I’mb sick. Now whadt?
I had plans to go for a 4 mile run this morning. The weather is perfect, a little slushy maybe, but lovely all the same. I got plenty of sleep last night and then when I woke up, I tried to swallow and noticed a roaring pain in the back of my throat. When I opened my eyes I felt puffy, light headed and, at the same time like a cast iron skillet was pushing down on my skull. I woke up with a cold. I’ve managed to avoid illness since I had strep throat last spring, but the common cold is, well, common and most of us will get something this season. What to do when you’re trying to lose weight and increase your activity?
First, is it just a common cold? If you don’t have a fever or body aches and it’s “neck up,” it’s probably just a cold. When you’ve got the common cold, it’s a good idea and it’s safe for you to get out and do some moderate activity. I know, you really don’t feel like it today, but revving up your body’s furnace may help fight off the infection and getting moving will make you feel better. Some people with a cold will still do some vigorous exercise, but it’s not my thing. If your body is accustomed to a 7 minute mile for an hour, an10 minute mile for 40 minutes is still reining it in, so it’s probably fine.
What about food? Eat what feels good, eat enough and try to get plenty of fruits, vegetables and water. Much of what our bodies need to heal themselves comes from the food we eat. What about chicken noodle soup? Warm liquid feels good, it’s easy to eat and can help us feel better.
What if you’ve got something nastier than the cold? Influenza, bronchitis or even pneumonia? Stay in bed, drink plenty of fluids and eat enough food. (And think about getting a flu shot next season.) As your fever goes away and you’re finally feeling strong enough to walk a bit, you can take a leisurely ten minute stroll, but be kind and patient with your body as it heals.
Sometimes the hardest part is restarting your exercise and weight loss routine that isn’t yet a habit. What inspires you to want to lose weight? Is there a friend who is supporting you? Does reading one certain blog (hint, hint) help you get motivated? Do reading fitness magazines get you thinking about exercise and believing you can do it? Maybe having accountability to a personal trainer or dietitian will help you focus after you’re well enough to resume your weight loss plan.
At this point you know that for weight loss to be permanent, it has to be part of your lifestyle. Unfortunately illness will be part of your life and you’ll have to see it as the little bump in the road that it is, not a giant wall stopping your progress. Find a way over that bump, FIGURE IT OUT. It’s worth it, it’s important to you and it’s what you need to do to take care of yourself.
May you be happy…and healthy,
Regan
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