Do you maintain the same calorie deficit when sick?

Sparlingo
Sparlingo Posts: 938 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hey, everyone!

Have only been using MFP consistently for less than a week, and so far so good. My only concern is I caught a cold that's going around here, and I'm not sure if that means I should take it easy on the calorie restriction, or if it's okay to proceed as planned. I've got chills, aches, fatigue, cough, runny nose, sore throat - the whole shebang.

[If it matters, my stats are: height:5'0" SW: 162, CW: 157.2, GW:110, programmed in for sedentary (I'm on maternity leave) at 1.5 lbs/week projected loss.]

Replies

  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    When I am sick, I don't worry about counting calories - eat what's healthy and sounds good, push those fluids and try to get some rest!
  • Brianna72994
    Brianna72994 Posts: 887
    I'm not gonna lie, when I'm really sick, I dont even count calories, I eat what I want. Mostly soup and LOTS of juice.
  • feistyhorsegal
    feistyhorsegal Posts: 109 Member
    I would stick to the same calorie target but just don't worry about the exercise.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I think when you're sick you should eat healthy and not have a calorie deficit. Your body needs what it needs.
  • this1bigdog
    this1bigdog Posts: 350 Member
    if your sick . . .then umm ice cream isn't going to do you any good and there are little calories in chicken broth . . lol

    bad food isn't going to make you feel better . .
    lots of water and vitamins. . chicken broth. . .tea . .and rest . .
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Eating at/around maintenance will help you heal faster. The body uses extra calories fighting infection. Don't worry about your deficit when you're sick.

    That being said, and I'm not accusing you of this in any way, don't use being 'sick' as an excuse to overeat, either. Just wanted to throw this out there for those people that like giving themselves day-passes and convincing themselves they have a legit reason.
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    If its just a cold or whatever I just stick with it, if I was really sick where I can't eat much and theres only a few things I can keep down I would eat those few things, even if it meant I ended up with a massive deficit, or surplus for that matter, but thats unlikely.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    if your sick . . .then umm ice cream isn't going to do you any good and there are little calories in chicken broth . . lol

    bad food isn't going to make you feel better . .
    lots of water and vitamins. . chicken broth. . .tea . .and rest . .

    Cookies always make me feel better.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    There's being sick and being sick. A cold/flu is not sick. Cancer is sick, a disease is sick. Eating at a deficit while having a cold/flu is not going to hinder your recovery.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    I eat less when I have a cold/flu. I know it's not good but if I am gonna throw it up anyways it's not worth it. I was actually sick this week. I will make up for lost calories over this weekend :p
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    I usually don't count calories when I'm sick. It does "set back" my loss, but it's only a week or so. Pick it up again after and you'll be fine.

    Make sure to drink plenty of fluids, though!!!
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    There's being sick and being sick. A cold/flu is not sick. Cancer is sick, a disease is sick. Eating at a deficit while having a cold/flu is not going to hinder your recovery.

    Having the real flu most definitely being sick. Influenza can kill vulnerable people. When I had it, calories in didn't really matter since I couldn't even lift my own spoon, however.
  • TArnold2012
    TArnold2012 Posts: 929 Member
    I follow my plan sick or not.
  • ClementineGeorg
    ClementineGeorg Posts: 505 Member
    Personally, I go with calorie counting (and respective deficit) even when I'm sick.

    If my body is ill, the one thing I won't push more into it is more to process (aka food). And it's easy to stay on a deficit. When you have flu, the best thing for you is a soup, which is low calorie. I can't imagine people eating high calorie stuff when sick... like fast food or tons of fats.
  • Sparlingo
    Sparlingo Posts: 938 Member
    Turns out I couldn't handle eating very much during the worst of it, so I think my calorie deficit was actually greater.

    I know a cold isn't a "real sickness" as some of you might say, but I did want to know if it would be better for my healing, immunity, etc. to have stayed at maintenance for a few days vs. losing. Guess it ended up being a non-issue for me due to a complete lack of appetite.
  • Cr01502
    Cr01502 Posts: 3,614 Member
    Sick or not sick stick to the deficit. Just add in more fruit and vegetables. Staying in a healthy calorie deficit isn't going to affect your cold symptoms. Assuming you do indeed have a mild cold and it's not something more serious of course.
  • daggs95
    daggs95 Posts: 51 Member
    As long as you don't have a problem with food, such as emotional eating, then you shouldn't even think about "dieting" counting etc. Some people actually wind up sick with colds because they restricted too much to begin with. Eat what you need, healthy, whole, clean, lots of liquids, make sure you aren't restricting sodium too much either, blood pressure is probably lower when you're sick. I am rarely sick as long as I am eating enough, getting 7-8 hours sleep. But when i do get sick, I typically need to eat more food than usual (my "maintenence area", no deficit) this helped me recover much faster and have a much easier time. Cold was gone in a 3 days. Plus I love Raw Garlic!
  • NCchar130
    NCchar130 Posts: 955 Member
    There's being sick and being sick. A cold/flu is not sick. Cancer is sick, a disease is sick. Eating at a deficit while having a cold/flu is not going to hinder your recovery.

    Having the real flu most definitely being sick. Influenza can kill vulnerable people. When I had it, calories in didn't really matter since I couldn't even lift my own spoon, however.

    I agree with this. I had the swine flu back in 2009 and I barely even remember that week. I laid on the couch with a 104 fever for 5 days crying from the joint pain. I made myself shower once or twice just because, but otherwise couldn't stand the pain of the air or water touching my bare skin. If I recall correctly I barely ate during that time just because I didn't want to. I felt lucky I was an otherwise healthy 30-year-old, it was a nasty flu for sure.
  • 3foldchord
    3foldchord Posts: 2,918 Member
    I have stomach issues today for something I ate last night that didn't agree with me.... I have a lot more calories coming out than going in today.

    It is ruining my goal,this week of eating more/closer to my goal. I was going a bit too far under the last few weeks, so had been working to eat enough this week.

    Today may be a heavy carb day... Lots of toast and tea.

    That's my concern when not feeling well, Not getting Enough nutrition, because then I end up famished when I feel better and go overboard.
  • GrandmaPeridow
    GrandmaPeridow Posts: 84 Member
    I am sick. Coughing, runny nose, aches and pains and chilled. I have no appetite. I wish there was something besides water here. If I can find some chicken soup, I will eat it. I was under my calorie goal yesterday and probably will not reach it today.

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