Best way to get over a cold...

[stealth]

I have been training steadily and running outside, taking vitamin C twice a day...but now I have a sinus cold.

Do you guys train through a cold, and what have you taken (supplements) to kick it?

 

[string_bean00]

All I do is take vitamin C drops steadily throughout the day, and drink plenty of water...and get a lot more sleep. I've always recovered fast using this strategy.

 

[Flash_Gordon]

A pharmacist friend of mine always pushed taking Echinacea if your starting to feel something coming on, about 800mg daily till your better. Don't just take it daily but only when your feeling pre symptoms starting.

It's very safe and just helps boost your white blood cell count to fight off infections.

 

[rjx]

Zinc is my first choice. I heard on 20/20 that C when you are sick can worsen the symptoms, and or make the cold last longer.

 

[nabiller]

i rarely get sick, and i never take C, or anything really... HOWEVER, even when im not going to the gym regularly i have a rule for myself. if i get is that is... if it is a stoumache flu or something in my stoumach... then all you can do is drink lots of water and rest... chicken soup is good, with bread to absorb extra stoumach acid so you dont puke all over the place.

if it is a head cold (sinus, fever, runny nose etc..) i ALWAYS make myself either hit the gym or do some kinda cardio fairly intense for about 20-30mins, i always feel better afterwords, i think building up a sweat raises your body tempurature to help burn off whatever may be getting you sick. the reason you feel hot when your sick is because your body heats up naturally (high tempuratures) to burn off the illness, so if you can do that for yourself rather then wait for your body to do it automatically, then you can catch it that much earlier.

 

[stealth]

Thanks, I have been running on the treadmill 30+ mins a day and I defintely feel better than sitting around...

Interesting about the C causing a cold to continue longer.

 

[beaf]

Listen to your body, If you have an infection you should rest. If you got fever you should definitly not do any cardio, but if it is only a light cold then I would say it is ok to do some weight lifting, but still no cardio.

 

[3Wheels]

If I have cold symptoms bellow the neck ie sore throat aches etc then I rest. Otherwise it is better to train.

Plus I take echinacea and chicken soup. Chicken soup make from stock that has chicken bones in it is superb for recovery. Unlike vit C echinacea zinc etc, I have only ever seen positive research finding for the effects of chcken soup when recovering from a cold.

 

[Injectyourspinach]

I hate to say it, but heavy resistance training although able to improve CNS and immune functions over the long-term temporarily lowers it during workouts. That's not what you want when you've already started getting down. Stay away from saunas at this time too.

At first sign of cold/flu, postpone any trips to the gym or or any other strenuous activities besides your job. Make sure you get your antioxidant multivitamin in with a hearty breakfast. Then make sure you drink plenty of fluids (I prefer water, orange juice and decaf green tea because of its antioxidants for this) and small doses of chelated zinc and ascorbic acid (water-soluble vitamin c) every few hours throughout the day. Rest, nap, and just relax in general as much as you can during this time.

There is good science behind this approach, and I believe it has saved me personally from getting completely down a number of times. I used to get down with all the bad flu symptoms quite a few times a year including somewhat frequent tonsillitis to the point my doctor said the next time it happened I should probably have them removed. But I have only been down with anything more than minor cold symptoms lasting perhaps a day or two probably once in the last two years since taking this approach. And that time period includes a lot of sprint intervals early mornings in cold, humid air along with surfing in freeze my balls off water temperatures.

 

[Insane_Man]

I take mega doses of Vitamin C (4g) every 4 hours when I feel the onset of a cold. Haven't had a cold in a long time.

 

[performance_issues]

I take mega doses of Vitamin C (4g) every 4 hours when I feel the onset of a cold. Haven't had a cold in a long time.

same thing for me except i took 2grams a day when i got sick the cold lasted about 4 days an all time best for me now i take 1gram of C just for preventive measures

 

[dude]

I drink lots of water and consume lots of electrolytes, vitamins, and echinacea(sp) if I have any around. I also make sure to get extra rest and eat good healthy foods rich in antioxidants to promote recovery.

 

[ssmla123]

I don't do anything, never have and never will. I just laugh when I watch my coworkers get ill when they got the flu shot, and do all sorts of other stuff to avoid it. When I was a kid I let my immune system build up to it, and now there is very little that can effect me. Haven't been sick in well over 5 yrs.

 

[nabiller]

same here... i never get sick... maybe it was all the dirt i played in as a kid and didnt wash my hands... lol... take that clean freaks!

 

[HardBody]

If u catch it in time, u can prevent it, when u get that stuffy feeling and itchy throat, pop some ENHANCEA, maybe not correct spelling, but the shit does work, dont take it daily though, only when sick!!!!good luck, i have sinus cold too, it sucks, i puked on the gym floor tonight, all mucouse

 

[HardBody]

TRAIN THROUGH, infections thrive off Innactivity and not enough sleep!!!!

 

[stealth]

TRAIN THROUGH, infections thrive off Innactivity and not enough sleep!!!!

True, I've been doing cardio everyday and it's worked itself out.

 

[PinoyBoy]

I agree with all you guys have said but, one thing to be said if your sick take care of it and stay home! Coz' that would prevent others from your cooties spreading your germs, and does not fair at all. Courtesy, that's all.

 

[pokkeyy]

I hate to say it, but heavy resistance training although able to improve CNS and immune functions over the long-term temporarily lowers it during workouts. That's not what you want when you've already started getting down. Stay away from saunas at this time too.

At first sign of cold/flu, postpone any trips to the gym or or any other strenuous activities besides your job.

I have to agree here. I know some of you swear that train through it is the best way, but it can worsen symptoms and actually cause muscle injury as well. All of our systems are directly connected, therefore when one is inturupted, it disrupts the entire body. If you insist on 'working through it' take it light. Going all out will only hurt you!