[Amber1011]

Ok, I wanted to ask a question. I have been really sick for a few days and my calories haven't been over 800 in 3 days- Yesterday I only consumed 625 calories, and 200 of that was Gatorade. I know this is very low, but I just don't feel like eating. What do you think I should do? Should I try and force myself to eat to up my calories? I'm worried that eating this little might actually set back my weight loss goals. Being sick is bad enough but if it is detrimental to my long term weight loss I will not be very happy. Thanks for your help ahead of time!

[kaplods]

There's really no evidence that a few days here and there of extremely low calorie eating triggers a permanent slowing of metabolism (what some folks call starvation mode). Rather, it's frequent and extended periods of fasting and very low calorie diets that are associated with reduced metabolism and other metabolic changes (for example as some research suggests, insulin resistance).

When you're ill, in general I think it's best to listen to your body. If you're hungry (even a little hungrier than normal) go ahead and eat, just try to make fairly healthy choices, sometimes when we're sick, we crave foods that we associate with comfort. Nothing wrong with that, as long as being sick isn't an excuse to eat everything we wouldn't otherwise; and if you're not hungry, don't eat.

Hope you feel better soon,

[sprklemajik]

I think being sick should just be taken out of worrying about dieting. You should try and eat to replenish your health and nutrients, and not go crazy, but mostly just be concerned about getting back to your 100%.

[MBN]

After you start feeling better, you may find that you are hungrier than usual, so it may all tend to balance out over the week. I would follow your body's cues and focus on getting better.

[JulieJ08]

I don't think it's any problem to eat light when you're sick and have NO appetite. I think it's a good idea to get a little in, but no need to push. I was sick a day last week, and had: a fruit smoothie for breakfast, one piece of toast with PB for lunch, and one piece of toast with PB for dinner. And I had to concentrate to get those down. Like I would forget to keep chewing or to swallow, 'cause there was NO appetite. Didn't seem to have any lasting effects .

OTOH, do get in plenty of water.