If you are still able to workout in some fashion with your illness or injury, then this can slow down the fitness loss. All you need to do is to find a way to maintain your strength and your cardiovascular ability. Know that the body doesn’t begin to lose fitness gains for about two weeks after you stop working out, so even if you’ve been sitting around for a few days, chances are good you’re still in the same shape you were before you became ill or injured. You can do several things to slow your fitness loss:
- Do low impact aerobics – You might want to head out for a walk or find a low impact workout video to help you keep up your strength and cardio without taxing your body.
- Use other parts of the body – If your leg is injured, try working out in a chair, lifting your arms to help you still move and increase your heart rate.
- Lift weights as much as possible – Try lifting weights from a seated position or use lighter weights to still do strength training without causing any more strain on your body.