These past couple days, I’ve been battling a cold. You know: the itchy throat, the chronic coughing and the runny nose. Unfortunately, this has also cut into my gym time – I’m in absolutely no mood to hit the treadmill or lift some weights. But because I’ve made a habit of going to the gym, I decided to suck it up and go anyway. Bad idea. I could hardly finish my workout because I was so tired and lightheaded.
So should you forgo working out if you’re coming down with something? The answer is maybe. Most experts follow what’s called the “above-the-neck rule.” If your symptoms are limited to “above the neck,” (cough, runny nose, etc.), then you should be all right to work out. If, on the other hand, your symptoms are lower, such as chest congestion, body aches (a fever symptom) or stomach pains, you’re better off resting.
That’s the general rule of thumb, but each case is different – my symptoms were above the neck but I knew I definitely couldn’t finish my workout, no matter how hard I tried. Ultimately, it comes down to you: Do you think you can handle it? If so, start a lower intensity and work your way up from there. In the meantime, I’m going to take it easy. – Geoffrey
