Since I write a blog, it makes sense that I read quite a few blogs as well. Reading blogs has done lots of good in my life — it got me into running, it put the idea of a marathon in my head, it led me to meet some really great friends and taught me so much more about fitness than I ever would have known otherwise.
However, there is one little thing that I struggle with when it comes to others’ blogs, and that is the comparison trap. Particularly when it comes to bouncing back from illness.
I spent yesterday in bed, trying to find a comfortable position that did not make me feel even more nauseous (impossible, it turned out) and thinking about how much I actually wish I WAS at work on a Monday. But I knew I’d feel better Tuesday. I only threw up four times, after all. Only! And yes, that was my thought exactly. Even though the worst of it passed by the afternoon, I had a hard time sitting up or getting any liquids down. At 9 pm, I managed to take my first bites of the day — half of a plain bagel.
I didn’t expect eating to wipe me out the way it did. Within seconds I was on my stomach passed out.
So when I woke up this morning without any nausea, I was thrilled. I beat this thing. I could go to a special event Refine/Lululemon class tonight with my blogger friends!
And then I tried to stand up. Ouch.
The pain in the upper part of my stomach brought me right back down to bed, where I fell back asleep for another hour and where I stayed (and worked) until just now. 1 pm. Now I am sitting in a chair at a desk like a normal functional person on a Tuesday afternoon.Except that other than the second half of the bagel that I ate this morning, I haven’t had anything to eat. And I don’t think I want anything.
Where am I going with this? OK. I read other blogs. When some bloggers get sick, many  jump right back into it even when they don’t feel 100%. And they are so happy about it after, they feel great for having got out there. But I always wonder, how did they even get out the door? Were they scared? Did they worry they’d make themselves sicker? Did they think they should maybe wait another day?Â
As much as I want to go to this class tonight — in part because I’ve been derailed by a lot lately and haven’t gotten to class much, and in part because it is a blogger event with my favorite workout + Lululemon and I am dying to be there — I don’t think such an intense class is right for me today. In fact, I know it isn’t. Just yesterday, standing up made my head pound. And even though I’ve been able to down some coconut waters today (unlike yesterday, where any sip came right back up) the fact that I’m not even hungry makes me pretty sure I’m not ready for the countless heart rate sprints in Refine.
It is a gorgeous day and I think a very easy three mile run will be much better if I decide to get out later. No sprints, no one pushing me to go faster, no constant up-and-down and back-and-forth movement. If I don’t feel well, it will be easy to stop and head home. So that’s the plan.
I know that everyone handles being sick differently. I just wonder if I am being a baby, or weak, or whatever because other people don’t seem to stress so much about this. They just suck it up and go. But of course the mantra in this blogging world is “listen to your body” and that is what I’m doing.
And a short run outside on a gorgeous day really isn’t the worst thing in the world.
