If you have a cold, is there any rule of thumb for when working out will be good for you as opposed to further weakening you?
I normally aim at exercising moderately (cardio and weights) 3-5 times a week. I have just been getting back into the swing of exercise after a couple months off due to foot surgery.
I’ve had a cold for the past 10 or so days, and haven’t worked out since then. For a week I was coughing at night, and getting little sleep. Took a couple of days off work. I felt so tired during the day that it seemed pretty clear exercise would wear me out instead of helping.
Now, I definitely feel as tho I’m on the mend, tho well under 100%. I golfed over the weekend, and my legs felt really weak and heavy. I really want to start building up my strength, but I want to kick this cold as quickly as possible.
Any thoughts?
The ladies who run my gym say that if symptoms are above the neck, go ahead and work out. If not, wait.
Of course, they might be biased. 
Hope you feel better! I seem to have pulled something in my inner thigh. Ouch.
I try to work out when I have a sickness that will allow me to go to work. That’s my rule of thumb. But I’m extra-careful and I don’t push it at all or lift anything heavy, just spin up the old heart rate a little and break a sweat. 95% of the time I feel better afterward.
I’ve heard the same advice from trainers here as well.
Makes sense really - I can’t envision being able to do much exertion with lungs full of gunk.
Thanks.
I’m still coughing, so I’ll take at least another day off.
Just don’t want to be taking advantage of an easy excuse to be lazy!
And it really bugged me to have my legs feel heavy just walking the course.
Not sure how much was from the lingering cold, and how much from being out of shape.
Maybe my immune system is just useless, but if I work out when I’m less than 95% healthy, I’m guaranteed to get sicker. I once had a cold that turned into something that could have kicked a flu’s pasty ass due to my desire to get back to the gym. IMHO, wait until you’re fully healthy to work out again. Working out is all about breaking down your body and rebuilding it stronger, faster, and better. If your body’s attention is split between building muscle and getting you healthy, you’re going to stay sick longer and not get your full returns out of your workout for the trouble.
If you’re getting sick, take a couple days off. You don’t want to burn the calories you could be using to fight the infection on recovering from your workouts.
If you’re tending towards a high temp (not very common with a cold, but it happens), working out can put you right into “fever” mode.
I’d say take another day or two off, then approach it cautiously, listening to your body.
How can you do cardio if you can’t breathe through your nose?