"Dieting" While Sick?

shannonbun

I've had a really bad cold/sinus infection thing for the past couple days, and I actually have an appetite tonight. I'm interested if anyone else allows themselves to slide a little on healthy eating while sick... I'm craving some chocolate and feel so terrible. I've been up on all the vitamins and liquids to get better, and while I know chocolate won't heal me up, it'll make me feel better for the moment. Is it worth it? How do you handle being sick and eating well?

milocamolly

If it make you feel better why not? You might need the calories if you haven't eaten much.

al142

I think it's easier to recover from illness when in maintenance rather than a deficit. I do try to eat healthy foods when I don't feel well, but of course it's much harder to be strict about food when you feel like crap. I try to be kind to myself and do the best I can.

pmg2000m

With a cold or sinus infection, I tend to eat more homemade chicken soup with lots of vegetables. I wouldn't worry too much going over my calories if it's nutritious food that will help my body heal. I do tend to avoid sugars if I'm not feeling well, as many people believe that it weakens your immune system. Although I'm sure a bit of dark chocolate wouldn't be much of a problem if you're craving it. Sometimes it helps to satisfy a craving, and then move forward. Hope you feel better soon!

mz_getskinny

I don't eat healthy when I'm not sick!! Lol! But seriously, I'm still recovering from bronchitis and a bad sinus infection and for a few days I just laid around and ate! It definitely made me feel better at the time! And I even came away from it with a hefty loss....So I say, eat that chocolate girl!!! oh and feel better soon!

Asher_Ethan

The only time in my life when I don't want to eat is when I'm sick. If you haven't been eating... Eat up! I'm sure you have the calories.

LAWoman72

No. I don't know why overeating would be a better thing when one is sick, though I'm not a doctor so I suppose I can't actually say. It's more just my attitude toward it than anything evidence-based. I just don't get the logic, I guess you'd say.

I eat within my calorie goals when I'm sick with anything that isn't a stomach issue, if I have the appetite for it. If it's a stomach issue, obviously I'm probably undereating during those days just because of nausea, and/or I'm throwing up and so on, so once I'm feeling better I just eat up to my normal calorie goals.

Now if I were so physically ill I couldn't stand up and hadn't kept anything down in days, obviously, at that point I'd be getting to the doctor. But that's more of an extreme.

hhnkhl

I usually try to eat...you heal faster.

mandychowx

Here are some useful articles

Exercising when you're sick:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/working-out-when-sick-infographic

Eating when sick:
http://www.precisionnutrition.com/what-to-eat-when-sick