Weight loss during illness?
comptonelizabeth
Posts: 1,701 Member
For the past 2-3 weeks I've been pretty much house and sofa bound with a nasty and persistent chest infection. Until then I was gaining steadily at around .25 kg per week. I've not been working out or exercising anything like as much as usual and yet when I weighed myself today I've lost 2 lbs! I'd expected more of a gain as I've been sedentary.
Could it be the infection? Maybe constant coughing is the same as a workout! And yes I'm in touch with my doctor and on bedrest and antibiotics.
Could it be the infection? Maybe constant coughing is the same as a workout! And yes I'm in touch with my doctor and on bedrest and antibiotics.
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Replies
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Are you eating less? Calories make the difference on the weight much more than working out.1
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No that's just it - I've been eating the same amount of calories!0
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Are you suuuuuuuure?
Do you weigh all your solid food and measure liquids? Weight loss is pretty scientific. Less calories in than out. 0 -
Lol - yes I'm sure;I've been weighing everything meticulously! I've not felt like eating big meals but have kept up the calories with high calorie snacks0
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I'm convinced it's the coughing !
I've always been asthmatic and years ago (many years ago )the doctor told my mother that asthmatics require more calories. Though in my head I feel that's probably nonsense1 -
My only other thought at the moment is are you dehydrated? I know when I'm sick I have to drink a TON of liquids to feel like I'm keeping up. Wonder if it might be lost water weight.1
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Ah - you could have a point there. I know I've not been drinking enough fluids. Thank you.0
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Chug-a-lug!! Hope you feel better soon! 1
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Thank you! 0
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comptonelizabeth wrote: »I'm convinced it's the coughing !
I've always been asthmatic and years ago (many years ago )the doctor told my mother that asthmatics require more calories. Though in my head I feel that's probably nonsense
As someone also with asthma I can confirm. But it's not so much that it's particularly significant. Think about the fact that some form of steroids is in most asthma medication, the extra work your lungs have to do in order to perform like everyone else's, plus the way most asthma medications make your heart race.2 -
Yeah I guess so. Back then there were fewer kids with asthma and you could pick them out by their skinny legs,white faces and dark circles under the eyes!1
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+1 on leaning towards water weight1
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Am glugging right now ! 0
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If you were exercising previously, then its probably the water weight associated with exercise that has deminished.2
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Water weight and your body's metabolism will increase slightly as it fights off infection. I was sick for a week last month and had the same experience. I tried to increase caloric intake, but found it very difficult because I had such little appetite.0
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If you were exercising previously, then its probably the water weight associated with exercise that has deminished.
Thanks both - that does make sense.edickson76 wrote: »Water weight and your body's metabolism will increase slightly as it fights off infection. I was sick for a week last month and had the same experience. I tried to increase caloric intake, but found it very difficult because I had such little appetite.
That's reassuring- not that I want anyone to be ill!0 -
You will probably find it's a loss in muscle.
I was very sick for three months, couldn't get out of bed, didn't eat or drink or had a couple of bites of something every couple of days and lost 2.5kg every week to total of 18kg, lost muscle and strength big time because of little physical movement, after a time in hospital slowing gaining my strength took 6 months, after three months started losing my hair due to not eating - don't recommend that
Plus the weight lost while sick goes back on very quickly1 -
deviousme7 wrote: »You will probably find it's a loss in muscle.
I was very sick for three months, couldn't get out of bed, didn't eat or drink or had a couple of bites of something every couple of days and lost 2.5kg every week to total of 18kg, lost muscle and strength big time because of little physical movement, after a time in hospital slowing gaining my strength took 6 months, after three months started losing my hair due to not eating - don't recommend that
Plus the weight lost while sick goes back on very quickly
Thanks- I hope so. Poor you,sounds horrible.
I've realised also that generally,I have a glass of wine (or 2!) most evenings. Since I've been on antibiotics I've avoided alcohol. So though I've still maintained the same amount of calories I think alcohol is processed differently so that may make a difference0 -
If you have been febrile at all or had a high respiratory rate your metabolic rate would be elevated during those times.
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'... aspects of fever include increased basal metabolic rate and increased cardiac demand. It is estimated that for every 1°C increase in temperature, the metabolic rate increases by up to 13%.[2] ...'
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408647/1 -
My actual guess on your weight loss despite inactivity would be mostly dehydration and associated weight fluctuation. But who knows. I'm certainly not a doctor,1
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Another sickie here (it's been three weeks for me) just waving hello. Scales have been kind to me too. I can't say that I feel like I have "made progress" at all though. I know it's going to be a long process of slowly ramping up exercise again once I finally stop coughing.0
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goldthistime wrote: »Another sickie here (it's been three weeks for me) just waving hello. Scales have been kind to me too. I can't say that I feel like I have "made progress" at all though. I know it's going to be a long process of slowly ramping up exercise again once I finally stop coughing.
Feel better soon. I did actually do a gentle bodyweight workout yesterday with no long lasting ill effects!2 -
deviousme7 wrote: »You will probably find it's a loss in muscle.
I was very sick for three months, couldn't get out of bed, didn't eat or drink or had a couple of bites of something every couple of days and lost 2.5kg every week to total of 18kg, lost muscle and strength big time because of little physical movement, after a time in hospital slowing gaining my strength took 6 months, after three months started losing my hair due to not eating - don't recommend that
Plus the weight lost while sick goes back on very quickly
In the OPs timeframe, i doubt it would be muscle loss. A body has pretty good storage of glycogen to burn through. And often it would take 3 weeks just to start to lose strength. At 3 months of no eating, i can see it.2 -
'... aspects of fever include increased basal metabolic rate and increased cardiac demand. It is estimated that for every 1°C increase in temperature, the metabolic rate increases by up to 13%.[2] ...'
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4408647/
Wow - though that kind of confirms what the doctor told my mother all those years ago!0
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