Should You Workout If You Think You Have The Coronavirus?

Lately, the only topic of conversation is the Coronavirus, and rightfully so, it is the first pandemic I’ve ever been a part of except when playing the board game.

Besides the economic collapse, lack of non-perishables at the grocery store, and distancing ourselves from loved ones, on an individual level, it isn’t that bad.

Most big companies seem to be doing right by their employees and paying them for their time off. If it is only two weeks, one hopes that the government would help the small businesses pay their employees as this crisis worsens, but this article is not meant to touch on politics.

Our grandparents had to survive the great depression, World War II, and Polio every summer. We are facing an economic downturn, a global relief effort, and a disease that most people will survive if we keep our distance from people for a few weeks.

Ok, intro over, how will this impact your health?

Probably negatively. Staying home encourages lazy behavior, and I don’t know about your grocery store, but mine had plenty of produce left and almost no carbohydrates.

Gyms, restaurants, and theaters are closed. People are encouraged to stay inside. It is a terrible time to be a personal trainer, actor, or waiter, but at least everyone now has plenty of time.

During this pandemic, you cannot use the excuse you don’t have time to workout. Most people no longer have to commute, grocery shop, or go out to do anything. The one resource you now probably have too much of is time. So what are you going to do with it?

You might as well get fit and work on your health. You aren’t busy.

I’ve gotten a few questions about the Coronavirus and health that I’m going to answer to the best of my ability. Please remember, I am not a doctor; these are just suggestions:

Should you work out with the Coronavirus?

A lot of people think they have the Coronavirus, but they have no idea. Social media is telling you that you may have a disease, and the placebo effect works. Telling people they are sick will make them feel sick. Unfortunately, as an American, I don’t have access to a test that could save lives unless I want to gamble a couple of thousand dollars. So if you’ll never know if you are or were infected, how should you handle your health?

It seems as though the Coronavirus manifests itself in different ways in different people. If you aren’t feeling well, it is never a good idea to do strenuous activity. As long as you stay away from people and your symptoms are above your neck(no breathing issues), I see no reason why you cannot go for a walk. Just stay the hell away from people.

There are many yoga apps and bodyweight workouts you can do from the comfort of your home, try some. Remember, social distancing doesn’t mean you cannot go outside. The sun is still shining.

If you tested positive for the virus, it seems as though you would be quarantined on your own dime. Again, I seriously doubt anyone under the age of 50, or without a pre-existing condition will ever actually know if they get it.

Is it safe to go to the gym?

It is all about the volume the gym does. Your building gym or a boutique gym only see about 20 people a day, are being cleaned daily, and have an adequate supply of sanitary wipes. I’m not overly concerned.

However, most commercial gyms see between 200-600 people a day, and that is not an ideal way to stay Corona free. In addition any place that has that kind of volume, grocery stores, electronic shops, and drug stores are high-risk as well.

In this time of crisis, you are better off picking up running or grabbing some in-home exercise equipment.

What are the best workouts I can do from home with no equipment?

I’ve touched on this subject a few times in the past, here is a workout library and a great lower body workout. If you don’t want to go outside, and still want to get some cardio in with no equipment, I would recommend the invisible jump rope. The invisible jump rope is great because it is with you at all times and requires no rhythm. All you have to do is jump and imagine you have a jump rope. It takes up a lot less space than a real jump rope too.

Also, Amazon is not closed. Here is a list of the best cheap exercise equipment for your home. Seriously, that list is a lifesaver for most of my clients right now.

If you want to do more bodyweight strength training movements, check out this article.

And if you want not to have to think about it, try to do 100 push-ups, 100 squats, and 100 lunges. That is certainly good enough.

No matter what you decide to do with your time for the next two weeks, remember that it is totally up to you. You may be confined to your home, but you are not a prisoner. Nobody is making decisions for you.

You can choose to meditate, exercise, and eat healthily, or binge watch TV and scarf down pizza. The choice is yours.