Just wondering what you serious Masters/Fitness types do when you're a bit under the weather.
If you get a cold but no fever do you still go swim for a workout?
Are you better off just staying in bed or going for a walk?
Seems like a strenuous workout like swimming might actually be harmful.
Any thoughts?
It's weird, but when I force myself to swim my illnesses tend to abate before they really get momentum. I think for a lot of these common viruses the mind is as important as anything else. If you get into the "I am debilitated" mental mode, the body seems to follow. But if you still try to do something exercise related (even toned down), then get proper rest, you just might find the illness kept at bay. Whether it is a placebo effect or not, who cares? It helps my swimming more than Echinacea.
Now an important disclaimer. There are illnesses and there are ILLNESSES. I'm talking about your typical viral illness with nasal symptoms, maybe a little body ache (that's a constant any time I get sick), mild sore throat. If you have pneumonia or a more serious bacterial illness I would not advise pushing it for your own sake (not just because of contagiousness).
It's weird, but when I force myself to swim my illnesses tend to abate before they really get momentum. I think for a lot of these common viruses the mind is as important as anything else. If you get into the "I am debilitated" mental mode, the body seems to follow. But if you still try to do something exercise related (even toned down), then get proper rest, you just might find the illness kept at bay. Whether it is a placebo effect or not, who cares? It helps my swimming more than Echinacea.
Now an important disclaimer. There are illnesses and there are ILLNESSES. I'm talking about your typical viral illness with nasal symptoms, maybe a little body ache (that's a constant any time I get sick), mild sore throat. If you have pneumonia or a more serious bacterial illness I would not advise pushing it for your own sake (not just because of contagiousness).
