This week, I fell sick. It wasn’t that bad and most of the symptoms like the leaky nose went away after a day on medication. I didn’t purposefully restrict my calorie intake but I did still record my meals as usual. At the end of the day, I did manage to maintain my calorie deficit but this question came to mind – should I still continue to maintain a calorie deficit when I’m sick?
The short answer is no.
When you are sick, your body is fighting an internal war against the virus or bacteria. In fact, this means that it is using more energy to help your body purge and recover. This is why we get a fever when we do – your body is raising its temperature to activate the immune system and kill the virus or bacteria that caused the infection.
The sensible thing to do it to provide your body with the fuel it needs to fight that internal war so you recover faster. Many online sources recommend to just eat with the goal being to maintain your body weight. Once you get better, cut it back down to a calorie deficit.
And if you’re thinking of getting a workout done, I’d suggest to just go for a walk. You can always get back to your sweaty sessions later on. Your health is more important than achieving your dream body. Now, go get a bite then rest. And get well soon. #loveyourself
