I'm sick!
 

How do you all judge when you think it's the right time to go back into your regular workout?

I am so scared that i am going to jump into it too soon and make myself even more sick!

Help!

(I am having some horrible allergy/sinus problems that have caused me to sleep all weekend and i am very stuffy.)

Hi,

Judging by what you said (sinus problems, slept all weekend, very stuffy) I think it is way to soon to even think about exercise. You won't be able to breathe properly. I would say go back to bad, drink lots of fluids, and sleep some more if you can.
Evaluate how you feel on Wednesday again.
I hope you will feel better tomorrow.

I always go by the above/below neck rule. If all symptoms are above my neck (stuffy nose, earache, sore throat, headache), I exercise, paying close attention to how I feel and stopping if it seems really exhausting or I get dizzy, and going at a little less intensity than would be my average until I'm feeling up to it. I also work back into my workouts slowly after taking a sick-related hiatus.

If any symptom is BELOW my neck (including fever, body aches, cough or chest congestion), I don't exercise until the symptoms have gone away. The sleeping all the time might fall into this category, since it indicates some sort of widespread exhaustion.

This was my doc's recommendation, so it is what I stick with now...has worked really well, and has given me a clear rule to go on so I never wonder about the "should I or shouldn't I" question.

Thanks for the "rule". I am going to go into the gym tomorrow (wednesday) and see how it goes on a lower intensity cardio. (walking briskly instead of jogging or lowering the level on the elliptical). Mainly just my head is what is all stuffed up, no coughing or anything bronchial.