How to Workout After Being Sick
Happy flu season, everyone! I suppose it’s inevitable, around this time of year, for illness to become a common aspect of our lives. When we’re crammed indoors like a bunch of sardines with head colds, germs will get passed around. After a week or two of moving from one prone position to another, using couches, beds, and floors as props, you may be ready to start exercising again.
Ready is an understatement. When you or I lace up our best fitness shoes and hit the treadmill for the first time after being sick, there are certain things we need to do to make sure we aren’t doing ourselves more harm than good. Here are some helpful exercise tips.
Key Takeaways
- If you're sick, it's important to make sure you're well enough to work out before you start. You should avoid exercising if you have a fever, haven't finished all your medications, or have aches, pains, or chest congestion.
- When you're ready to work out after being sick, make sure to stay hydrated and have had two days of good, healthy food intake. Start slowly and increase your intensity gradually over time. If you feel overly fatigued, wait a day or two before trying to exercise again.
- Be aware of your body's limits and don't push yourself too hard. By treating your body well, you'll be able to recover faster and get back to your peak performance in no time.
1. Ensure You're Well Enough to Exercise
First, we must ensure we’re well enough to work out. If you have a fever, you’re not ready to work out. You’re not ready to work out if you haven’t finished all your medications. You’re not ready to workout if you have aches, pains, or chest congestion.
When you’re sick, you want your body to use all of its resources to get you feeling better. By using your energy to exercise, you may be temporarily suppressing your immune system and preventing yourself from healing. Nobody likes feeling out of shape, but it’s better to let your workout wait until you’re well enough to do it.
2. Stay Hydrated After Being Sick
If you’re feeling well enough to work out, the second thing you need to do is stay hydrated. Fluids are important for exercise and cases of flu. Electrolyte imbalance is common and can cause some nasty results. Drinking lots of fluids will help you heal faster and keep you balanced so that you’ll feel better doing it when you work out after you’ve been sick.
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3. Eat Healthy Before Exercising
You also want to ensure you’ve had two days of good, healthy food intake before you attempt to work out after you’ve been sick, especially if you’ve been suffering from the stomach flu. Without the calories to support your energy expenditure, you will be unable to work out and feel good. Eat a lot of protein and carbohydrates before you get back into your workout.
4. Start Slowly After Being Sick
When you do start working out after you’ve been sick, start slowly. You may have lost a bit of your edge while you were sick. It’s natural for you to feel out of shape and obsessively determined to jump back into exercise with a vengeance. Fight this instinct, and take it slowly.
It won’t take too much effort to get back to where you were. Use our tips for building endurance the right way. Start slowly, and increase your intensity gradually over time. In the beginning, you may want to work out fewer days than you previously did or cut your workout time in half. By taking it slowly, you’ll be back to your peak performance in no time.
5. Monitor Your Body While Exercising
As you ease into your workout routine, monitor your body to ensure you’re still feeling well. If physical exercise overly fatigues you, wait a day or two before you try it again. Be aware of your limits, and don’t try to push them too much right after you’ve been sick. If you treat your body well, it will treat you well.
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FAQs
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How long should you wait to work out after being sick?
You should wait until you no longer have a fever, have finished all medications, and feel free from aches, pains, or chest congestion. It's also recommended to have two days of healthy food intake and stay hydrated before exercising.
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What is the best way to ease back into exercise after being sick?
Start slowly by reducing the intensity and duration of your workouts. Gradually increase your activity level over time, monitor how your body feels, and avoid pushing yourself too hard to ensure a safe recovery.
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Why is staying hydrated important when working out after being sick?
Staying hydrated helps maintain electrolyte balance, speeds up recovery, and supports your body’s energy levels during workouts. Proper hydration reduces the risk of fatigue and improves overall performance.
Post-Sickness Workout Comfort With KURU
When returning to your workout routine after being sick, it's important to wear shoes that provide the necessary support and comfort to minimize the risk of injury. KURU shoes can be a great option for this purpose. Patented KURUSOLE technology provides superior support and cushioning that can alleviate foot pain and reduce the risk of injury during exercise.
Furthermore, the breathable mesh upper ensures maximum airflow, which keeps you feet cool and dry, even during the most intense workouts. The benefits can help you achieve your fitness goals faster and with less risk of injury.
If you're looking for a comfortable and safe post-sickness workout experience, KURU can help you get back into your workout routine with confidence and ease.
About Us
At KURU, we're on a mission to help you Heel Better™ with footwear technology designed to relieve foot pain, so you can live a life you love. Since launching our innovative technology in 2008, we’ve received more than 37,000 five-star reviews from thousands of customers who tell us their KURU shoes helped them get back to doing what they love.
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