Dieting with a heavy cold

jmgj27

I've had a really unpleasant cold and cough for over a week now and have basically been out of action since the weekend. I haven't been able to sleep much for the past four nights and am totally exhausted. I've managed to keep under my calories but it's been a struggle as I'm used to doing a lot of exercise so don't usually need to worry too much about going over. My question is, for the next couple of days whilst I'm feeling totally cr*p would it be sensible to eat at maintenance or am I just looking for excuses and should keep ploughing on at a hefty defecit until I'm better?

ManiacalLaugh

Personally, I think you should eat at maintenance or close to it. Your body needs more energy and rest while it deals with the cold. And a "crap" feeling could be symptomatic of needing more energy. I would increase your calories a bit, and fill the extra with nutritious food (such as good chicken soup, which has actually been found to be extremely nutritionally balanced if made the right way).

ManiacalLaugh

Arg - double post.

jemhh

I would eat at maintenance. My thought is that our bodies need resources to help us get over illnesses and that a few days at maintenance, when looking at it from a long term perspective, is not going to mean the difference between success and failure on the road to getting fit.

Feel better soon!

emmycantbemeeko

Personally when I'm sick I don't worry about eating at a deficit, although I usually don't have much appetite. Maintenance for a few days won't hurt, as jemhh said, it's just a tiny delay on the path towards your goal, and you particularly don't want to add additional stress at a time when your immune system is working hard. Better to get feeling better and back to moving around.

I figure the fact that I usually spend sick days curled up in the fetal position on the couch probably balances the fact that I don't eat as much as usual and keeps me right around maintenance.

If you find yourself taking every tiny symptom of possible approaching illness as a reason to eat more, I'd start worrying about it as an excuse, but when you're legit sick? Have some juice and soup and don't worry about it.

jmgj27

Thanks! Definitely legit sick I promise- I've been sounding like a 60-a-day smoker for the past three days and I don't even smoke! Have eaten an extra bit of toast and might have some raisins etc just to make myself feel a bit better and get some extra reasonably healthy calories in me! I was always planning a Valentine's meal out tomorrow (which I'm really hoping will still happen but we'll see) so had allowed for extra calories then anyway. Back to normal on Saturday.

mitch16

Depends on how sick you are... Sometimes a light work out can free up some endorphins and help you feel a little better... But if you're at the point where you're truly dragging and getting by on chicken noodle soup, hot tea, and toast, then it's probably o.k. to take it easy for a few days--it's kind of hard to over-eat when that's all your eating (and you're sleeping half of the day).