exercise after 'flu

[brrapp]

I was absolutlely floored by flu two and a half weeks ago, 4 days in bed and the rest of the week sitting about shivering and sweating and not doing very much at all. I'm still not 100% yet, chesty cough, tightness in chest and a bit of blood in the phlegm in the morning and feeling weak if I try to do anything.

However, I'm very much aware that at my age (53) I really need to keep up levels of exercise or I'l rapidly drop out of any semblance of fitness . How hard should I push to keep things ticking over?

I'm not super fit, normal regime is a half hour walk, a half hour run and a half hour cycle every day with 1 or 2 hour long swims per week and 1 or two longer sessions per week (such as a half day canoeing or cycling or skiing in season)

First week of flu, I did absolutely nothing. Second week, I walked the dogs daily, started at a half hour then pushed to an hour by the end of the week. This week I've been adding in a daily half hour on the mountain bike but not moving very quickly and absolutely knackered by the end.

How hard should I push? and any hints?

[TSCfree]

My rule is no exercise if the infection is below the neck. Its quite easy to dig yourself a hole when it comes to viruses. Fitness isn't built over 1 or 2 weeks so don't feel you can't take that time off either. How's the chest?

Edited by TSCfree on Monday 20th February 09:45

[Forestfire]

Agree with the above poster. If you were 'floored' with it (and it sounds as though you were) then you need to give the body time to recover, particularly if it has migrated to your chest. Ditch the mountain bike until you feel stronger, and don't go 'pushing it', it sounds as though it's taking it out of you and that's just prolonging the recovery. Listen to what your body is telling you, and whilst it's frustrating not being able to exercise, it's not all going to disappear in a few weeks