Should you still lift even when you're sick?

[EliGreen]

I woke up this morning thinking I was starting to get strep throat or something, but as the day progressed I realized that I definitely am getting the flu. Should I still try to go to the gym at some point in this? I remember the last time I had the flu I felt weak and feeble after the whole thing was done, and I don't want to lose weight on the bar.

[Tamara Reynolds]

If you actually have the flu, then no. If you have a fever, then no.

If you just have a stuffy nose and sore throat without a fever, then it kind of depends on how shitty you feel and how good you are at knowing the difference between being a pussy and doing something stupid.

[PeterGibbons316]

Cold? Go lift. Flu? Rest up. http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_.../sick_go_train

Speaking from my own experience - at the first sign of flu-like symptoms I am always better off if I can immediately stop all activity, and just rest. The more I try to fight it, the worse it gets - and the longer I stay sick.

[FKYT]

I train through minor illnesses and normal colds. In fact, I find a good workout can help relieve symptoms for a short time.

I definitely wouldn't train if I were throwing up or if I had diarrhea. The last time I felt that "full body" weakness, it was accompanied by much barfing and shitting. I'm not sure what I'd do if I just felt weak but not "leaky". I guess that would be up to you.

I like hsilman's "above the neck, suck it up, below the neck, think about staying in bed" rule.

[Brodie Butland]

If you actually have the flu, then no. If you have a fever, then no.

+1. In addition to your own health, please be courteous to your fellow gym-goers.

[Eugene]

If you're sick you will not be able to recover from your training, even if the performance is O.K. Try it for yourself if you are eager.

[Tamara Reynolds]

I prefer tbone's knowing the difference between being a pussy and doing something stupid.

Well, I train 6 days a week and have for about 16 or 17 months. Outside of shifting my schedule around due to traveling, I haven't missed a day of training. There have been plenty of days when I have felt crappy, but there have been very few when I have been genuinely sick. The last time I was sick, I did not have a fever, and I still trained. It was a bad idea on one of the days that I did train. I should have stayed home. I know my body well enough to know when I'm sick sick.

That said, I have not had the flu since I started training 6 days a week. I did have the flu several months prior to that, and despite starting Tami-Flu, I was horrendously ill, had a high fever, and felt like I was dying. I never once considered training during that time, and I think I was on the couch for 3 or 4 days with a high fever and chills.

[JDelage]

My experience has been that if I train hard when I'm a little sick I get much sicker. If I stay at home, I can get over a cold much faster.

[Gene61]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that you shouldn't go to a public gym when you are contagious. The next guy or gal using your barbell isn't going to thank you for giving them a cold! And those silly anti-bacterial wipes don't do a thing to the cold or flu virus. Soap and water is the only thing and wouldn't that look silly?