Weight loss due to illness

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ILiftHeavyAcrylics
ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I have been VERY sick for the past few days and as a result I've had a hard time keeping even the most basic fluids down. I finally got some anti-nausea medication from my doctor because I was so dehydrated, but I weighed this morning and was down 5 pounds. I only counted 4 because I hadn't eaten breakfast, but I'm wondering what happens when I go back to my normal calorie intake of 1470? Will I gain it back as fast as I lost it? I know it wasn't healthy weight loss and I definitely wouldn't have chosen it, but I'm wondering if I need to weigh in early (I usually weigh once every two weeks or so) to see if I've bounced back to my normal weight. I know that weight fluctuates, but mine is pretty constant. I weigh at the same time on the same day of the week every time and the scale hasn't been off by more than a pound for months until this morning. I'm also concerned that I've lost lean muscle instead of fat :/ Could it possibly be 5 lbs of water only? Thoughts on how to start eating healthy again after an illness? Should I just jump back in or go slowly and try to maintain the loss?

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  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    I'd chalk it up to dehydration and ease back into your regular routine.
  • IvoryParchment
    IvoryParchment Posts: 651 Member
    If your goal calories are 1470, you can't lose more than 0.4 of a lb of fat per day (3500 kcal = 1 lb). Assuming you got zero calories during this period, 0.4 lbs per day is the real weight loss and the rest is dehydration. It sounds like you got some sugar in your system, so you probably did get a few calories in.

    Don't even worry about it. Get your fluids back in balance. The good side of this is your stomach is probably "sprained" from retching and won't want more than small feedings for a while.
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