It’s a common question to wonder whether or not you should workout when you’re feeling under the weather. As a general rule of thumb, unless you have a temperature, it is okay to work out. On the other hand though, use your best judgement. If you have nausea or are feeling lethargic or dizzy, then you should probably skip today’s workout.
If you are feeling like working out, but don’t feel 100%, you could try doing something a little less intense than your typical workouts. Maybe instead of a kickboxing class or going for a run, you could try doing a yoga flow, or taking your dog for a walk. The low impact will help you still get the benefits of moving your body, but won’t end up making you feel worse.
A great rule of thumb for checking in with your body to see if you’re truly okay to workout is to use the “neck test”. If your symptoms are above the neck, such as a sore throat, sneezing, or congestion, then you’re probably okay to workout. However, if your symptoms are below the neck, such as body fatigue, a fever, or coughing, it would do your body well to take today off and see how you feel tomorrow.
Have you ever worked out when you’ve been sick? Do you feel like it’s helped you, or worsened your symptoms? I would love to hear your thoughts!