I got some really nasty flu a week ago that resulted in me having both
bronchitis and pneumonia.

But after being stuck in the house for a week I may be going out of my mind. Yesterday I did some exercises, nothing big. But today I am doing squats, and one legged squats, both of which involve some heavy breathing
even if I do space out the sets a lot.

I'm not going into bronchial spam over it, but I am coughing a little more.
Would it be ok if I gnawed my foot off?

Don't gnaw your foot off, but as far as I've heard in the past, you need to lay off exercise until you're all better. Exercise weakens the body, and a sick body is already weakened. I stand to be corrected on this, as I'm not an expert.

No, you are right. I just feel like I have to do something.

Probably better off laying off any cardio stuff. In the past, when i've had bad chest infections, jumping on the bike really didn't do me any good. Just have to sit it out. Find something else to do to occupy the mind, I know it is hard. When chest feels ok - perhaps start with some very light 30min spins on an indoor trainer, work yourself back up and keep warm.

Hmmm. I have never had bronchitis or pneumonia.

I have found that I can ride just fine with a cold. In facts, there is some sort of odd antihistamine effect with exercise that causes me to feel much better whilst riding then when I stop. I can have a nasty cold and feel nauseated and stuffed up and generally awful. When I ride, I will even start feeling good. Then I feel dreadful right after I get off the bike but no worse than before.

Now, aerobic exercise will cause you to breathe more deeply and regularly. I do not know doing so would compromise your recovery or not. I suppose it could actually help you some as long as you do not get into coughing fits or something. I rather doubt that aerobic exercise and recovery from pneumonia and bronchitis have ever been studied. So I bet that no one knows the answer. So the conservative thing to do would be to let well enough alone.

I would think that if you lift and stop and rest frequently so you avoid getting into the aerobic zone, you should be fine.

Another voice from the Dark Side: My favorite thing to do when in the latter stages of a cold/whatever, especially if I'm in the "bringing up lungers" stage, is to go for a 4-hour rain ride. I dress warmly, but not in waterproofs. I ride moderate, but strongly enough to sweat. Something about the exercise, elevated HR, heated body, high humidity - heck, it's better than lying in a warm room under a dekka with a vaporizor! Besides, it soothes my crazy.

I never tried that ice-biking. You Midwesterners will have to weigh in on that. And don't they salt the roads in the East or something, so you folks commonly ride in nice weather on clear roads? Is it just we in the PNW who are so fortunate as to be able to go out for a 4-hour rain ride in the middle of winter?

All that said, I'm having a hard time remembering when the last time was that I was sick. Years, anyway.

Get better soon!