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traineo Community / Exercise & Training Tips / Workout despite possible cold?
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Dice Six
traineo Regular
Posts: 29
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 14:10


I can feel the signs: My joints feel mushy, I feel cold all the time and my throat feels a little tiny bit swollen. My body might be the battle field of a viral invasion right now.

Well, I might still turn the corner before I develop all the icky oozy symptoms... but to do so shall I give up any kind of excercise for a few days? Or can I still do some light workout? How much can I expect my disintegrating body to handle without pushing it into a phlegmy existence?
Rob M.
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 14:13


I have had a pretty bad cold all this week and I have gone to the gym the last 3 days.

But I steered clear of Cardio because that would mess with my breathing (which because of the cold is not exactly easy right now).

But at least I got my weight training in.
Dice Six
traineo Regular
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 14:49


So even for a quasi invalid like me cardio would be a no go?
Rob M.
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 14:52


I think it depends on how sick you are. If you have a lot of fluids in your lungs and what not, it probably isn't the smartest idea. But if it is just a head cold I would say go for it.
Sher S
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 15:06


I agree with Rob. If you have congestion, stay away from Cardio...it will make you feel terrible and slow down recovery! Best to rest up and come back fit and fine!
Rachael M
The Master
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 15:06


It really does depend on how sick you are. I too have been sick this week. I worked out on Mon night because I only felt a tiny bit bad and did cardio and weight lifting. Last night I didn't go at all because I felt like crap. The doc recommended the no exercise for 24 to 48 hours till my antibiotics kick in - I have a sinus infection. She said that exercise causes dehydration which makes it harder for your body to fight sickness (even slight dehydration can make it harder). On the other hand, I've worked out hundreds of times when I was sick. Sometimes it even makes me feel better.
Sarah Rodriguez
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Posts: 36
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 15:38


A few years ago, when I was doing aerobics daily, I felt a cold coming on, and was going to use it as an excuse to skip a day, but decided I didn't want to set a bad precedent for myself. I did the usual workout, and felt so much better afterwards, and the cold never came.

I also find, weird as this may sound, that driving around in a stuffy car helps alot. During the winter, just turn your heater up full blast until you can't stand it, and keep all the windows closed.

Of course, these are really more for head colds, I think.
Rachael M
The Master
Posts: 2299
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 16:55


I have never heard of the stuffy car treatment before. Hmmm.. Sounds uncomfortable.
Jessipoo .
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 17:06


I did last fall.. workout with a cold.. was difficult but felt great

this semester it hit me harder so I didn't.. but I ended up losing weight anyways cuz I was sick.. so in a way it wasn't a total loss...like people said..depends
Monique Kamosi
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 17:07


When I drive in my car with too much heat, I get REALLY sleepy, sometimes to the point that I have to stop driving because I'm afraid I'll drive off the road. I think maybe a steamy shower would do the trick ...
Neesha D
Fitness Guru
Posts: 297
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 # Posted: 30 Jan 2008 17:09


My philosophy is usually the following - try to workout and if you start feeling better/okay after 10-15 minutes then continue. If you start feeling worse, give up for the day and try again later.

Interestingly, I read an article the other day at msnbc.msn.com that gave the same suggestion - try it for a bit and see how you feel.

When I went to India back in 2004/05 (over Christmas/New Years) I got really sick and since then (I was sick for over 5 weeks) if I laugh to hard or exert myself to hard I develop a cough. Of course this doesn't sound bad except I've always been one of those people that sound like they're dying when they cough, no wimpy coughs for me. Last night after I finished my running for the evening the cough kicked in... It's kind of embarrassing because you know everyone at the gym then thinks your really sick and they don't want you there in case they get sick but I'm actually healthy.
Dice Six
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Posts: 29
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 00:00


Hehe, that reminds me how I came back from my Asia trip in 2003 with a tinsy cough and some people tried to keep their distance in case I might have contracted SARS.

Anyway, I am such a whimp I think I could not even work-out with a full-blown cold like Rob, Rachel and Jessipoo. But if some sensible excercise helps some of you to recover faster it might even help to avoid me becoming a virus mothership.

The 10-15 minutes test suggested by Neesha I will try but I'm not sure about Sarah's full-heat-car treatment.
tex girlee
traineo Fanatic
Posts: 169
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 00:38


hmmm...i keep hearing that if your cold is above your throat, then it is okay to do you cardio or whatever your workout may be. however, i feel a cold coming on today too...and my butt has not gottten out to run today. so just don't go to get to long without a workout, or it might be hard to get back on track...so rest a day if ya need!

tex
Cindy N
Fitness Guru
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 03:33


There's always the above/below the neck rule too. If your symptoms are below the neck, don't work out. If they're above, do what you can tolerate. If you have a fever, none of that applies. Just rest!
jo Cardwell
traineo Regular
Posts: 63
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 17:56


I subscribe to the above/below the neck rule too.

Neesha, I've heard of people with symptoms like yours being caused by having gastric reflux. If your sickness was associated with some kind of gastric illness this may have caused some weakness in the digestive system, or exacerbated acid production. The stomach's acids are allowed back into the oesophagus and irritate the larynx causing an irritating cough. The laughing and/or exertion may cause the reflux. This can be treated by your doctor. Just a thought.
Dean Grimshawe
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 17:59


I don't train if I feel ill.

I can be pretty stubborn and actually find it very easy to train while not well. From experience it is never a good thing.

Nowadays, if I feel under the weather I hit the hay early have a long nights sleep and give it loads of rest with plenty of fluids. That way I lose a day or two's training. If I persist through ignorance I can quite easily knock myself out for a week after a few days soldiering through.
Cindy N
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Posts: 733
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 18:16


That makes perfect sense, Dean. Your immune system is suppressed immediately following exercise and a couple hours or so afterward, so it can give an infection a chance to root itself. Overall, exercising boosts your immune system, but it's the stress exercise puts on your body that causes immunity to go down just after exercise.
Ramon Valdez
traineo Regular
Posts: 48
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 # Posted: 31 Jan 2008 18:25


Quoting: Cynthesis
There's always the above/below the neck rule too. If your symptoms are below the neck, don't work out.


The above/below neck rule is best. Although it is tough to follow when you have the desire to workout, you'll recover a lot quicker.

I take those generic Airborne tablets whenever I start to feel sick and they seem to work, at least in a placebo form. I haven't gotten sick this winter and I have a lot of contact with other people through martial arts.
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