| Everyone becomes sick from time to time. It's just a | | | | well as make yourself more susceptible to other |
| part of life. Your immune system becomes weakened | | | | illnesses in your state of weakened defenses? |
| by a variety of agents, and allows a cold or flu bug to | | | | If you decide to train |
| slip through. In most aspects of life, you can just pause | | | | Dress in layers. Take your medicine - Zicam and |
| things for several days, and stay in bed, and recover. | | | | Echinacea are wonderful for boosting the immune |
| But in the world of bodybuilding, progress is lost when | | | | system and destroying a starting illness. Start with light |
| you fall ill. Much of what bodybuilding entails - extremely | | | | cardio, then light weights. If you feel yourself getting |
| hard training and rigorous dieting - actually causes the | | | | worse, halt and take a break. Some people believe |
| body to face greater likeliness of becoming sick. You | | | | you can "break" a cold or fever by training through it, |
| tear down your immune system and central nervous | | | | although this is unproven. |
| system when training hard and heavy. Bodybuilding | | | | If you decide to take the time off |
| makes your muscles stronger but often leaves your | | | | Most people choose to take 3 to 7 days away from |
| immune system weaker. | | | | the gym to recover from a cold or flu. Give the body |
| One cannot just skip the gym every time he feels a | | | | time to rest, and then get back in there. See a doctor if |
| little run down or tired. At the same time, going to the | | | | illness continues. Also look for environmental factors, |
| gym when you're very sick is a recipe for hurting your | | | | which may be contributing to the illness. |
| recovery, as well as spreading your illness to others in | | | | Ten years later... When it's all said and done, missing a |
| the gym. A fine line must be drawn as to when you | | | | few days due to illness is normal and to be expected. |
| miss workouts, and when you train when you should | | | | It's very necessary to give your body time to heal |
| not. | | | | when illness hits. On the other hand one should be |
| A few simple questions should be asked. Are you | | | | careful not to squander training results by skipping the |
| afflicted with a serious enough malady to warrant | | | | gym every time he/she is feeling a little run down. |
| losing your bodybuilding progress? Would training with | | | | Once that can be achieved, long-term bodybuilding |
| this illness cost you MORE bodybuilding progress? | | | | success can be achieved, despite any illnesses! |
| Finally, are you at risk of giving your illness to others, as | | | | |