Do you increase calories when sick?

NYCNika

If you have a cold or a flu, or injury, do you decrease calorie deficit to help your body fight it faster?

I have a cold of some sorts, so I decided to increase my allowance to about 1700-1800 until I'm better.

Part of me wonders if this is an excuse, or is it really a better choice for my health.

cwolfman13

Honestly, I have a hard time getting enough food in me when I'm really ill...I usually have no appetite. I don't know that I would up it for a cold...I have upped calories for injury, but only to maintenance. That said, most women do just fine at 1700 or so gross anyway.

thisismeraw

When I'm sick I tend not to care much about calories. I focus more on getting better and getting what my body needs instead of worrying about if I'm over/under my calorie goal for the day.

If I'm sick it's hard for me to really eat much food. I usually just end up going for soup and juice until I feel better.

endlesswonderr

when I'm sick I tend to crave the worst foods such as cookies and chocolate, and use the excuse that since I'm feeling like ****, I might as well eat ****ty food. haha
I think when you're sick you should just eat as much healthy and nutritious food as you allow yourself, such as fruit and veggies, and not worry about calories.

elledeery

I'm more the opposite when I'm sick depending how to extent of the illness, I typically have a lower calorie count and crave lighter things like soups, veggies and teas over big meals.

AllonsYtotheTardis

being sick kills my appetite. I was sick this past week, and had to resort to spoonfuls of peanut butter so I would be over 1200 calories.

JDBLY11

If you have a cold or a flu, or injury, do you decrease calorie deficit to help your body fight it faster?

I have a cold of some sorts, so I decided to increase my allowance to about 1700-1800 until I'm better.

Part of me wonders if this is an excuse, or is it really a better choice for my health.

No, I stay on program and often actually eat less if I am not hungry. I have heard that it is better to eat less when you are sick so your body can focus on healing itself rather than digestion. Usually I have to eat though or I start feeling more sick.

watfordjc

When I'm ill I generally have less exercise calories available, so I eat "less than usual" but in terms of deficit, I stick to the lower end of my weekly loss range (e.g. at present that would be 1.75 lb/week rather than the 2.25 lb/week at the higher end).

I also pay more attention to when I'm getting my micro-nutrients (e.g. B Vitamins with Calcium, Vitamin C with calcium) - typically Marmite on toast with fruit juice followed by milk, and I also up my calcium and vitamin c intake to about 125% of the RDA (as I do when injured, but with injuries I also pay a bit more attention to my protein intake).

deksgrl

It depends on what kind of illness or injury. Sometimes I have no appetite. Some types of injuries, protein is very important for repair.

Illona88

When I'm ill I live off vegetable soup, tea and honey liquorice.
I doubt I even make it to 1200.