How to stay healthy when illness gets in the way

Most people look at their workouts as their ‘me time.’ Regular workouts can help you to stay grounded, improve your concentration, and has been proven to boost confidence, motivation, and happiness.

However, it can be a problem if you are suddenly forced to put a hiatus on gym time because your health is in the way. It can take time and patience to recover from an illness, and for long-term conditions there may be little hope of returning to your regular gym schedule. Here are some things to keep in mind if poor health is keeping you from the weight room.

Taking a break is not laziness

If you have been forced by your health to skip gym sessions, then you can quickly start to blame yourself. It’s vital that you remember the difference between skipping a gym session because you lack the motivation, and missing out due to health issues.

Don’t fall into the trap of feeling guilty for your lack of exercise, and remember that your exercise doesn’t need to stop completely. If ill health is a barrier, then look for ways to keep your body moving that will have the least amount of strain on your body, and remember that your body is healing. You will need to take a break, but this needn’t have long-term negative effects.

Doing what you can

There are always going to be activities that you can do to keep yourself trim, even if the gym is not an option. Look for low-impact exercises like hiking or cycling. You can also look at health equipment that might give you the freedom to exercise more completely.

There are a wide range of breathing aids on the market, so if you have lung or breathing issues, consider looking at the specific research on Inogen portable oxygen concentrators. These can make breathing much easier, and they are portable and light enough for any workout. Do the exercise that you can, and your lack of gym-time will not be as important.

Look at your food

For avid exercisers, what you put into your body is as important as what you do with your body. Don’t let your poor health prevent you from managing your nutrition.

Eating healthily might even help to speed up your recovery time, but even for long-term illnesses, you will benefit from a more nutritious diet. Eating well when you have been sidelined from your favorite exercise regime can help to keep your energy levels and motivation high.

Recovery rules

If you are lucky enough to get the all-clear for returning to the gym, remember to ease yourself back into it. If your break has been especially long, then your body may not be ready for the same levels of exercise as before. Pay attention to what your body is telling you, and don’t overstretch yourself. Attempting more than your body is capable of is a quick way to earn yourself an injury that will mean yet another gym hiatus.

Illness can strike at any time, and if you want to keep yourself healthy despite it, you need to adjust your mindset. How you handle your health during an illness will show itself when you are healthy enough to resume your workouts. Slow down and let yourself heal, and you could be back lifting the weights in no time.