Recovering

Well, it has been 8 days since I first started feeling under the weather and I am excited to say that this cold is almost completely out the door. Woo Hoo! I was disappointed to come down with the cold in the first place, because that has been a workout showstopper for me in the past. But this time I didn't want that to happen.

I researched by Googling "working out while sick" and found that if you pass what is known as the "neck check", you're good to go on a reduced intensity workout. The neck check basically stipulates that if all your symptoms are above the neck, ie. headache, mildly sore throat, stuffy nose and so on, you are good to work out. It's when you have a fever and other "below the neck" symptoms that you really want to take some time off to recouperate. So, I worked out last Tuesday morning before I started feeling sick. I took a few days off and didn't go back to the workout until Saturday, where I did a half workout. Again I took a few days off and went in yesterday for a 3/4 swim and was back at it today with a 3/4 weights workout. Tomorrow I'll be back on my regular schedule.

I can't help but notice how working out makes me feel so much better. First off, I am over my cold in a week?!? That didn't used to happen before; try two weeks, minimum. Secondly, I just feel better overall. Working out just energizes and jump starts me like nothing else. I have a much better day when it includes a workout. My eating is back on target and I look forward to some more progress on my weight loss goal soon.