You’re probably aware the mother of all colds is doing the rounds.
Maybe it’s a “new variant” of The Virus That Shall Not Be Named, maybe it’s some hitherto unclassified nasty from a far flung-corner of the world, or maybe it’s just a cold. Whatever. At least Daddy Government isn’t forcing us to hide under our beds to protect an ailing and woefully corrupt healthcare system, so I suppose there’s that.
Anyway, this thing has got me good. I’ve been under the weather in some way, shape, or form since early October, barring a couple of weeks respite in late November before it came back with a vengeance.
OK. Maybe I’m exaggerating a little for dramatic effect. I’ve got a persistent cough and I’m a bit fatigued, so I’m not exactly at death’s door, but it is a little irritating.
However, sometimes, I feel like I’m living through the second coming of the bubonic plague. ‘Cuz there are people around me complaining left, right, and centre about how “wiped out” they are and yet what they’re describing basically amounts to a stiff case of the sniffles.
Just the other day Jess was telling me how a number of women at her mum’s group are whinging about how “ill” they are (but not so sick they can’t go to the group and stuff biscuits down their gullets – go figure). And yet, they refuse to take any responsibility for improving their lot, meeting Jess’ kind suggestion that they maybe engage with their doctor for more than a sicknote and, you know, eat a little better and do a spot of exercise with a barrage of excuses.
“Don’t have time”, “don’t know how to cook”, “don’t like vegetables” (seriously, are you four?).
Whatever. Whatever. Whatever.
If these people took the tiniest bit of responsibility for their lives, they’d find their circumstances improve dramatically.
But they won’t. Because whining and complaining while sitting on your backside is easy, and we live in a society that rewards this behaviour.
Where am I going with this?
I dunno. Although I should probably tie this into some sort of lesson about fitness, so here goes:
Right now, I’m operating at about 85%. Not so sick I need to trouble my doctor, but sick enough for it to affect my training.
For example, my cardiovascular fitness is in the toilet. Running a mile and a half is a deeply unpleasant experience, when normally I can crank out five miles no problem at all.
This situation presents me with a few options:
- Stop training altogether.
- Try and carry on with my usual routine regardless
- Adapt my training to enable me to do what I can with what I’ve got.
It doesn’t take a genius to see that Option #3 is the only sensible choice, seeing as I’m not actually “ill” per se, but I’m also not well enough to train normally. (And, if I tried, I’d probably make things worse).
So, instead of running, I’ve been hopping on the spin bike in my living room and indulging in longer walks than I normally would. That way, I get to reap the manifold and wonderful benefits of regular cardio, without doing myself a mischief.
Simple.
Bottom line: If you’re sick, see a doctor and follow their advice. If (and ONLY if) they say you’re alright to train, apply critical thinking and adapt your routine accordingly.
Don’t try to be a hero. Trying to “push through” illness isn’t hardcore, it’s stupid. Yeah, you might lose a little muscle and put on a little fat while you recover. No matter. You’ll be back to your usual shape faster than you think once you’re back training normally again.
OK. Time to sell you something.
January’s issue of The Phil Tyreman Letter reveals the exact system I use to programme an entire year of training.
This system will stop you bouncing around from programme to programme and, in so doing, will ensure you’re in better shape by the end of 2024 than you were at the start.
You’ll also get access to me via email if you have questions or need help applying it.
Details here:
www.philtyreman.co.uk/information
Thank you,
Phil Tyreman
P.S. I’ve set up a new Facebook group for men in my local area. It’s called East Yorkshire Men’s Fitness Mastermind.
This group is my way of “giving something back”. By that I mean, it’s not a marketing tool for my business per se. I expect some people who join will become clients/customers, but that’s not why I started the group. I did it because there’s a paucity of resources for hardworking men generally and nothing locally, so I figured I might as well do something about it.
If you wouldn’t mind joining to help me bump up the numbers, I’d appreciate it. (I need people to do this because nobody wants to join a Facebook group with barely any members).
To show my thanks, you’ll get an invite to a live Q&A I’m going to hold sometime between Christmas and New Year (date TBC).
Joining is free and takes seconds.
Here’s the group: