Most of us go to the gym thinking it’s going to make us stronger and healthier.
Wouldn’t it be ironic then, if it were actually making you ILL?
Thing is… there’s a good chance that it is. I don’t want to fear-monger, here. And I’m not saying “don’t go to the gym.”
Buuuuut if you’re someone who seems to be sick all the time AND you’re someone who goes to the gym… There’s possibly a connection there.
This is something I’ve noticed myself as a parent. Being a parent, you already get sick roughly 1000x more than anyone else. Your kid is constantly bringing home weird bugs and you’re constantly stressed and tired.
But I noticed that I was actually getting sick more than many of my fellow parents. So much so, that we were developing a reputation as a family!
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This actually changed, though, once I started training at home a lot more.
And then things got even weirder when my friend had the same experience. He was someone who was never sick – but after he started going to the gym he began to experience what I had been going through.
This makes a lot of sense, too, when you consider what actually happens at the gym. This is a space filled with people touching and grabbing every surface. Sweating on those surfaces. Coughing on their hands then lifting weights and scratching their nose.
How many people actually use the disinfectant wipes after using a bench? Most people certainly don’t wipe down the weights themselves!
Then there’s the fact that, while you’re there, you’re also going to be immunocompromised. You’re pushing yourself and becoming extremely tired, reducing the effectiveness of your immune system to stave off various bugs and diseases.
If you also happen to be a tired parent, who is riddled with bugs from preschool… well then you’re probably doomed.
And for me, switching to back to predominantly home workouts was actually game changing. I am sick so much less than I used to be and that means I’m able to keep making progress without so many days out from training.
What also seems to have helped is not pushing myself quite so hard, or training quite so regularly. These days, I’m a little more focussed on recovery and leaving some energy left in the tank.
So, is that my recommendation? That you stop going to the gym?
Obviously not! There are tons of advantages to going to the gym and, for some people, training from home isn’t even an option.
What I’m saying is be aware of this. If you find yourself getting sick more often than you think is normal, experiment with taking some time away from the gym. Maybe don’t go when you’re overtired or when you’re not fully recovered.
And practice good hygiene when you’re in the gym. For your sake and for others. That means actually using the wipes, remembering not to touch your face until you’ve washed your hands, and definitely bring your own gloves if you’re going to hit the heavy bag!
I know that some people are going to argue that you shouldn’t worry about this. You should “strengthen your immune system.” But this applies a lot less to an environment that is wholly unnatural. You don’t strengthen your immune system by locking yourself in an air conditioned room with a bunch of sneezing, sweating people and touching all the same stuff!
More to the point, this is not advice for everyone. This is advice for those of you who have been going to the gym for a while and who have noticed they keep getting sick.
And especially those who might find themselves being stretched a bit thin in other areas of their life. Whether that’s from being overworked or being a new parent.
Remember: fitness is meant to support your health.
Logical take on a common issue. The main problem as I see it, is sick people who need to be culled from society, when they try to maintain a normal schedule when sick.
I’m sick right now and probably from carrelessness around hygiene at the squash courts. My goal is to shake hands less (ironically (in this competetive environment) it used to mean “we’re not warring”), and wash up because the doorknobs have germs.