Water weight question

cimarrona27

I increased my sodium up to 5-6g and started taking Chelated Magnesium 200mg.

I've also increased my water intake significantly.

I'm sure my body is in a hydrated happy place, which is great- I've always struggled with hydration.

I've gained about 3 lb in the last few days, and I'm assuming it's water weight.

My question is: Will my body hold onto all of it because I'm usually dehydrated? Or is there a period of adjustment and then stabilization- about how long is it typically.

Im not worried about the gain in the long run, it's more of trying to understand what my body is doing and why.

nvmomketo

My guess is that it will even out. You just started LCHF? It sometimes takes a few days to adjust. If you went to 5-6 g of sodium, that makes sense that you would retain water. LCHF will lower glucose, which lowers insulin which causes electrolyte loss, but it doesn't happen all at once. Give it a week or so to even out.

BTW, 5-6 g of Na is on the high end of supplementing, even among kto'ers. If you feel it is causing too much water retention, you coul always try cutting back a gram or two. I would give yourself some time first.

cimarrona27

Thanks!

I'll cut back to 4 and see if that helps.

I did LCHF last summer but I didn't do any supplements or extra sodium. I want to jump start this correctly.

I'll also wait to up my magnesium to 400 for another week or so.

auntstephie321

They usually recommend 3-5 g in the beginning because you dump a lot in the beginning then it levels out after you get adjusted at least for most people.

Give it a little time, I read once that what you're doing today affects you a few days from now or even more, especially with sodium intake. So it's possible you won't know for sure for a few more days.

FIT_Goat

Do not attempt to reduce or control water weight gains. Actually, the advice for increased minerals is meant, in part, to counter extreme water weight losses.

You are not accelerating your fat loss by losing or gaining water. It's just noise in the beginning. Seriously, weigh daily but don't worry about any of the weights for the first month. Just weigh so you have the numbers. After the first month, you can start getting an idea of how things are going for you. A gain on the scale, because of water weight, is surely not something that you want to change things over.

cimarrona27

Thanks- I will keep it in perspective.