Gym after flu

[eierbaerli]

After having the flu, how do you decide when to go back to the gym?

I’ve been sick for 10 days and still have a nasty cough. No gym and only light cardio so far. I wonder how you approach that

 

[Rido]

the infection should be out of your system right now unless you are immunocompromised.

Its probably just residual symptoms. might be alot of shit in your chest you need to cough out.

increase hydration, deep inhale followed by a strong cough to help clean out your lungs.

should be good to return to the gym if you do not have a fever

 

[Inspired]

Take time off, and make sure you are better before you stress your body further. I think working out when you are recently sick is a mistake and it always catches up to you in some way.

 

[MindlessWork]

Better when you are at absolutely 100% as you will have a suboptimal experience if you go back too soon. I've made that mistake before and darn near passed out when attempting even a 315lb deadlift only a day after I felt well enough to get out of bed. Best to wait a few more days for your energy level to fully return after a bout of illness.

 

[Big_paul]

It's kind of shitty for someone to be hacking up a lung in the gym.

 

[fike]

I approach it the same way that @Inspired stated above. Take a few more days off and don't stress your body out worse than it already is.

Unfortunately, I have lupus and have to take an immunosuppressant drug in order to not feel like shit all the time, so when I get sick it hits me especially hard. If I don't take at least 3 days off when I get even a small cold or other bug, my body is in such a stressed state that it won't recover worth a shit for the next two weeks, especially if I'm in the middle of a blast; the compounds are just throwing gas on the fire.

I've been like @MindlessWork was talking about....went in and started warming up with a low weight and nearly passed out. I wasn't just a hazard to myself, but also to anyone that was around me. Accidents happen in the gym and germs are also spread easily.

Take care of yourself, rehydrate yourself to the max, and get to feeling better so you can get back after it, bro.

 

[Disarmer]

If you train in a commercial gym, be considerate, wait until you're fully better.

I have a home gym so at this point I like to start 'active rest' and just work on light sets to get my body moving. Light squats, light bench, light deadlifts, light military press, and some LISS cardio but nothing too intense. Get outside and walk a couple Kms.

Don't push yourself too hard and you suffer or take energy away from your recovery. Just get moving a little bit.

I'm a big fan of neti pot and steam to help clear out sinuses. Boil some water and put it in a large bowl, put a towel over your head and hold your face above the water to help clear out all the thick shit clogging your sinus passages.

 

[CCLBeast]

Get 100% healthy before you start again.
I know it is annoying to wait but otherwise you will get sick again and harm your body.
When you feel you are healthy again train with light weight and see how your body and circulation reacts to it.

 

[eierbaerli]

If you train in a commercial gym, be considerate, wait until you're fully better.

I have a home gym so at this point I like to start 'active rest' and just work on light sets to get my body moving. Light squats, light bench, light deadlifts, light military press, and some LISS cardio but nothing too intense. Get outside and walk a couple Kms.

Don't push yourself too hard and you suffer or take energy away from your recovery. Just get moving a little bit.

I'm a big fan of neti pot and steam to help clear out sinuses. Boil some water and put it in a large bowl, put a towel over your head and hold your face above the water to help clear out all the thick shit clogging your sinus passages.

Im going in the sauna a few times a week. That really clears up the nostrils

 

[Disarmer]

Just don't go into public saunas, don't be the jerk that gives everybody else your cold or flu.

 

[MFAAS]

Just don't go into public saunas, don't be the jerk that gives everybody else your cold or flu.

I feel like you'd be less likely to get others sick in a sauna than in the gym or elsewhere just since the temp is so hot and people's body temps rise a lot.

I agree with everyone to give it a few more days.

However, I remember like 6 or 7 years ago there was a really gross cold going around that gave a bunch of people at work nasty coughs for literally like 3 or 4 months later. It sounded like they had pneumonia; literally a wet cough for months straight. I was thankful not to get it.

If it doesn't dry out it may be worth going to the doc and asking for an inhaler to help you clear the crap out of your lungs. I use one very occasionally to help me cough if I need to.

 

[Jurgen]

I keep working out. On the worst days I don’t, but I still lift light at home the rest of the time. After about a week I continue as normal and go back to my gym.
It’s personal preference.

 

[Addryn]

I agree with those who believe that before returning to the gym after the flu, you need to fully recover. It's smart not to infect others and also you won't be pumping blood through your body which will speed up your recovery.