I have covid but feel guilty for not exercising

[MistletoeHolly]

I am normally a very active person. I strength train 3 x week, yoga 4 x a week and walk everyday. I have come down with this omicron covid since Tuesday and I feel so tired with a really bad headache that won’t shift. I haven’t really lost my appetite either so it makes me feel as though I am gonna put on weight cause I’m not exercising. I did go for an hour walk Thursday but then it wiped me out. Not sure what I’m asking for ? Maybe just when is too soon to strength train and someone to reassure me I won’t turn into an untoned blob in a fortnight lol

I was similar, I hadn't been to the gym since mid December as we went away before Christmas, then it was Christmas and then I had Covid! It took me a good two weeks post Covid to feel normal again. Obviously doing fever steps will mean you're burning fewer calories but strength training and yoga doesn't burn that many so I really wouldn't worry about weight gain, I didn't gain any. Plus I knew my body needed fuel to recover.

When I went back I only did two sessions a week for two weeks then back to 3. I'm still not back to my pre Covid weights but I'm getting there, better to ease in that go full pelt and end up injuring yourself.

I don't understand how you could be so lazy. Get up from your sofa and do a 10k run, then go to the gym for your resistance gig, then eat fresh fruit smoothies and home made soup.

Whatever you do do NOT feel ill, you are not allowed to be ill, you cannot be, just do what you would normally do and stop looking for a reason to mind yourself during your illness. Honestly, some people.

I recently listened to an episode of the ’Run To The Top’ podcast about what you should and shouldn’t do in terms of exercise when you’re ill. The basic message from it was that you should rest completely until you’re well enough to try a gentle walk or a bit of light strength training. If it makes you feel worse, go back to fully resting. If not, gradually get back into your routine over a decent period of time. Also, the time you take off from exercise is about how long it’ll take you to get back to the point you were when you stopped (e.g. if you take 2 weeks off, it’ll only take you 2 weeks to return to form).

Why are you going for a walk if you are suppose to be isolating?

You sounds like you have a very unhealthy relationship with exercise and your self worth if you can’t see that taking a few days off to recover from an illness is better for your health than forcing exercise on a strained body.

Why are you going for a walk if you are suppose to be isolating?
Doesn't make much difference now does it with the number of people walking around who don't even know they have it? I assume the OP is outside away from people, not doing laps of the shopping centre.

OP, if walking is what you need to stay calm about the exercise break, then I'd do that but rest otherwise. It's just two weeks, nothing that can't be undone.

You won’t feel like this forever. I had Covid, then headaches and fatigue. Today I suddenly had a rush of energy and felt like myself again. It will come back. I also found the more I did the worse I felt,
Rest, fresh veg, fruit, protein, a little of what you fancy. And you will be back to your normal self as soon as.

You went for an hour walk? When you had covid?

You went for a walk? I’d love nothing more than to step out of the house. Day 6 here with a toddler in tow and I thought isolation meant just that? Don’t know why I’m bothering actually. People are making up their own rules now and that’s why it’s spreading like wildfire.

RunningFromInsanity
You sounds like you have a very unhealthy relationship with exercise and your self worth if you can’t see that taking a few days off to recover from an illness is better for your health than forcing exercise on a strained body

Agree. Its quite worrying that you don't realise this. You mentioned being worried about putting on weight so i guess thats your driving factor

Did you not feel ill walking for 1 hour with Covid?

I hope you feel better soon

I was poorly with covid straight after Christmas. I managed to go one workout the day i tested positive and was hoping to carry on throughout like that However I ended up wiped out so didn't manage any other workouts. Once I was out of isolation, I did a long 7k walk on two consecutive evenings to test how I felt. Then I got straight back into running and strength training, and less than two weeks later I was back to my usual routine

Stop! You need to give your body a break. A week off will do you no harm, but trying to keep going when you are ill could take you out of action for ages.

Don't feel guilty, your body needs to heal.

I had covid in December, didn't lift in the gym for 2 weeks and was able to lift the same. I didn't feel bad about it at all but then I had 3 months off last year and a few smaller breaks because of pregnancy and c-section (was back in 10wk pp). Still rebuilding my pre-pregnancy strength which is taking longer than I'd like with illness and currently an injury but I will get there.

Oh and we have a home set up so I could have pushed myself to do lifting sessions. I learned the hard way that is a stupid thing to do though.

It's so important to let your body rest and recover right now. This might mean some weight gain but once you are healthy again you can get back to your normal schedule.