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Original poster

Does anyone know if you burn extra calories when you have Covid?

40 replies

Workinghardeveryday · 04/02/2022 19:30

Just that really

OP posts:
merrymelodies · 04/02/2022 19:31
Grin
Wnkingawalrus · 04/02/2022 19:32

Are you looking for silver linings?!

itsacovidxmasone · 04/02/2022 19:53

Well I stopped exercising for a couple of weeks and ate takeaways and didn't gain weight so maybe Grin

Babdoc · 04/02/2022 20:01

I lost ten pounds during the first two weeks, OP - combination of high temp and catabolic effects of viral infection, plus too fatigued to cook or eat much.
However, I put it all back and more, during the two years of long Covid fatigue and breathlessness that followed, during which I was unable to exercise.

sausagerole · 04/02/2022 20:05

Felt like I did - I was starving!

Chishnfips · 04/02/2022 20:12

Yeah I'm sure the research scientists have that right at the top of the list to find out about covid.

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 04/02/2022 20:14

I had no appetite and grazed on soup and yoghurt but also only did about 100 steps a day for 2 weeks so hardly burned any calories. I think I lost a bit of weight. I'm back to normal activity levels now which is a relief

Againstmachine · 04/02/2022 20:36

Even if you do it's likely to be negligible.

Wired question

Original poster
Workinghardeveryday · 04/02/2022 22:14

I just wondered!! Dp says you do. I don’t think so. What is weird about that?

Just thought this is mn after all and I thought someone would know.

OP posts:
Im2022 · 04/02/2022 22:18

I felt my metabolism increased 10 fold. I was starving when I got my positive. I’ve never eaten so much during illness in my life. Same with DH.

TweeBee · 04/02/2022 22:18

It would likely depend on how ill you are and for how long. In general, an infection will put your body into a catabolic state thus using up more energy, you may also not feel well enough to eat properly. But if it's only a day or two then you will cover that deficit once better and possibly not know about.
If you are feverish you may also lose fluid weight.

stinkycheeseman · 04/02/2022 22:24

My mum says 'feed a cold, starve a fever. She is not a doctor though

RG2468 · 04/02/2022 22:25

I never felt so hungry!!!

stayathomegardener · 04/02/2022 22:29

Sorry you are still ill @Babdoc I remember you from the lungs threads. Still not great myself with long covid.

I lost over a stone initially, appetite just vanished and then put 3 stone back on!
Bizarre as I'd been 9stone before that for 30 years. Gradually going back down now.

Madmog · 04/02/2022 22:33

Only had it four days, eating normally and hungry. I had my breakfast this morning and I genuinely needed something else within an hour

Babdoc · 04/02/2022 22:35

Hi, stayathomegardener! I began to improve after my vaccine shots - my exercise tolerance has come up from 100 yards to four and a half miles on a good day, and about a mile on an average day. My DD coaxed me up an 1100 foot cliff two weeks ago, which nearly killed me, but I was v chuffed to make it. And loved the views from the top.
How are you getting on? Are you seeing some improvements, or has your long Covid stalled?

FrankieBoyleSezLoveOneAnother · 04/02/2022 23:45

I lost a stone within 10 days, despite forcing myself to eat normally and only moving between bed and sofa. It certainly didn't stay off, but yes I do think your body probably burns up a lot of energy fighting this virus.

Akire · 04/02/2022 23:56

I didn’t eat for 5 days don’t lose a thing! Would thought all night sweats would be half a stone but alas no.

GingerScallop · 05/02/2022 00:07

@Wnkingawalrus

Are you looking for silver linings?!
that was my question. I mean, if we are going to live with this there's gotta be something
Somebodylikeyew · 05/02/2022 00:41

I’m sure I’ve read that it affects blood sugar to a greater or lesser extent in different people, which would then trigger hunger hormones, so that makes sense to me, plus your body is busy fighting?

cookiemonster2468 · 05/02/2022 01:37

When you are ill your body is working harder to keep itself functioning normally, so yes, it probably would use more energy.

It depends how active you normally are when you're not ill of course. If you're a professional athlete as your normal day job then you are going to be using less than usual when you're ill in bed.

I wouldn't recommend it as a weight loss method, either way.

WarriorN · 05/02/2022 06:43

I've been incredibly hungry with this virus at times. Ravenous. Still dealing with fatigue but it's not even been 2weeks yet.

I'll get really hungry around 10-11 then fatigue hits around 1.

whymewhyme · 05/02/2022 06:47

I've just had it and not lost one single lb lol 😆

Comeoverafterdinner · 05/02/2022 07:15

So glad it found this thread! DH has Covid at the moment - today will be day 10. Last week he couldn’t stop eating! I was constantly taking him food! It isn’t quite so bad now

ArianaG · 05/02/2022 07:49

I was ravenous when I had covid! Friends told me I had lost weight afterwards, I don't weigh myself though.

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