anyone else overeat when sick?

I guess it depends on what kind of food you look for at that situations. Soups are great for colds, candy dont think so.

I'm the opposite. Can't eat when I'm sick.

It depends. I usually just want clear soup and veggies, but my last bout with the cold, I just wanted to eat everything in sight. I logged what I ate. It was just a bit above my maintenance calories. It was only two days.

I get super ravenous when I have a cold too, the sensation of food going down usually temporarily eases my symptoms which is why I do it. I notice I too also reach for the candy. I've found diet soda to be a huge help when i'm sick, I can't stand the taste of normal water when i'm not feeling well and it gives my throat some relief plus the sweetness of the soda helps with that craving and the best part....? Zero calories. I just sit there with a straw and literally drink all day until it feels better. The extra hydration also seems to get me over the cold quicker. Hot steamy baths always help too. Get lots of rest and hopefully someone can also make you some homemade chicken soup. I hope you feel better soon, colds suck!

brenn24179 wrote: »

I have had this terrible cold for 7 days and of course I want to run to food to feel better. All it does is make me feel guilty and disappoined.

I recently lost 30 lbs and dont want to sabotage. I have been going to hard candy and those calories can add up. I went tonight and got some 5 calorie vitamin c drops so I dont do so much damage.

I guess it is a bad habit, anyone been able to resolve this. I guess I want to run to food with anything emotional. I have a habit of thinking food will take care of this.

Anyone else overeat when sick?

For me - Never - I wish! You're fortunate that your appetite is not the least bit affected when you're under the weather. How are you with your hydration volumes?

I get a horrendous appetite right before I get sick. I crave comfort foods so much. this last time I didn't have any high calorie foods in the house but a long time ago I used to crave mashed potatoes & chili lol.

Man Brenn I’m actually jealous. I’ve been down a week with some croopy cough and I didn’t wanna eat anything.

I’m now on the upswing and was able to eat today. Seems appetite came roaring back lol.

Please remember that, when you're sick, your body is using up a lot of nutrients and energy to fight the infection of whatever is making you sick. You're going to need more calories and nutrients to keep it going. A fever alone burns quite a lot of calories, almost like exercising. When you're sick, the important thing is to give your body what it needs without going too far overboard, get plenty of bed rest, and take care of yourself, but forgive yourself if what you instinctually need is a little more than usual. Your body is working hard for you, so it might be a little bit demanding. You can always get back on track once you're feeling better.

I'm another one that loses their appetite when unwell however in the past this was followed by a corresponding feeding frenzy when I got better. Now I'm able to return to a relatively normal eating pattern following illness with perhaps one slightly larger 're-feed' meal.

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Yep, I know that feeling well. Whenever I feel ill I want to eat all the food. Not normally sweet stuff, but rice, pasta, bread that sort of thing.

Oh and peanut butter. I 100% crave peanut butter when I'm ill. I could eat a week's worth of calories in peanut butter on sick days if I'm not careful.

I normally log it, and try and eat around maintenance. If I'm feeling terrible I just cannot be dealing with a deficit!

OddDitty wrote: »

brenn24179 wrote: »

I have had this terrible cold for 7 days and of course I want to run to food to feel better. All it does is make me feel guilty and disappoined.

I recently lost 30 lbs and dont want to sabotage. I have been going to hard candy and those calories can add up. I went tonight and got some 5 calorie vitamin c drops so I dont do so much damage.

I guess it is a bad habit, anyone been able to resolve this. I guess I want to run to food with anything emotional. I have a habit of thinking food will take care of this.

You know I hesitate to respond because I'm concerned it will sound like I'm giving medical advice and, to be honest, I don't think people should "diagnose" anything online.

Having said that, https://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-and-flu/colds-and-fevers.aspx may be your best bet on how to eat during illness.

My go to for illness had always been carbs. Now its warmed bone broth.

interesting you posted this three minutes after specifically asking for medical experts in another thread??

brenn24179 wrote: »

I want to binge eat on hard candy all day which makes me half sick and lots of calories. It is a bad habit. Eating makes me numb and I don't feel pain just like emotional stuff, same thing. I need healthier habits. I am going to try to stop this right now before I sabotage the 30 lbs I just lost. For those who have the problem, let me know healthier ways to cope. Take a Benadryl, put vicks on, hot tea, hot bath. It is crazy I think all that candy would make me well. I know in my head this will pass but I sure want to go to food like candy at a time like this to not feel pain rather than look for healthy solutions to this problem. I need to feel pain and find healthy solutions.

When not sick, I endeavor to manage stress with regular exercise - I used to be an emotional eater, so I get that. A regular exercise routine is critical for my emotional health.

When sick, I soothe myself with soup, hot tea, hot showers, warm bed.

OddDitty wrote: »

brenn24179 wrote: »

I have had this terrible cold for 7 days and of course I want to run to food to feel better. All it does is make me feel guilty and disappoined.

I recently lost 30 lbs and dont want to sabotage. I have been going to hard candy and those calories can add up. I went tonight and got some 5 calorie vitamin c drops so I dont do so much damage.

I guess it is a bad habit, anyone been able to resolve this. I guess I want to run to food with anything emotional. I have a habit of thinking food will take care of this.

You know I hesitate to respond because I'm concerned it will sound like I'm giving medical advice and, to be honest, I don't think people should "diagnose" anything online.

Having said that, https://www.everydayhealth.com/cold-and-flu/colds-and-fevers.aspx may be your best bet on how to eat during illness.

My go to for illness had always been carbs. Now its warmed bone broth.

Op has already stated she has a cold, so no diagnosis is needed nor has been given. What people eat when they *also* have had a cold is valid advice to be given. OP can then pick and choose what might work best for her.

OP: My non-medical non-diagnostic advice would be to make sure you get adequate nutrition while you're fighting this off. The Vitamin C drops are a good idea because they're also soothing on your throat. Do you have a nasty cough, too, or is it more of the head cold variety?

My go-to's have always been soups when I'm sick. Easy to prepare and eat, good nutrition. Especially nice if you have the chills. Frozen juice or yogurt bars can also be really soothing on a sore, scratchy throat.

Other than that, I pretty much eat what I feel like while I'm sick. I just remain mindful of portion sizes and the fact that I'm more sedentary than normal. I figure my body has enough to deal with, I won't be sick forever, and even if I gain a lb or 2 it's likely temporary and no big deal.

Hope you feel better soonest!

My appetite poofs as soon as I get sick. I sleep a lot too. Though I do crave warm drinks so I’ll have hot chocolate as my go to sick comfort, but if the husband didn’t get me food, I probably wouldn’t eat. I do tend to prefer soups as well; anything warm, really. As a kid my mother knew when I was really sick vs “kind of sick, allergy flare ups” by my loss of appetite and the all day sleeping!