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Rapid weight loss from being sick?

omakase619
omakase619 Posts: 226 Member
edited November 16 in Debate Club
Battling a bad cold virus with nasal congestion. I'm forcing myself to drink and eat a lot during the process (1500 -1600 calories) but I lost 3lbs over night (really felt bad last night) (6lbs in a week) with little exercise (just doing push-ups, abs and squats).

- hr went from resting heart rate of 60 to the 100's+
-increased blood pressure prehypertion and stage 1 levels

Is this normal? Should I stop my calorie deficit and go to a maintenance calorie level until I get better? I loss my appetite so I'm forcing myself to eat.

Today I feel a little better. So I ask is this normal and is most of the weight loss coming from water loss even if I'm drinking 8 cups a day. Or is it coming from muscle mass cause I've been sedentary for two days?

Has anyone experienced this?

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    edited February 2017
    I'm recovering from a nasty virus and chest infection during which I lost weight. It was a blow to me because I'm trying to gain. I was eating the same amount of calories.
    Since I started feeling better ,I've regained the weight. I suspect it was loss of fluids. I'd suggest not working out until you feel better and make sure that what you're eating is nutrient dense. Hope you feel better soon
  • omakase619
    omakase619 Posts: 226 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    I'm recovering from a nasty virus and chest infection during which I lost weight. It was a blow to me because I'm trying to gain. I was eating the same amount of calories.
    Since I started feeling better ,I've regained the weight. I suspect it was loss of fluids. I'd suggest not working out until you feel better and make sure that what you're eating is nutrient dense. Hope you feel better soon

    Thank you. the virus going around right now is no joke. Are you from the #cpt?
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    What's the #cpt?
  • omakase619
    omakase619 Posts: 226 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    What's the #cpt?
    Compton ca
  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Oh - lol! No - it's my surname! I'm in the UK
  • omakase619
    omakase619 Posts: 226 Member
    comptonelizabeth wrote: »
    Oh - lol! No - it's my surname! I'm in the UK

    lol I thought you were straight outta of Comptonbsliomx8lrvc.jpg

  • comptonelizabeth
    comptonelizabeth Posts: 1,701 Member
    Haha - NWA! No, sadly not B)
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    In addition to not eating/drinking well, cold/sinus meds can cause dehydration which would explain the weight loss. Several have instructions to drink more while taking them.

    Make sure you're getting enough fluids, and feel better soon!
  • kenyonhaff
    kenyonhaff Posts: 1,377 Member
    I'm of the camp of: Eat as well as you can. Do not get worked up about this.

    When I get a cold I don't feel as hungry so it's easier to stay on my food plan. Yea? The average cold, flu, or whatever that lasts a week will not have a severe impact on my overall plan.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I had rotavirus two weeks ago and dropped two pounds over a weekend - pure water weight. Once I could start eating and drinking again I was up 3lbs. This is just normal fluctuations as your body holds onto water - or releases water.

    Push those fluids as much as possible and eat at maintenance while you are sick. You need to be well to lose weight in a healthy manner.
  • zdyb23456
    zdyb23456 Posts: 1,706 Member
    I have a Fitbit that tracks HR. When I was sick with a bad cold over Christmas my resting hr was definitely higher than normal.

    I wouldn't stress over losing weight when you feel sick. Just make sure you are getting plenty of fluids.
  • counting_kilojoules
    counting_kilojoules Posts: 170 Member
    It could just be water weight (especially if it's overnight loss) but you can loose a lot of weight without meaning to when you're sick (I've lost 10kg on a couple of occasions over a period of 5 weeks or so of illness.) However, I would stick to a maintenance diet whilst you're ill and not try to exercise because you need the calories and the rest more than anything at this point. When you're well you can concentrate on loosing again.
  • rugratz2015
    rugratz2015 Posts: 593 Member
    If you've lost your appetite try drinking chicken/veg soup so at least you're getting some nutrients. Hope you feel better soon, it's an awful dose of flu that's doing the rounds at the minute x
  • omakase619
    omakase619 Posts: 226 Member
    Thank you guys for the kind wishes. Man I'm 85% recovered my bp and heart rate are back to normal. Only managed to put back .6lbs of the weight I lost despite eating a ton and not exercising. Tomorrow I will go back on my workout routine.

    Try not to get sick cause this virus going around right now is vicious.
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