You know exercise is great for the body, but getting back at it after being sick or a bad asthma flare up isn't easy. You've spent a week (or weeks) under the weather just trying to survive daily tasks; your body is drained- physically and emotionally. During that down time, your fitness slowly decays. Muscles weaken and cardiovascular strength diminishes. If you've been sick long enough, you might even find your breathing heavy just by walking up the stairs.
Getting Sick Throws off Your Routine
It happened. After the main flu epidemic passed and I thought I was in the clear, I got sick. I'm not talking about a stuffy nose and minor headache. I mean really sick. I had the flu. Gasp! Before getting sick, I had a great workout routine going. Getting up before the kids, reading, getting a little work done, and exercising.
Just when I thought I was getting better, asthma decided to show its ugly face. The wheezing and late night coughing spells really take their toll. Almost two weeks later and armed with a brand new inhaler, I was finally feeling better. Not good, but better. I was ready to get back to my normal routine, but my body wasn't.
Start Slow: Build up Your Strength
When you've been down for an extended period of time, you need to ease your way back into exercising. Don't expect to jump in where you left off. Maybe as a teenager that was possible, but we're getting older and our bodies just don't rebound the way they used to. It takes time and patience.
The best way to work your way up is to focus on building strength. Your lungs and heart need more time to heal than muscles do. By focusing on strength training, you'll still be exercising and giving your lungs the time they need to recoup.
Good Old Fashion Iron Pumping
Lifting weights is the classic way to build strength and tone muscle. If you have access to a local gym full of fancy equipment than go ahead and get started. Take a 5-10 minute power walk on the treadmill, stretch, and start lifting.For the rest of us, exercising sans gym is the only option. Big, shiny machines are nice but not required to get a good workout. Stronger muscles can be obtained with just a few pieces of equipment or none at all.
Kettle bells, resistance bands, and dumbbells are easy to keep at home. They are small enough to fit in the closet between uses, and my Littles have even been known to "exercise" with the smaller ones. Resistance bands and dumbbells are interchangeable for most exercises. If you're looking for the most versatile and compact equipment, I highly suggest resistance bands. Maverick and I have used these for years.
Not into equipment? No worries. Bodyweight exercises are just as effective.
Darebee: Ultimate Home Workout Resource
I have used workouts from Darebee off and on the past few years. They're simple yet effective, and there is a routine for everyone. Maverick enjoys their katana exercises. (He is a black belt in karate.) Here are a few of my favorites:
Athena
The circuits in this routine are great for full body toning. The progression from legs to arms to core builds strength and burns fat.
Dirty 30
You can't get much simpler than the Dirty 30. My legs and chest were sore after this one. If you can't do 30 push-ups at once you can break them into chunks of 10. Modified push-ups are another option.
Code of Abs
Ready to work on your bikini belly? This routine really works your abs. I like the variety of moves in it.
Fit Mom
Of course I had to throw this one into the mix. Moms rarely get to do ANYTHING alone. Even exercise. Next time your little one insists on being apart of your work out you can use these exercises.
Actual picture of me doing code of abs. These workouts are tough if you put in the effort. I'm just an everyday mom working to improve my health and my family's. You probably won't find me on the cover of fitness magazine 😜
8 comments
Write commentsAfter being sick and having to work out just makes you feel sick again, but yes you have to start someplace!! Never heard of darebee or some of these other ones- I do home workouts so will have to use these!!
ReplyThis is so great! Thank you so much for sharing. I have asthma and I am getting over being sick and trying to get back into the swing of things. This is so helpful.
ReplyThanks for the reminder that even without a gym, there are plenty of great options for working out at home!
ReplyThank you for the reminder to make an effort to workout and get healthier even with asthma... Daisy
ReplyI have asthma and working out definitely helps. It opens up my lungs and helps me breath a lot better. Sometimes if I feel like I’m losing my breath while working out I put my hands on my head and that helps too. I do always bring my inhaler with me just in case. Going in the sauna after my workout helps my breathing too.
ReplyI used to do tricept exercises with my babies. They thought it was so fun to get dropped over my head. I liked the work out.
ReplyThese are great tips for working out after being sick
ReplyHahaha! That Fit mom is supercool. What an idea to use the baby itself as weights! Gonna do that here on...
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