Should You Train If You Have a Cold?

You’re on a roll – been exercising almost every day, running at least 10km a week and seeing a vast improvement in your physique and then, you catch a cold. While it is very well known that regular exercise helps improve your immune system and strengthen your body’s reaction to infections, many people don’t know if it’s a good idea to continue training while sick.

If you have contracted a mild cold and are experiencing symptoms such as a runny nose, coughing and sneezing, it is acceptable to continue training at a low to moderate intensity. Do just enough to maintain your current progress but don’t try to go beyond that. You body requires its full attention to fight off the bacteria – it doesn’t need to also repair muscles and store more energy because you’ve gone and performed high intensity training. It just so happens that extremely high intensity workouts can have the exact opposite effect on the immune system and leave it wide open to infection.

The basic rule here is if your discomfort is above the neck, i.e. stuffy nose, slight cough, it is acceptable to work out. Keep it very simple and by that I mean no weight lifting and no high intensity training. If after ten minutes you still feel okay, it is alright to continue your low impact exercise. If you have a stomach virus, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, it is best to avoid exercise altogether until you feel better. Read the rest of this entry »

Pregnancy Exercise and Nutrition – Promise a Healthy You For a Healthy Baby

Searching for pregnancy exercise and nutrition tips or women’s health information? Your search ends here. Exercise is a good thing at any point in a women’s life but pregnancy exercises are specifically important since it helps in developing muscle tone, stamina & strength. There are a lot of positives of pregnancy exercises which stimulates both emotional and physical well-being for your baby and you. If you have not been exercising regularly before being pregnant, start slowly when starting any exercise program.

Easy exercises are a perfect way to keep your fitness level up. They are also a perfect way to help you be more comfortable throughout your pregnancy. The labor and delivery journey can certainly be easiest if you are in good physical condition. You should always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program during pregnancy and never exert yourself too hard. Exercise in moderation and don’t perform exercises that are uncomfortable for you. Read the rest of this entry »