I felt congested and gross on Saturday morning, went to the gym to work out, and sat in the steam room for about 10 minutes, and the rest of my day was perfect. maybe its in my head, and sure maybe someone in my spinning class has a sniffly nose now.... I live in a city, people spread germs, its how I got sick in the first place.

I will be honest and say I work out anyway when I'm sick. I've almost never let an illness stop me from getting my 7 miles in. I'm sure it's prolonged my illness at times, but it's the only thing that always makes me feel better!

I got 4/4, but I really do feel like I am "killing" the sickness when I run --- by making my blood get hot and kill the germs. I know that's not true and completely unscientific

My daughter recently started daycare and is bringing home every bug known to man - and then some - which she is gladly sharing with the rest of us. There are some days when I just feel so crummy I cannot workout, but it's good to know that I can. In the last week, I've only managed 3 days as we've all had a head and chest cold.

The rule I always heard is: if it's above the neck you're ok, anything below the neck give the workout a miss.

That's totally how I feel too, Runningesq.

And I am SURE that I get sick less now than before I started running. There's a certain logic in not letting sniffles stop you from working out. It keeps you well!

OK have to comment on this one, cause its a big PEEVE for me in a certain way!
Ladies, if you are sick, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not go to the public gym. If you want to work out, you are entirely entitled to that, but do it in your own home or outdoors! I think it is completely inconsiderate for people, hacking sniffing and sneezing, to go to a gym and spread their germs all in the air, over the machines, etc. Be considerate. Yes exercise may help, but cant you do it without spreading it to others? Trust me, NO ONE wants you there when your sick. You know that feeling that everyone is staring at you when you hack? It's not your imagination, they ARE.
I am pregnant and go to the gym every day to try and keep in shape, and cant really afford to catch a flu, and this chick comes in yesterday and hops on the treadmill next to me, sneezing and coughing all over everything int he air, etc. Right next to me. Without covering her mouth (of course not...she was controlling her breathing for running! She's the only person in the world don't you know!!)

ARGH. Ok I'm done.

Ugh I'm sick right now...I haven't been to the gym in forever b/c of my terrible cough!

if you have swine flu working out heavily could force the virus deep into your lungs and then you could be in serious trouble.

When in doubt this flu season take the day off.

I usually work out when I am sick cus I notice I tend to be sick longer if I don't. I just tend to get better faster if I keep up with my workout. Like last year when I had bronchitis I had it for over 3 weeks & I wasn't working out from it. I wasn't getting any better so I started working out anyway & I was much better the next day with in five days I was completely better.

When the virus first hits and I feel lousy, I will stay out of the gym. However, once it eases up, I go back with some residual symptoms. I tend to think I'm not infectious at that point, but then again, I'm not a doctor!

I haven't gone to le gym in about a month because of a persistent nagging cough that wont let up. I miss working out.

i only stop when am having my period

Hi,
Sure you can exercise when you're sick. One thing that surprises me about the U.S having been raised in Spain then Mexico, is that everyone here combines an admirable politeness with practicality conditioned by a relevant degree of awareness. I think my new home would be better served by enabling an adequate degree of scientific awareness, such as knowing incubation periods for common illnesses and modes of transmission because being people of the sort described it would come naturally to observe manners in the spirit of utility where public health is concerned. Also, they would be little need for discussion about a confluence of issues as whether to act so as to enable spread of disease, retain one's liberties or suggesting that it follows from living in a city where a higher population density already promotes illness spread one shouldn't reconsider pitching in.

agree with missyd totally. do what you want, workout wise, if you aren't putting others at risk (ie: don't workout at a gym. run or walk outside, etc).

at my yoga class last night, someone showed up so sick that she made it through about half a sun salutation before just laying on her mat, switching between corpse pose and childs pose the whole hour and a half (with just a couple half-hearted attempts at joining in).

our teacher encourages us to practice without judgment, but i was so mad. i wish people would use common sense.