in the sink or when taking a shower after you're done!) If you have the flu, which is an airborne virus, then any public setting where you are in close proximity to others is prime, and the drier the air is, the farther the virus can travel.

[Asherlc]

Originally Posted by bluewolf

Also, if you work out at a public gym, consider how effectively you're spreading a contagious illness. You're putting your hands on equipment that lots of other people touch? That's the main avenue for passing a cold. (It's also a good reason to NEVER touch your eyes or nose during a gym workout, and wear workout gloves and wash your hands THOROUGHLY in the sink or when taking a shower after you're done!) If you have the flu, which is an airborne virus, then any public setting where you are in close proximity to others is prime, and the drier the air is, the farther the virus can travel.

Amen. It's not just about whether you can power through it.

[Roland Fisher 1]

Originally Posted by bluewolf

I think if you talk to a real doctor they will simply say, "Don't."

But what about imaginary doctors? What do they say.

[Lordmuppet]

I found this very unintuitive but I've tried it the last two times i've gotten ill and it has worked. Today I added 5lb to my deadlift ORM (up to 355lb :) at 150lb or so). Makes me feel a hell of a lot better both psychologically and physically!

[CdnJon]

I like to refer to this article whenever I wonder if I should be working out or not while I'm sick.