Retaining Muscle Mass while sick

[Boulder257]

I have been hit bad by the flu bug and am losing weight at a considerable rate. Can anyone give my some suggestions on things to do and things to avoid in order to retain as much muscle mass as possible while sick? Thanks.

 

[hawkfish]

I would guess that much of the weight that you are losing is water weight. It is easy to associate weight with muscle mass but just because you lost weight while being sick does not mean you are losing your muscle. Make sure to keep drinking plenty of fluids so that you do not dehydrate.

Even though it is hard to do this, rest is important when sick so don't go pushing yourself or you will just extend the amount of time you are sick or make yourself worse.

Get well soon!

 

[CobraUTAH]

I was sick for four days and then the following week I was really weak on all my lifts. After that though I made a remarkable recovery. I feel that I actually got bigger and stronger from having been sick.

 

[leatherface]

I was sick for four days and then the following week I was really weak on all my lifts. After that though I made a remarkable recovery. I feel that I actually got bigger and stronger from having been sick.

Did you lift at all while sick? Or did ya take the week off
Since you felt alot better after being sick im guessing the week off is what halped out alot.

 

[CobraUTAH]

I got sick on a thursday and was sick all weekend. I went back on Monday and was weak the whole week on all my lifts, but the week following that I was really strong again if not stronger.

 

[FatRat]

Perhaps your sickness gave your body the rest and recovery that it needed!

My advice while sick is to keep yourself as hydrated as you can, and if you can stomach it try to keep your protein levels up.

 

[casualbb]

Yes, eat if you can.

 

[Parabellum]

Samething happend to me, I cought the flu and lost 10lbs in a week.

 

[Deleted member 33117]

Been there. I lose weight rapidly when sick. Try to knock down alot of whey mixed with casienate protien. Drink ANY EFA's you can get down (a couple tbs of flax can help) and load up on vitamin c and e. Since you don't feel like eating, those are the most anti-catabolic foods you can eat,a nd they are easily injested, since they are liquids. I hope that helps bro.

 

[Boulder257]

Thanks alot for the help all...these are some really good suggestions, and I am going to try them all.

 

[ripper2]

i've been sick for 2 wks now... been to the gym only 2x and both times it was really really shitty workouts that i ended up being unusually sore for a good 4-5 days afterwards.

i'm finally getting over whatever it was i had but still sleeping a lot. i did lose a lot of water while i've been sick, but luckily the scale has only gone down about 1-2lbs (which is amazing to me considering how much bloat i've lost and how shitty my appetite has been)... i can't wait to get back into the weightroom at full strength. damn i feel so soft and weak...

 

[Boulder257]

I know what you mean, I feel about 20 lbs lighter, and really week. I feel soft, mushy...I hate it. Okay, now I just sound like a menopausal woman....Damn this cold!