Pneumonia

amymeenieminymo
amymeenieminymo Posts: 2,394 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So lucky me, I've got pneumonia. Great, just when I was ready to get back on track last week and work out and eat right again. My poor husband isn't much of a cook, so he has just been getting fast food most days for dinner, but despite all of that (and yes I have actually had an appetite) I still managed to lose 2.5 pounds this week.

I'm guessing it is because my body burns extra calories fighting the sickness. So my question is, for the next week (or however long I am sick) should I log my food, and figure in extra calories that my body is burning due to the pneumonia (how would I even know how much that is) or should I not worry about logging, and just try to eat sensibly? I'm not even going to attempt working out (I think even moderate walking would be rough on my lungs right now) for the next several days.

Replies

  • NutritionDivaRD
    NutritionDivaRD Posts: 467 Member
    You don't need to work out while you battle pneumonia. Your body needs that energy to focus on healing. As far as calories go, you do burn more calories when you are working harder to breathe. Patients who suffer with chronic respiratory illnesses burn a LOT of calories when they are under stress (sick). Of course you aren't suffering with a chronic illness, but you ARE working harder to breathe due to the pneumonia so I don't doubt you are burning extra calories. Having said that, I don't know how many extra you are burning.

    You should at LEAST eat your minimum allotted calories per day and PLEASE try to eat nutrient dense foods (veggies, fruits, plenty of protein and complex carbs). Vitamin C and zinc both aid in wound healing and tissue repair so try to increase fruits and veggies rich in those. Yes, I think you should continue to log so that you stay in the routine of doing that.

    Hope you feel better soon! :)
  • selbyhutch
    selbyhutch Posts: 531 Member
    I had pneumonia 3 years ago & it was bad. I was out of work for 3 1/2 weeks. I wasn't on MFP at the time. However, I got a touch of walker's pneumonia last year & learned my lesson... I stayed in bed or on the couch & didn't move to let my lungs heal. I didn't worry about what I ate. I just did not want to end up in the hospital.

    Take care of yourself.
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