5 Times You Absolutely Shouldn’t Work Out

Trust us, the treadmill will be there tomorrow

By Lindsay Champion, PureWow

We get it: You don’t quite feel like yourself when you skip your morning run. But there are actually a handful of times in your life when it’s better to take a mini hiatus from exercising.

WHEN YOU’VE GOT A FEVER

If all you’ve got is the common cold, Godspeed. (You’ll actually increase circulation and help your immune system by hitting the elliptical.) But a fever is a different story: Your body is fighting something serious and it needs to devote all its energy to tackling that. Brew a pot of tea and lie down already.

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WHEN YOUR MUSCLES ARE REALLY, REALLY SORE

Yesterday you crushed Booty Busting Bootcamp--congrats! But today you can barely pee without breaking into tears. Our advice: Go for a very light walk (to gently loosen up any stiffness) or skip your workout entirely for the day. Giving your body a chance to recover is important--otherwise, you risk overdoing it or, worse, injuring something.

WHEN YOU ONLY GOT 4 HOURS OF SLEEP

Sure, working out can give you an energy boost when you’re slightly fatigued, but if you had a particularly rough night (outside your normal seven- to eight-hour routine), it’s actually better to skip your a.m. trip to the gym and squeeze in that extra hour of shut-eye.

WHEN YOU’RE PREGNANT AND FEELING CRAPPY

[post_ads]Obviously it’s crucial to maintain healthy movement while pregnant (light exercises like yoga and walking). Especially on days when you have a decent amount of energy. But anytime you’re feeling run down or tired, listen to your body (and your doctor) and cool it with the aerobics. You’re doing more good by putting your feet up and chilling out.

WHEN YOUR BFF IS ONLY IN TOWN FOR ONE NIGHT

The moral of the story is: Exercise is important. But it’s always there tomorrow.


See more at: PureWow