I’m going to start posting items that I hope will provide everyone with a little bit of motivation to keep moving and exercise. I’m not sure if it will be EVERY SINGLE MONDAY, because I need to figure out my scheduling. But the motivational messages will usually come on Mondays, okay?
Today’s motivating reason to keep up with your fitness plan is appropriate to the winter season: Exercise reduces your cold risk.
Moderate exercise boosts your immune system, thus helping to reduce your risk of catching cold bugs and helping you to fight off germs you do encounter. To reap the benefits you just need to stay active. A study from the University of Washington found that participants who did 45 minutes of cardio 5 days a week had 1/3 fewer colds than those who didn’t exercise. But don’t overexert yourself! Studies have show that if you do more than 90 minutes of vigorous exercise on most days you could actually reduce your immunity levels. (Do your one long run each week but make sure you are practicing good recovery habits; nutritious food, stretching and rest!)
Information from Prevention magazine.
Jill Will Run 
INTERESTING! because I have been sick far less since I started training a year ago. Which is a huge feat , considering that I have two small children, one of whom is in preschool.
This is so true, but I also notice that when I do get sick, I am down for the count much harder than I was before I ran, though the symptoms don’t last as long. Weird.
Love this idea, by the way! š
I’ve noticed this is true but it falls apart when I don’t get enough sleep!!
Its true! I haven’t taken a sick day at work in the last three years. I’m sure its because I run. Everyone around me can have a cold and I don’t catch it!
I’m a little worried to be tapering right now because someone I work with has a baby that just came down with this highly infectious virus. If my coworker gets it and passes it around the office, I’m scared I could catch it right before my marathon. Immune system don’t fail me now!!!
Humm. Wondering what category I’m in. I get sick frequently and I workout all the time. I usually equate colds to lack of sleep.
Good idea to do these on Mondays! Maybe I should do my Tuesday Inspirational Thought that I was trying at work, on my blog instead? I found that almost no one was answering me at work, which was kind of sad. I was really trying.
I’m the same as Moe, my colds now are much shorter in duration, thank God.
LVGurl: The magic of training protects you from pre-school viruses? That’s amazing!
~moe~: Interesting contrast. I have read that if athletes are not taking proper steps in their recovery they do end up getting hit with illnesses more violently if they don’t manage to avoid the virus completely.
Penny: I guess the sleep shortage kind of goes along with my response to moe, it’s a crucial recovery step. I think all of us are victim of missing out on our sleep from time to time though. It seems to be an unfortunate side-effect in this go-go-go world we live in!
Alissa: Yeah, that’s one of the things that worries me in the taper, that if I’m sitting around resting more that I may be more susceptible. I’m doing the same thing, hoping my immune system won’t fail me!
Fit Mom: I agree, lack of sleep could be a reason!
tgorourke: Like you and moe, the few colds that I have gotten these past couple years have been a lot shorter and haven’t knocked me down as much. I am very appreciative of that!
[…] about good, positive stuff and hopefully it’ll give all of you a weekly lift, like Jill’s Monday Motivation posts do for […]