I haven’t exercised in 5 days. I have a terrible chest cold. My energy level isn’t too low but I have a horrific sounding hacking cough and a stuffy nose. I haven’t felt that exercising with this condition would be a good idea.

But, I have still been losing weight.

How, you may be asking?

By resisting all urges to “feed my cold”.

In the past, when I would get sick, I would use my illness as an excuse to eat comfort food in a lame attempt to make myself feel better.

This time, knowing that I wouldn’t be working out, I have kept a very close eye on my calories and haven’t rewarded myself for being sick. I’m drinking water, or water with a splash of Vitamin Water. I did have soup, but I selected a butternut squash soup that wasn’t full of cream or excess calories. I skipped the bread bowl. I have been paying attention.

And it’s worked. I have not gone backwards which is what used to happen when I’d take a week of from working out due to being sick.

When I get better, hopefully any day now, I will hit the road and go for a long run. But I will not have to work my way out of a deficit, and that is a great feeling. I think I’m learning something here.