When I'm sick and lose weight, will I gain it all back?

lovetolose20

I've been sick for 2 days now and I've lost 4 pounds. Will I regain all of that when I start eating normal? Have I lost water weight, muscle or fat.
I'm hoping it's all fat loss and that I'll regain none of it back

ElizabethOakes2

Some of that will be water weight, and that will probably come back. Don't sweat it, and just know it's better to be healthy and strong than sick and lose a couple extra pounds.

lovetolose20

Ok, that's what I figured. Thanks for replying!

vismal

It's mostly water. To lose 4 lbs of fat in 2 days would require a calorie deficit of about 14,000 calories. Even if have a high bmr/tdee I'm doubting you burned that many calories in two days. Any rapid weight loss (several lbs in a matter of days) is almost always water and has nothing to do with fat or muscle.

lovetolose20

You're wiser than I.
Thanks so much for the reply!

flaminica

It also depends on what kind of sick you are. If it's flu or some tummy problem, chances are you're dehydrated and/or under-eating, because of nausea or inability to keep anything down. When I had flu last winter I dropped five pounds in a week and regained four of it. Stay hydrated and nourished for now and let the weight sort itself out.

lovetolose20

Good advice, thank you!