How soon do you return to workouts after the flu?

I am getting over the flu (gastroenteritis). This is my third day. My appetite is not 100% yet, and I still have a slight headache, but I am night and day better than Monday (Day 1). Anyway, there is a timed 5K and 10K swim this Saturday that I can swim, but I am not sure that's the best thing to do right now. My last workout was 4 days ago. I will take today off and maybe workout tomorrow. Thoughts? I'm thinking 1-2 full weeks.

A 5K might be too much - too soon? Take this race off & work back into it slowly .

If you are no longer running a fever you can probably do light workouts but doing a hard 5K or 10K this weekend sounds like a recipe for a relapse.

I saw a study recently which indicated that exercising won't slow your recovery, but I doubt that you will feel ready for a 5K by the weekend.

Agree with everyone above. I would maybe do some "light" workouts, but certainly 5K, and definitely a 10K is pushing it.

. . . flu (gastroenteritis) . . . Thoughts? "Provide signage in a conspicuous location before pool entry. The sign might state: 1. "If you have or have had diarrhea in the past 2 weeks, please do not use the pool." :afraid: 2 weeks sound about right. Rest is an important key to recovery.

When I get sick, I do my best not to let it affect my workout schedule. I almost always feel better after a workout, even when sick. Knowing that makes it much easier to get up and go when I'm feeling awful.

Thanks for your thoughts. Currently this is day 4 of my recovery, and while I feel fine, my appetite is still off, but maybe that is a good thing, because the thought of anything but healthy foods makes me sick. Maybe I will give it a week. I will swim tomorrow, but at my own pace, so not with the team forcing myself to keep certain intervals. I will not swim the 5K either this weekend. It sounds like, after the flu, one should take a minimum 1 week rest, preferably 2, before training again, and at least 2 weeks before competition. I can live with that.

How do you feel today ?:badday: or :applaud:

My experience was with running and with a respiratory flu so this might not apply... but some years back, I had a fever, a dry cough, shivering, etc. and felt I thought improved enough after a few days to take a run. WRONG. I struggled through the run, and I then relapsed and was sick for close to a month. Be careful with flu!