Exercise = cold

[Silver]

For as long as I can remember, every time I've started doing exercise after a break, I've got a cold within a couple of weeks.

Three weeks ago I started doing a running club after a six month break from the gym and this week I get a cold. It's happened every single time.

Anyone got any idea why?

[Ordinary_Chap]

Some folk (including me) seem to run their immune system down with exercise sometimes.

I use vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium etc and I'm fine, when I don't I often get run down.

Lee

[Hoofy]

You're pushing too hard. Sleep more, eat to train.

[goldblum]

No matter how depleted the immune system is, you still have to bump into someone with a virus to catch it. I'm guessing you're unlucky.

[mattikake]

You're almost certainly running yourself out of Glutamine (and you need to stay away from scabby gyms ). Glutamine is used heavily in your immune system, and in muscle building and recovery, amongst just about all other metabolic processes involving protein synthesis.

Max out your muscle demands for Glutamine and your immune system is weakened = easier for viruses to get a stranglehold.

Fortunately Glutamine is abundant in all sources of protein, the higher the biological value (quality) the better, so all you need to do increase the amount and quality of protein you eat. Or you could just try taking a Glutamine supplement.

[Hoofy]

goldblum said:

No matter how depleted the immune system is, you still have to bump into someone with a virus to catch it. I'm guessing you're unlucky.

That's true. Avoid people and you're fine. Same premise for chemo patients and AIDS victims, really.

[944fan]

I get the same thing. Gear up for a fitness push get some momentum and then a cold. Momentum lost.

No idea why.

[goldblum]

Hoofy said:

Avoid people and you're fine.

In a nutshell.

[mattikake]

Hoofy said:

goldblum said:

No matter how depleted the immune system is, you still have to bump into someone with a virus to catch it. I'm guessing you're unlucky.

That's true. Avoid people and you're fine. Same premise for chemo patients and AIDS victims, really.

Nah. Where people are, there's trillions of human-dependant viruses and bacteria floating around constantly. The only reason you don't notice is because our defenses are double 'ard b'stards and all of the buggers are defeated at one of our various barriers.

Lower your defenses just a tiny bit however...

I haven't had so much as a cold for a decade.

[TwistingMyMelon]

What about the opposite? I have gradually been upping my exercise regime to an hour of hard cardio most days and have never felt better, can't remember the last cold / cough / virus I had (im asthmatic as wel) . When I used to be average fit, I'd take around 5 sickness days off work a year, now I have taken 0 in two years? I try and keep my protein high, but through diet not suplements.

[LordGrover]

The gym is one of those public places full of people breathing heavily which you probably don't encounter otherwise. Once you get fitter you'll be more resistant. Probably.