Q: First, I just want to say that I really enjoy and appreciate your blog! So, THANK YOU. I wanted to send a question your way. I know a lot of us are struggling with illness during these winter months. As I was layed up on the couch this past weekend downing more than my share of OJ, I thought it would be great to hear about ways to stay on track fitness and diet-wise when you’re not feeling 100%.
I think there are many different ways to approach this, but I also have to tell you… the cleaner you eat and the longer you keep up those habits, the less often you find yourself feeling ill. You’re properly hydrated. Your body has all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants it needs to help ward off illness. Your muscles have the macro-nutrients they need to heal properly. You don’t experience too much in the way of tummy troubles.
Truthfully, I can’t even remember the last time I came down with a cold. And I’m notorious for doing all the weird barefoot hippie stuff that should result in a cold.
But what about newbie clean eaters? What about, if you’re starting the boot camp under the weather? What about if you’re sneaking out and getting paninis at the uppity bodegas instead of listening to your fiance, and now you’ve found yourself unable to fight off a common cold?
Oh, my bad.
Well, for starters, it’s much cheaper and far more beneficial to eat the oranges, and not merely drink the juice. Any citrus fruit, for that matter. And a lot of it.
If you’re finding yourself under the weather with an infection, though… one of the best components to any get-well program is rest. Your most important concern, when under the weather, is to get yourself back to feeling like you can fight again. Eating clean doesn’t stop just because you feel sick – make yourself a giant pot of “get well soup,” a pot with some stock and a heaping helping of carrots, onions, kale, lentils and thyme and just leave it for a good 30 minutes or so – but if you’re feeling unwell, you certainly don’t want to be overexerting yourself and making it even harder for your body to come back to 100 after a rigorous workout session.
Remember, taking a day off because you’re sick isn’t the same thing as “taking a day off because you’re lazy.” Don’t be afraid to give your body some time to recover from whatever’s ailing it. Just remember to be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling; don’t bulljive yourself and fake “sickness” when you really just don’t want to go workout, and don’t under-report your illness to yourself just so you can go and burn those few hundred calories today. It’s just not worth it.
Mindfully give yourself time to rest, then as soon as you feel up to it, go into your workout with a little extra gusto. You might be surprised by just how much energy you’ve got and just how much stronger you may be!
Lastly, if you’re looking for some insight into natural cures for simple things that tend to ail us, then I’d check out Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Easily one of the most helpful resources for using food as the healing tool it was meant to be. Let your food be your medicine, and all that.
BGG2WL family, what are your favorite natural cures? What are your favorite resources? What did Granny pass down to you that you live by? Share!