1. #1
    Musclechemistry Board Certified Member Board Certified MD
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    Default Dealing with Sickness

    Getting sick is the last thing you want to happen when you enjoy training and are making good progress. But if you feel ill, it's a good idea to lay off the intense training sessions for a while and take some rest to let yourself recover properly [1].
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    Taking some rest won't result in immediate muscle loss [2]. Recent research indicates that when trained individuals take up to 2-3 weeks off from strength training, muscle size does not significantly decrease [3]. So skipping a few days of training to recover from your illness is totally fine.
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    With that said, if you only have a mild cold or a slightly sore throat, you can choose to train if it makes you feel better. In this case, training with moderate- to low-intensity may be beneficial since research suggests light activity can reduce inflammation and improve the immune response to viral infections [4].
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    All in all, don't be afraid to give yourself some rest if you do not feel good. But if you do choose to train, a moderate- to low-intensity training session will benefit you more than an intense session.
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    Lastly, although I think this goes without saying, if you have something contagious, it's good to consider your fellow trainees in the gym and not surrounding yourself with many people.
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    BigZ MC Site Admin Board Certified MD

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    I can't count how many times I've pushed through a cold and went to train. I'd only have symptoms of a regular head cold, but I'd feel fine otherwise, not really achy or anything. I used to have no problem when I was younger, but now that I'm older, I've found that my cold will get worse if I train. Now I'll take off at least a week, and I'm way better off for it. Lately, I've been fighting a long lingering cold. I'll get to feeling better and go train but then crash the next day, and I'm fighting it off all over again. Must be related to the weather getting colder.
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  3. #3
    MuscleChemistry Registered Member Board Certified Psy.D
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    I'm going ape shit crazy not being able to train.

    Today marks day 26 that I've been hospitalized due to a bleeding ulcer. I had to have a blood transfusion & I developed a clot in my leg. I'm still numb from my right calf down with drop-foot.

    Physical therapy has provided me with resistance bands, which I'm grateful for as I can least get some arm pump going. But my strength & weight has went down drastically. I'm struggling but trying hard to stay positive.

    Sorry, I just had to bent my recent experience & frustration...gotta keep our heads up though.
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