What do you do differently when you have a cold?

Ha! Today I have a beastly cold. I still managed to do my stretching routine, and then the pool (which helps with congestion).

However, if I have a fever, or am dragging my tail, I will either do a lot less or rest up. Pushing yourself when you are sick can be counterproductive. It's a personal decision.

I don't really get into the weeds of calories and all of that when I'm sick. In the big picture, all of that is completely immaterial. I do whatever I need to do to get myself healthy again and what that is depends on how sick I am. I've laid in bed for days doing nothing and eating very little...conversely I've been ill and had a ferocious appetite and I don't stop eating. None of it matters in the short run as long as I'm recovering.

My only real rule when sick is that I don't engage in any kind of public exercise...no gym, no gym classes, etc. Most of the time I just go for walks if I'm up to that and generally steer clear of more strenuous exercise to let my body work on the more immediate problem at hand.

It's a really good question. I've gotten a cold while dieting and stayed only slightly over my plan, drinking a lot of tea and hanging around the house.

Apparently, binging Netflix cures colds, so that's what I do. 😵

I also do the thing of drinking chicken broth. My wife makes a large amount of it and freezes it. When I'm sick, I thaw out a block and eat it for lunch and dinner. I've also bought cartons of it from the grocery store. You don't need to add much to it, but a few veg (frozen or otherwise) works well.

Whatever eating route you choose, recognize that scale weirdness may occur: Inflammation occurs when ill, increases water retention; that chicken broth (if you go that route) may be salty so increase fluid retention; eating less or more changes the food residue in transit in your digestive tract on its way to becoming waste; that gunk in your sinuses is mainly water and has weight.

Maybe the scale will play nice, but maybe it won't. If it doesn't, don't let it freak you out. Let it ride until you're well over the cold, see where weight settles out. You don't need one more source of stress.

Personally, I'm inclined to eat nutritiously; let lowered appetite (if it happens) lead to eating less; let increased hunger lead to eating a little more, but be a little self-insightful about the potential for stress eating (or eating because I feel tired and sorry for myself). If I feel like exercising, I will, but keep it moderate (and not somewhere that exposes others!). (Sometimes exercise helps, actually.) If I feel like sleeping more instead, I will.

The worst of it will be over in a few days, in all probability, then you can go back to your healthy routine. A few days is a drop in the ocean of life. Do things (within reason) that help you feel better, and help your body fight the cold (nutrition, rest, over-stress avoidance)

I’ve got covid after 4 weeks following the prescribed calories of my fitness pal. Chinese medicine dr says because body resistance lowers due to less calorie intake. Due to fever, headache, sore throat, cough, malaise and muscle pain, I stop all workout, lie in bed all day but still follow the restricted calorie. Recovered now but still consulting Chinese medicine to prevent long covid complications. Shall start my routine workout and activities again. I want to lose 10 lbs (was 116 lbs, now 111lbs) and am half way through already. Hope my goal can be reached by 4 weeks time.

It really depends on how bad the cold is. If it's just a little stuffy then I proceed as normal. If I feel like crap then I just rest up. IF I'm hungry for something then I eat it. I figure my body is fighting hard enough it doesn't need me to tell it what to do.