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Question
18 Sep 2007
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Weight gain during rest period
Hi Doc,
I've been working HARD at improving my fitness and losing weight this year. Ran throughout winter! I got the sniffles and then a full bout of flu about 3 weeks ago. I decided to rest for the last 2 weeks...only ran once last Monday. I'm on the mend having medicated with vitamin C, lots of fluids and lots of rest. I'll probably hit the trail for a short run this evening. My problem....after all that hard work, I just started seeing results and since being down for almost 2 weeks my hanging boep is back and I'm feeling lethargic and unfit again. What's up with that? Why do I lose fitness and gain weight so quickly? My diet hasn't changed during this time...in fact I got a bit stricter because I didn't need as much carbs as when I'm training. Thank you!
I've been working HARD at improving my fitness and losing weight this year. Ran throughout winter! I got the sniffles and then a full bout of flu about 3 weeks ago. I decided to rest for the last 2 weeks...only ran once last Monday. I'm on the mend having medicated with vitamin C, lots of fluids and lots of rest. I'll probably hit the trail for a short run this evening. My problem....after all that hard work, I just started seeing results and since being down for almost 2 weeks my hanging boep is back and I'm feeling lethargic and unfit again. What's up with that? Why do I lose fitness and gain weight so quickly? My diet hasn't changed during this time...in fact I got a bit stricter because I didn't need as much carbs as when I'm training. Thank you!
FitnessDoc
Hi Jess
A lot of it is perception, which I realise may be over simplified, but I know from experience (personal and otherwise) that when you've been in the groove and suddenly stop, your perception of your own body also changes. I suspect that you probably have lost a little of your conditioning, but not that much - it's not as though you'll go from quite fit to back to square one in two weeks (unless you really let yourself go, which you haven't!).
The feeling of being unfit is also very common - that will disappear within about 3 or 4 training sessions. You have to remember that you are unaccustomed to training. It's all there, your good work hasn't evaporated, but you've just been sick, there's probably some 'leftover' tiredness from dealing with that, plus you've lost a little bit of fitness. But it comes back pretty quickly - like I said, give it a week and you'll feel normal again. Just back off the training for a few days, maybe go at 80% of your normal training and then work back towards a level that you were at before the sickness.
Good luck
A lot of it is perception, which I realise may be over simplified, but I know from experience (personal and otherwise) that when you've been in the groove and suddenly stop, your perception of your own body also changes. I suspect that you probably have lost a little of your conditioning, but not that much - it's not as though you'll go from quite fit to back to square one in two weeks (unless you really let yourself go, which you haven't!).
The feeling of being unfit is also very common - that will disappear within about 3 or 4 training sessions. You have to remember that you are unaccustomed to training. It's all there, your good work hasn't evaporated, but you've just been sick, there's probably some 'leftover' tiredness from dealing with that, plus you've lost a little bit of fitness. But it comes back pretty quickly - like I said, give it a week and you'll feel normal again. Just back off the training for a few days, maybe go at 80% of your normal training and then work back towards a level that you were at before the sickness.
Good luck
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