This is a constant debate.
Whether or not you should train / workout / exercise with having a chronic illness.
In my experience and professional humble opinion ( opinions are like buttholes ) you SHOULD indeed train / workout / exercise while having a chronic illness.
There will always be caveats, and exceptions to the rule of course, but generally speaking yes it would be ok.
Now, what I do want to STRESS is that you might be able to push to your ABSOLUTE limits, you aren’t going to hit a PB every week, as it can have a negative impact on your overall health and send your central nervous system into haywire!
But you can look to get 20-30 minutes of movement daily.
Does this need to be in the gym? – Hell no
It can simply be a walk, we have adopted this thought pattern that if we arent slaying it in the gym then we arent working hard enough for health…. Social media has alot to blame here!
Now if you are reading this and you have a chronic illness and think there is no way this is achievable and this bloke doesn’t know what he is going on about, let me tell you this.
I do know how you are feeling as I have a chronic illness. It is called Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) – Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) – British Liver Trust – I wont bore you with the ins and outs of it, if you want to read more about it then please read here Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) – British Liver Trust
So what does all that matter?!
I too have days where I am in pain, fatigued, heads frazzled… life be lifing with a chronic illness.
But here is the training program split that I use for ME, but if I am having a pain day then I will look to swap everything out for a walk, nothing too drastic, 30 mins tops.
X3 strength / resistance based workouts per week.
Comprising key movements: Deadlift, Squat, Bench Press, Over Head Press, Hinge, Pull.
Example Workout:
All movements are based at rep range of 12-15.
3 working sets with 45s rest.
1. Leg Extension
2. Squat
3a. Flat Dumbbell Bench Press
3b. Dumbbell Bent Over Row
4a. Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
4b. High Plank
5a. Tricep Extension
5b. Bicep Curl
5c. Standing Calf Raise
Now this workout takes me no longer than 40 minutes!
Remember, I train for my mental health, but it also allows me to build physical strength and improve my overall health which is KEY for someone living with a Chronic Illness.
So please rethink that you CANT workout with a chronic illness, you CAN. You might just need to review how you train, the intensity and review your goals.
YES, YOU CAN!
If you need direct support and want to understand more about how you can train with your chronic illness then please get in touch – https://wa.me/message/NDF67GRYQAEIE1
You can also try our ‘explore’ package on our app for only £19.99 a month – https://mindyourfitness1.mypthub.net/p/204980
And of course you always have FREE access to our mental health workout – https://mindyourfitness1.mypthub.net/p/197190
I took some data from the NHS below if you wanted to check out the ten most common chronic illnesses in the UK.
Thanks for reading!
Catch you next week!
Coach Fowler.
