Too Sick to Workout?

Bob Greene shared the following information in his newsletter. His web site is: www.thebestlife.com. It has lots of good information.

Sick? When to Skip Your Workout

The start of the sneezin' season is officially upon us. Should you persist and head to the gym despite a runny nose and cough? Or should you skip it and let your body recover? Here's how to decide.

Locate your illness. It's usually fine to exercise when symptoms are above the neck-sniffles, a headache and nasal congestion are generally not serious enough to require time off. You may want to take a day or two off if symptoms are below the neck. And no matter what other symptoms you have or how you feel, if you have a temperature higher than 99 degrees, do not exercise. A fever is a sign that you're working hard to fight off an illness; exercise only increases the stress on your body.

Lighten up. Light exercise can help clear sinuses if you're stuffed and may give you a temporary respite from related symptoms, like coughing, sneezing and sore throat. Be sure to keep your intensity level low.

Work out when you're well. In one study done at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, people who exercised at a moderate pace for 40 minutes per day took half as many sick days due to sore throats as those who didn't exercise.

by Michael Scholtz, M.A., Best Life fitness expert

Great information!!

Move of the Day: Sitting in the chair with a small ball on R thigh, place R elbow on top of the ball. Press elbow into ball and "crunch" abdominals (take belly button to spine). It may help to raise R heel when you press elbow into ball. Do 8 to 12 reps. Next you can offer to have them move the ball to the L thigh, still using the R elbow and pressing elbow into ball. This works the obliques. Modification: Allow them to stay on the R thigh if this is too hard for them. Repeat on other side.