Pushing Through Illness with Common Sense

by Herm Blancaflor

When are you too sick to go to the gym? I have often asked myself this question. Not only is it a question of being well enough versus doing more damage to an already compromised immune system, but it should equally be held in the context of how it will affect those who are in the gym at the same time, sharing the same air and equipment. It is out of consideration that the decision needs to be made. You should ensure that you are not likely to be contagious and give the ominous gift of viral/bacterial infection.

If you've got a phlegm-producing cough that won't go away, the best thing you can do for yourself is to go to your general practitioner. It sounds simple, but it's amazing how many of us simply do not go when it's the fastest way to clear an illness and get back to progressing at the gym.

Or at the onset of a cold (“I’m fighting a little something,” as is often said), some of us feel that a little workout is exactly what we need to feel better. While we might feel better after the workout, that can often be a temporary feeling, a kind of runner’s high, that might ultimately intensify or prolong the illness. We should instead consider the overall affect that exercise has on the weaken immune system: Exercise utilizes resources that should instead go to recovery.

What if you know you are on the mend, yet that stubborn cough still wants to enjoy the workouts with you? As a courtesy to others, you should be AND appear to be well enough, meaning you don't want to be hacking up a lung during the course of your workouts. It may be best to take the opportunity to work out on your own, enjoying the weather outside of the gym. It doesn't need to be complex... remember, you should be easing back into the groove! Not only will you save others the worry of catching something, but you will benefit from going at your own pace during a non-gym related workout by not pushing your limits and going harder than you should during the recovery process.

Once you've determined that you are ready to step back into the gym, it's a good idea to inform others of your previous condition, as appropriate. Greet with the newly en vogue "fist bump", and not by shaking hands. Bring a couple of tissues in your pocket, just in case. Hand sanitizer goes a long way. And, whether you’re sick or not, a courteous wipe down of the equipment is always appreciated by everyone!

Hopefully there will not be a next time you’re too sick to go to the gym, but if there is, please use your best judgment as to whether or not you should go. Will others be at risk in catching your illness, and, most importantly, will you put a bigger dent into an already compromised immune system?