Maintaining and illness

Hi everone,

I have a quick question for anyone who has been through this before. I am sick for the first time since I started maintaining. I have a terrible flu (probably swine -- unlucky me) and as a result I haven't exercised in order to let my body heal. Normally I eat about 2500 calories a day and I have continued this for the past 4 days that I have been sick. This is above what calorie count suggests for my weight and height but I needed it to stabilize. I have still been hungry normally and all of that stuff, I am just a little worried because I can normally burn 500-600 cals per day with execise depending on what I do. What do others do when they are sick? Do you cut back some calories or do you stay the same?

Thanks in advance.

I honestly haven't been ill with flu for many years.  However, when I was ill, I would almost completely lose my appetite, so I am astounded that you are able to eat that much. 

Now, to the matter at hand:  3500 calories equals one pound.  So if you go 7 days of not burning the 500 calories extra that you normally do, and if you eat the same daily amount, it will take you 1 whole week to only gain 1 pound. 

Conclusion:   The flu will run its course--you will probably lose a pound or two having the flu, so what will probably happen is you will actually lose a pound or two,  or at worse remain the same.  Do not worry about gaining any weight.  Your body will need the energy from the food you eat to fight off the flu, anyway.  Keep eating your regular amount.

Thanks so much for the input. I was kind of figuring the same thing, that my body must need the calories if I was able to eat them considering that the last time I had the flu I didn't eat much at all. Sometimes it just helps to have someone else agree !!!

hayliemonster:  Congrats on your before and after photos.  Very impressive.  You have worked really hard to be healthy.  Best of luck in all things and especially in your weight maintenance.  I never realized how much easier it would be for me to lose weight than work to maintain my weight window.