I have felt pretty lousy all week. Everything is in bloom here and so I figured it was just my allergies. I have had a headache, scratchy throat and a stuffy nose, but this time the allergy medications are not doing the job. Homemade chicken soup has found its way to my dinner table twice this week and I have upped the fluids and put myself to bed early. I am convinced now that a cold has attached itself to my allergies and a little ibuprofen and laying low has helped to get me through the day. The thought of working out has not exactly been foremost on my mind and it has been tempting to cancel my workouts and related commitments to others. But my own words to others ring in my ears. “Some workouts are better than others, and we all have our bad days. Allowing yourself to have a mediocre workout once in awhile is better than doing nothing.” I know this to be true, because I have worked out many times over the years when I felt crummy and I always feel better after.

Now I don’t want anyone to think that I am promoting working out when you are sick as a dog and I truly believe that you have to tune in to your own body to know when to take a few days off. Often I have found that sweating it out is the difference in getting myself through the day. Because it is such a normal part of my daily routine, I feel “normal” after exercising and allow myself to forget that I wasn’t feeling that great to begin with. Sometimes I just work out at a lower intensity or use this time to do a little more stretching. High intensity workouts can lower your body’s immune system when you are sick but there has been no proof that moderate exercise has the same effect. Just make sure that you drink plenty of water during your workout and throughout the day.

In the time it has taken me to write this, the ibuprofen and my large cup of black coffee have kicked in and I am about to grab a bottle of water and put my sneakers on. I will keep my workout indoors in case it is just the allergies making me feel this way. I am looking forward to working(it)out !