Long COVID and Weight Loss

Clim60
Clim60 Posts: 6 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hi I'm struggling with long COVID and chronic fatigue. I need to identify ways to manage weight during this time. So much weight loss advice doesn't seem apply to this condition because of the exercise intolerance and chronic fatigue. Love to share tactics with others with chronic fatigue

Replies

  • InthekeyofFaith
    InthekeyofFaith Posts: 1 Member
    edited November 2023
    Hi, I'm in the same boat! I can only manage 500 steps a day and the weight has really been creeping on. My plan is to restrict calories, but to take things slowly (I'm targeting half a pound loss a week) to avoid worsening fatigue. I'm also loosely trying to follow the Mediterranean diet, which is what my LC clinic recommends. I've kept this up for a few weeks; now we'll see how Christmas goes! 😅
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,131 Member
    Starting with what MFP suggests for sedentary would make sense, IMO. At the end of 4-6 weeks (whole menstrual period(s) if that applies), calculate your average weekly weight change over the whole time. Then, adjust your calorie goal to dial in a sensibly slow weight loss rate. (PP is right: If your body is already struggling, slow loss is a better plan than something aggressive.) When calculating the needed calorie adjustment, assume 500 calories per day is roughly a pound of body fat change per week, and use arithmetic if there are fractional pounds.

    This is pretty much what everyone needs to do (or will do if sensible, anyway). Calculators like MFP, and even fitness trackers, just give estimates based on population averages for similar people. Most people are close to average, but some are noticeably far off (high or low), and a rare few are surprisingly far off (still could be either direction).

    Your own results should give you the answer you need.

    Best wishes!

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