How does sickness affect strength development?

[Arch0wl]

My whole household got a cold that lasted about 4-5 days. During the peak of the illness we were fatigued at a level where even performing daily chores was difficult. I tried lifting toward the end of the illness, when I thought I had recovered essentially normal physical functioning, and noticed that I had lost about 5 reps or 25lb of strength on my flat chest press.

Another concern of mine -- I've read that metabolism rises during illness. I frankly have no idea by how much or what the science says about this, but I was weighing in at 179lb pre-illness and my recent weigh-in was 176.5. Level of sweat was pretty much the same and if anything I've eaten *more* foods that would retain water, so I don't think it's due to sweating out water weight.

Caloric intake was about maintenance. I tried eating to surplus, but frankly, when your stomach is filled with mucus eating 3700 calories sounds like a quick way to vomit. I've had an easier time eating to surplus while taking adderall, and amphetamines are notorious for curbing appetite.

How should I address illnesses when concerned about my strength? Should I lift anyway? Should I rest more? How does illness impede strength development? I've taken, frankly, two rest days in a row after a workout day where I'd usually take zero -- I don't think lifting would have been productive for me in this state, but that's going off of my body's response and I could be wrong about this.

Any help would be appreciated.

[SCWolf]

Rest. You'll get your strength back.

Try not to over-think these things. Just allow your body to rest and recover. If you've lost strength, you'll quickly recover it. Weight loss is an unfortunate problem with being sick, but it's a setback you learn to deal with.

[popsicle_3000]

Originally Posted by Arch0wl

I tried eating to surplus, but frankly, when your stomach is filled with mucus

lol i'm curious how this can happen

[NorthStrong]

Anything that happens for like less than a month won't matter one bit in the long run.

Take Vitamin D3 if you don't already. Pretty much haven't been sick in like 2 years since I started taking it. Plus the orange flavour is bangin.

[popsicle_3000]

vitamin D affects calcium levels in the body and has nothing to do w/ immunity

[choof]

defeating a sandwich

only makes it tastier

[Reach]

Got to agree with popsicle and say that taking vitamins while sick is pretty irrelevant and studies show it doesn't do anything.

IMO, just rest as long as needed and then get back to it. You won't lose much, and anything you do lose is easily regained.

Though, don't think you need to rest forever. I see a lot of people that use 'feeling sick' as an excuse for not doing anything. Often times, getting out and doing SOMETHING will make you feel better, not worse.