Bouncing Back

[Myles]

On Sunday February 10th I got food poisoning and today I am just starting to feel close to 100%. During the last 3 days I lost a total of 12lbs and had one of the worst experiences in my life. I have been working out consistently for the last 7 months or so (as much as I can while I work 30hrs a week and go to school full time) and now I feel as if all my gains are gone. Aside from drinking lots of water and trying to build up my appetite, is there anything else I can do to help bounce back and get healthy again? I'll be lifting tomorrow again for the first time in 6 days.

Thanks in advance.

[virus]

Food poison is no joke man. Although most of the weight you lost was mainly water, I doubt you've lost much muscle over that short peroid of time. Your body just got done fighting off and being ill, not to mention you probably haven't ate anything (no carbs, no nothing) for along time.

You should bounce back rather quickly man. Best thing you can do is have the "i'm going to push this weight and thats the bottom line" compared to the "man this isn't working, stuipd food poison" mentality. You think your weak, your brain tells your muscles and nerves your weak - result is your going to be weak.

Nevertheless i'd give it sometime regardless. I had food poisoning a few times and yeah, bouncing back from that type of sick and expecting to be full force like before is not in the book peroid. Be patient, it'll come back bro!

[Gill]

Virus, as usual, is dead on.

The weight you lost was probably 70% water and 30% fat. When you're sick, your body uses fat as emergency fuel, not your muscle. The reason people's muscles deteriorate when hospitalized is simply due to inactivity. In a three day period, your muscles didn't take a lick.

You'll be right back to where you were in no time, but I'd suggest when you get back into the gym, drop your weight a bit until you get your muscles warmed back up. Over the course of a week, creep your way back up to your pre-sickness weight, lifting wise.

As well, stretching is extremely important after being bed ridden for awhile. Give your body a GOOD, THOROUGH stretching before heading out.

Hope you feel completely better soon and make sure to rehydrate!