Putting on weight after losing it through illness

[theironduke]

I was laid up in bed for about 3 weeks with Glandular Fever, still technically got it but not 'ill' now; i'm working and up and about, just get a bit tired if i do too much.

Anyway i've lost about half a stone (currently 5' 11" and weigh about 74 kilos) and my 32" jeans are feeling a bit baggy

So how does one put weight on, probably a silly question. Now the bind is i cant hit the gym hard yet because as i said i still get fatigued and don't want to make myself worse.

My appetite hasn't gone and i'm eating normally but i guess being in bed for 3 weeks and being ill makes the old timber fall off annoyingly it's come off my arms and legs too.

Anyway, shall i just weight for it to come back normally or just stuff my face?

Im not and never have been a brekkie person so was thinking that maybe having something in the mornings would be a start?

Any dietitions in the house?

[davepoth]

When you are ill, you lose muscle, not fat. Don't go eating, since you'll just get fat. Gentle exercise is the key, walking or cycling are probably best to build up endurance.

[theironduke]

davepoth said:

When you are ill, you lose muscle, not fat. Don't go eating, since you'll just get fat. Gentle exercise is the key, walking or cycling are probably best to build up endurance.

Good point...was just thinking that, though i have lost some off my waist, which must be fat?, my arms are noticably thinner. Was never massive but doing a practical job i've always been fairly toned and had decent upper body strengh. Bit annoying, but on the plus side i'm feeling stronger every day.

Maybe try and do a few press ups/sit ups?

I'm not a member of a gym anymore so only have whats at home, which is a bag hung in my workshop, a pull up bar and a mat. Worth investing in some weights maybe?

[goldblum]

Muscles don't atrophy to the extent you'd notice in three weeks.

Think of someone with their tibia/fibula in a cast for 3 months...when the cast comes off the once broken leg the calf muscle is smaller because of an absolute lack of use: this is disuse atrophy.3 weeks illness and lack of food will have resulted in fatloss. In fact you may even come back stronger once you've recovered as your body should have enjoyed the rest.

[davepoth]

goldblum said:

Muscles don't atrophy to the extent you'd notice in three weeks.

Think of someone with their tibia/fibula in a cast for 3 months...when the cast comes off the once broken leg the calf muscle is smaller because of an absolute lack of use: this is disuse atrophy.3 weeks illness and lack of food will have resulted in fatloss. In fact you may even come back stronger once you've recovered as your body should have enjoyed the rest.

I dunno; six weeks in a cast was enough to make my right calf half the size of my left; it's still not quite right nearly two years on.

[goldblum]

davepoth said:

goldblum said:

Muscles don't atrophy to the extent you'd notice in three weeks.

Think of someone with their tibia/fibula in a cast for 3 months...when the cast comes off the once broken leg the calf muscle is smaller because of an absolute lack of use: this is disuse atrophy.3 weeks illness and lack of food will have resulted in fatloss. In fact you may even come back stronger once you've recovered as your body should have enjoyed the rest.

I dunno; six weeks in a cast was enough to make my right calf half the size of my left; it's still not quite right nearly two years on.

That's quite quick,but total disuse atrophy is possible in that short time.

The difference is that when a muscle is in a cast it is prevented from doing any movement whatsoever: when someone is ill in bed they generally move around a bit..bit of walking to the loo,bit of making food,bit of cleaning up,brushing teeth ..just this tiny amount of movement will be enough over 3 weeks.