This is a really noobish question. When your body is burning lean mass for fuel will that cause you to lose weight faster? Here is the background on what has happened.

My weight has been a consistant 203lbs for about 6 weeks. To prepare for a 5K race last weekend, I did no weight training and only worked on cardio. (I did not want to risk injury). The 5K race was also my 31st b-day. So I allowed it to be my first true cheat day. On top of all that, I came down with a Head/Chest cold on Monday. This has not allowed me to do any cardio. As soon as I try, I am coughing to bad from my chest congestion. I have also only been able to VERY limited weights. Was able to work Chest, Legs and BIs. I feel to bad to try anything else, I have tried and felt that I was being counterproductive.

The reason I ask all of this is because I am now down to 198lbs. I am very excited about that, however I am afraid that my body is burning my lean mass and not fat.

Could this be that my Cheat meal has jump started my metobolism? Is it that being sick my body is dumping water weight? I am just not sure how to explain that recent 5 lb drop in weight over this week.

I'd speculate water fluctuation from your activity/sickness.

~SC~

Your weight loss is probably water weight and lean mass. You might want to rest while having this chest cold. It would give your body a chance to recover from the running and to overcome the cold. It is better to have a couple of days rest than two weeks off due to pneumonia.