Sick?

Does this nightstand look familiar?

From October 2009

Kleenex.

Cough drops.
Water.
Ear plugs (a failed attempt to sleep).
Tylenol, Ibuprofen…

Yep, that was my day yesterday: sick. Stuffy nose. Cough. Blasted headache that wouldn’t quit. Now that the colder weather is on its way, so are some other unwelcome guests: cold and flu season.

Flu?

If you have any of these symptoms:

fever
chills
muscle aches
extreme fatigue
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea

YOU HAVE THE FLU, GIRL. Red Box Notting Hill ASAP, stay in bed, and--for crying out loud -- try to take it easy (much easier said than done, right?). At this level, you most likely are contagious and want to quarantine yourself from human kind. Yes, this swine flu thing has given me the willies.

Cold?

However, if you are just feeling kind of lousy with the sniffles and getting over a mild cold, often it is beneficial to do a light cardio workout. An easy walk, spin on the bike, or a refreshing hike can often open up those nasal passage and you can actually start breathing air again. Your headache may ease due to the fresh air and movement.

This morning I wasn’t feeling 100%, but after my workout I finally felt like myself again. Uh-oh, she’s back! I was rarin’ to go with my newfound energy and my clients got a rip-roaring workout! :) YEEHA! (They’ll thank me later!)

Basically, just getting out there and moving is beneficial when recovering from a cold. This isn’t the time to hit it hard on the intense intervals. Your goal is to restore your health, not break it down further. In fact, if you throw caution to the wind and workout too hard, it actually can prolong your illness… And what mother has time for that?