When Stubbornness Goes Too Far: A Lesson I Didn’t Know I Needed

I talk a lot about consistency.

Showing up when you don’t feel like it. Doing the work. Building habits that last. Not giving up just because things get hard.

And I believe in all of those things.

But apparently, I’m also stubborn enough to spend nearly two weeks sick before finding out I have pneumonia.

Left lower lobe pneumonia, to be exact.

Here’s how it happened.

During the first week, I felt okay enough to keep working out. Was it harder than normal? Absolutely. So I slowed down, modified when I needed to, and adjusted to what I could handle.

Then I had a day or two when I felt like I was finally getting better. I thought, Okay, we’re turning a corner!

Except we weren’t.

I started to feel worse again, and the cycle began again.

Eventually, I started hearing wheezing and a rattling sound in my chest when I breathed. That’s when I knew something wasn’t right.

And yet, I still tried to explain it away. I still wanted to believe it would pass on its own. I still wasn’t exactly rushing to the doctor.

Because apparently, knowing better and actually doing better aren’t always the same thing.

When I finally went in, I was prescribed medication to help with the inflammation and told to follow up if my breathing didn’t improve. When it didn’t, further evaluation revealed pneumonia in my left lower lung.

So here I am. No workouts. No pushing through. Just resting and waiting for treatment to do its job.

And I have a feeling this is a lesson I need to sit with for a while.

Being able to push through something doesn’t necessarily mean you should.

I believe in consistency. I believe in discipline. I believe in taking care of the body I’ve been given.

But taking care of that body also means knowing when to stop, when to ask for help, and when something deserves more attention than we’re giving it.

And apparently, sometimes it means admitting that we’re really good at telling other people to take care of themselves while finding a hundred reasons not to do the same for ourselves.

A little humbling, honestly.

Now, let me be clear: I’m not a doctor, and I’m not sharing this to diagnose anyone or tell you what to do medically. I’m sharing my experience because I knew something wasn’t right for me, and I still tried to explain it away.

Pneumonia doesn’t always come with the dramatic symptoms we might expect. You don’t necessarily have to be completely knocked off your feet, and not everyone has a fever. Symptoms can vary, and worsening or persistent respiratory symptoms deserve medical attention.

If something doesn’t feel right, especially when your breathing is involved, please don’t let stubbornness make the decision for you. Get checked out.

You don’t have to wait until you’re completely miserable to ask for help.

And as for me? I’m learning that consistency isn’t always about doing more, pushing harder, or showing up for another workout.

Sometimes it’s about being consistent in taking care of yourself, even when that means doing absolutely nothing for a while.

Rest isn’t quitting. Modifying isn’t failing. And listening to your body isn’t weakness.

Turns out, I still have some things to learn about practicing what I preach.

And for once, the workout I’m focused on is getting better.

Have an amazing week. We’ll see you in the gym 💪🙏

Whitney & Nick