How do you handle being ill regarding diet and activity?
JessicaMcB
Posts: 1,503 Member
Just as the title suggests I'm curious how other people handle and plan for (for lack of a better term since no one plans to be sick) illness.
I am in maintenance but spent the night on my bathroom floor vomiting my brains out. On a regular non-sick day I usually clock 20-30k steps in chasing my kids and 11km runs most nights (and therefore eat around 3000 calories). My thought is to push for 10k steps (given my husband being away and the kids this will be not too difficult me thinks) and eat at sedentary maintenance cals around 1700. As much as I feel like death I also don't want to spiral into one of these regain slippery slopes you read about so I want to push through I guess
So what is your illness game plan, if any?
I am in maintenance but spent the night on my bathroom floor vomiting my brains out. On a regular non-sick day I usually clock 20-30k steps in chasing my kids and 11km runs most nights (and therefore eat around 3000 calories). My thought is to push for 10k steps (given my husband being away and the kids this will be not too difficult me thinks) and eat at sedentary maintenance cals around 1700. As much as I feel like death I also don't want to spiral into one of these regain slippery slopes you read about so I want to push through I guess
So what is your illness game plan, if any?
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Replies
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Just get better, its life, if your throwing up your not going to be over in calories. Just do what it takes to get better then move on. I was sick this weekend, only could eat 1400 calories without getting sick, so that's what i ate and tried to keep fluids down. Now i feel better and im back at it.2
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I give my body the time it needs to rest and recover. Try to get in as many fluids as I can and eat what my body can tolerate.
If you don't take the necessary time to allow your body to recovery, you will just make it worst and prolong it. Take a few days or a week, you can get your steps in when you are feeling better.0 -
I tend to be less active and eat less. Sick right now actually.1
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I do what I need to do to get better...having some down time here in there isn't some kind of detriment to your health...actually taking it easy from time to time as necessary is pretty good for you. Try to look at the bigger picture...taking off a few days to rest up and get better is pretty friggin' irrelevant to the bigger picture don't you think?1
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If you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.6
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Just take care of yourself. Rest. Eat what you need to recover. Think about CICO once you are well. Whatever you do, do not "push through" to get steps.
ETA: and wash hands (yours and your kids) like you're OCD. Nothing worse than kids with stomach virus, IMHO. Feel better soon!2 -
Just take care of yourself. Rest. Eat what you need to recover. Think about CICO once you are well. Whatever you do, do not "push through" to get steps.
ETA: and wash hands (yours and your kids) like you're OCD. Nothing worse than kids with stomach virus, IMHO. Feel better soon!
Incidentally I actually have OCD so this is a non-issue at least. Blessedly the 4 and 2 year olds are good about it, the baby continues to try to live dangerously hahaIf you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.
While I get your point you read so often about people getting sick or what have you and it totally derailing them back to regaining. That's a terrifying prospect I'd rather avoid. Ì do understand your thinking though, I just don't know if I trust myself enough to not think about it if that makes sense?0 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »Just take care of yourself. Rest. Eat what you need to recover. Think about CICO once you are well. Whatever you do, do not "push through" to get steps.
ETA: and wash hands (yours and your kids) like you're OCD. Nothing worse than kids with stomach virus, IMHO. Feel better soon!
Incidentally I actually have OCD so this is a non-issue at least. Blessedly the 4 and 2 year olds are good about it, the baby continues to try to live dangerously hahaIf you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.
While I get your point you read so often about people getting sick or what have you and it totally derailing them back to regaining. That's a terrifying prospect I'd rather avoid. Ì do understand your thinking though, I just don't know if I trust myself enough to not think about it if that makes sense?
Well whether or not it derails you is totally in your hands and within your control. I guess the community advice is probably just going to be don't let it derail you. I agree with others if you are that sick just focus on getting well right now, put the diet down for a bit.0 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »If you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.
While I get your point you read so often about people getting sick or what have you and it totally derailing them back to regaining. That's a terrifying prospect I'd rather avoid. Ì do understand your thinking though, I just don't know if I trust myself enough to not think about it if that makes sense?
That is generally a longer illness, is it not? You are talking about one or two days of feeling under the weather. I understand not wanting to backslide but I think you are worrying too much.
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JessicaMcB wrote: »If you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.
While I get your point you read so often about people getting sick or what have you and it totally derailing them back to regaining. That's a terrifying prospect I'd rather avoid. Ì do understand your thinking though, I just don't know if I trust myself enough to not think about it if that makes sense?
That is generally a longer illness, is it not? You are talking about one or two days of feeling under the weather. I understand not wanting to backslide but I think you are worrying too much.
I have read a handful of non- long term illnesses spiraling into calamity but yes I think most probably are longer term illnesses. Thanks for your thoughts, I'll try to keep them in mind today.0 -
If I am sick, I focus on getting well. If that means not eating because of nausea/vomiting, I don't eat. If that means having endless cups of tea with honey, so be it.
The trick seems to be getting back on plan after you get over the illness.0 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »Just take care of yourself. Rest. Eat what you need to recover. Think about CICO once you are well. Whatever you do, do not "push through" to get steps.
ETA: and wash hands (yours and your kids) like you're OCD. Nothing worse than kids with stomach virus, IMHO. Feel better soon!
Incidentally I actually have OCD so this is a non-issue at least. Blessedly the 4 and 2 year olds are good about it, the baby continues to try to live dangerously hahaIf you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.
While I get your point you read so often about people getting sick or what have you and it totally derailing them back to regaining. That's a terrifying prospect I'd rather avoid. Ì do understand your thinking though, I just don't know if I trust myself enough to not think about it if that makes sense?
I don't think most people are getting "derailed" and gaining all of their weight back because they had the flu or something and took a couple days off...if that's the case, they weren't really committed to anything in the first place...hell, I've been on IR now for about 12 weeks and I'm biting at the bit to get back out on my bike.
I think most people who talk about illness and gaining weight back are talking about severe illnesses or injury that makes regular exercise and whatnot difficult if not impossible over the long term...not taking a couple of days off...heck, most training protocols call for a day or two off weekly.0 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »JessicaMcB wrote: »If you spent the night vomiting your brains out on the bathroom floor, you shouldn't be spending time thinking about calories today. A couple of days of resting and eating in a way that feels good for your health is not going to hurt anything. I think it is unhealthy to worry about this.
While I get your point you read so often about people getting sick or what have you and it totally derailing them back to regaining. That's a terrifying prospect I'd rather avoid. Ì do understand your thinking though, I just don't know if I trust myself enough to not think about it if that makes sense?
That is generally a longer illness, is it not? You are talking about one or two days of feeling under the weather. I understand not wanting to backslide but I think you are worrying too much.
I have read a handful of non- long term illnesses spiraling into calamity but yes I think most probably are longer term illnesses. Thanks for your thoughts, I'll try to keep them in mind today.
Then they weren't really committed to anything...anyone who takes off a couple days and then just throws their hands up in the air isn't committed to anything at all...1 -
Backsliding does not come from a couple days off for being tired/sick.. and I highly doubt that with you posting this, you are gonna let this get you down for any longer than it has to..
Sometimes pushing it when the body is utilizing all that it currently has to heal and repair, there is need to give your body even more stress and more a reasons to keep you down another day..
Look the body signals you with "crappy feelings" like pain and discomfort for a reason, listen to it.
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I just focus on getting better... taking care of myself and my family. I don't worry too much about fitness at that point, although last time I was sick with the stomach flu (for about a week) I was super paranoid about my milk supply since I am nursing.. I was downing water, juice, tea and electrolytes and trying my best to eat even a little bit... so I guess we each have our own battles and worries.0
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I've spent the last three weeks dealing with a severe sinus infection, mild fever, and then a reaction to the antibiotics I was given. I really haven't done much of anything for the entire month of October. Some days I've stayed below my calories, some days I haven't. You know what? I can't wait to get back to it. Why? Because I want it and I'm not going to let a little illness put me back in to a lifestyle of eating too much and moving too little. I mean, why would I? That lifestyle does not appeal to me.1
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Here's my story of backsliding due to sickness: I was sick for a few months. I kept getting strep back to back, pink eye in both eyes, I had a viral infection, and I had to get my wisdom teeth surgically removed. That was all in the span of 2-3 months. I missed about a good amount of work due to everything. Turns out there was mold growing in the wall of my bedroom b/c the way they had the water draining from all of the rain we had that year wasn't working properly and was draining into the basement (which was wear my room was at the time - I've since moved).
I backslid then b/c everything kept piling on and I didn't have the energy to worry about dieting or exercising. Once I got well again, I was totally out of the habit of logging and measuring everything, so I couldn't get myself back into the mindset to do it. Jumping back into pole class was easy b/c I was desperately trying to make up for all of the strength I lost. Plus I love poling.
Cut to my restarting MFP in January, I've had strep a few times, but I was only down for 1 day each time I've had it (once I was no longer contagious, I got back to business), so it wasn't a out of the swing of things for 30+ days. I've also sprained my ankle this year, but the good thing about pole is it's low impact, so I was only out of commission for a week, two at the most. None of that caused me to have to stop logging for any reason. I'm actually now in maintenance.
So unless you are down for a month+, I don't see this causing you any real problems with gaining everything back.0 -
How many children do you have to regularly clock in 30k steps? Chasing my (I think) active toddler and preschooler rarely nets 10k. Do you live in a castle? Legit curious.0
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How many children do you have to regularly clock in 30k steps? Chasing my (I think) active toddler and preschooler rarely nets 10k. Do you live in a castle? Legit curious.
We have a newly 4, 2, and 1 Year old plus another 4 year old I watch 4 days a week. They run me pretty good and my husband works away a lot so the house and yard all fall on me.
Thanks all for your input, I feel thoroughly neurotic now and will try to have more perspective. Regain is just a horrifying prospect to me I guess and it's in the forefront of my mind in maintenance0 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »How many children do you have to regularly clock in 30k steps? Chasing my (I think) active toddler and preschooler rarely nets 10k. Do you live in a castle? Legit curious.
We have a newly 4, 2, and 1 Year old plus another 4 year old I watch 4 days a week. They run me pretty good and my husband works away a lot so the house and yard all fall on me.
Thanks all for your input, I feel thoroughly neurotic now and will try to have more perspective. Regain is just a horrifying prospect to me I guess and it's in the forefront of my mind in maintenance
Did you take any maintenance breaks while losing your weight?0 -
Rest, rest, REST.
Don't push yourself right now
Don't try to eat in a deficit
Eat if you are hungry, don't if you aren't.
It's far better to put weight loss (or maintenance) on the back burner when you are ill and just focus on getting better.
If you fight your body or try to focus on anything but healing you will just be sicker longer.
Try to get as much sleep and rest as you can, as much calories as your body tells you to eat and the types of foods it wants, and feel better soon!0 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »How many children do you have to regularly clock in 30k steps? Chasing my (I think) active toddler and preschooler rarely nets 10k. Do you live in a castle? Legit curious.
We have a newly 4, 2, and 1 Year old plus another 4 year old I watch 4 days a week. They run me pretty good and my husband works away a lot so the house and yard all fall on me.
Thanks all for your input, I feel thoroughly neurotic now and will try to have more perspective. Regain is just a horrifying prospect to me I guess and it's in the forefront of my mind in maintenance
Did you take any maintenance breaks while losing your weight?
No I didn't, I didn't see any need to since I wasn't hungry and, quite honestly, I wasn't fully aware of the concept until I was already down the majority of the weight anyway.0 -
My kids are grown so I don't have to worry about taking care of anyone when I'm sick besides myself. If it is a stomach bug or something like that I just sleep/rest as much as possible and eat if I feel like it or not if I don't. If it is something like a cold then I might try to go for a walk or something, but I don't push it when I don't feel well. And always try to hydrate.0
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JessicaMcB wrote: »JessicaMcB wrote: »How many children do you have to regularly clock in 30k steps? Chasing my (I think) active toddler and preschooler rarely nets 10k. Do you live in a castle? Legit curious.
We have a newly 4, 2, and 1 Year old plus another 4 year old I watch 4 days a week. They run me pretty good and my husband works away a lot so the house and yard all fall on me.
Thanks all for your input, I feel thoroughly neurotic now and will try to have more perspective. Regain is just a horrifying prospect to me I guess and it's in the forefront of my mind in maintenance
Did you take any maintenance breaks while losing your weight?
No I didn't, I didn't see any need to since I wasn't hungry and, quite honestly, I wasn't fully aware of the concept until I was already down the majority of the weight anyway.
I think that this is the kind of thing that maintenance breaks help train you for. You can turn back time and take them obviously (
) but you may have had a bit less anxiety or worry over this if you had. Anyway, I hope that you are feeling a bit better this afternoon. Will your husband be home tonight/this weekend so you can get more rest? 1 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »JessicaMcB wrote: »How many children do you have to regularly clock in 30k steps? Chasing my (I think) active toddler and preschooler rarely nets 10k. Do you live in a castle? Legit curious.
We have a newly 4, 2, and 1 Year old plus another 4 year old I watch 4 days a week. They run me pretty good and my husband works away a lot so the house and yard all fall on me.
Thanks all for your input, I feel thoroughly neurotic now and will try to have more perspective. Regain is just a horrifying prospect to me I guess and it's in the forefront of my mind in maintenance
Did you take any maintenance breaks while losing your weight?
No I didn't, I didn't see any need to since I wasn't hungry and, quite honestly, I wasn't fully aware of the concept until I was already down the majority of the weight anyway.
I think that this is the kind of thing that maintenance breaks help train you for. You can turn back time and take them obviously ( ) but you may have had a bit less anxiety or worry over this if you had. Anyway, I hope that you are feeling a bit better this afternoon. Will your husband be home tonight/this weekend so you can get more rest?
Thank you and I think you are right, I have had a lot of trouble transitioning to maintenance and I did it to myself
. No my husband is 2 weeks into a 3-4 week stint on the rigs and we have no family here, it's all on mama. Activity as a result I guess I didn't need to be concerned about since my fitbit has me almost at 10k now and it's half past 2 
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