How to lose water weight?

cefleischman

I'm pretty new to all of this, but I feel like when I hydrate a lot my body holds on to the water and I look a little "puffy" (for lack of a better term). I obviously notice this most around my stomach. I know we all want to stay hydrated, but what if you have an event coming up and you don't want to appear as if you've drank half a gallon of water right before attending?
Is it safe to try to "lose" water weight? Or am I going about this the wrong way and should just focus on staying well hydrated and not worry about it? I know there are natural diuretics like drinking green tea... I don't know, what are people's thoughts?

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janejellyroll

Given that most of my body is water, I never try to get rid of any of it. If my body is holding on to some extra water, it's probably because it needs it -- either due to dehydration or recent activity.

If you're drinking so much that your stomach is getting puffy, I would question whether you're drinking to thirst or making yourself drink more than you really want.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I've hear watermelon and dandy-lion tea.

aeloine

While technically green tea has diuretic properties, you mostly just pee because you're DRINKING tea made with WATER. Its diuretic effects are negligible.

Nony_Mouse

Yeah, staying hydrated in and of itself should not be making you puffy. I'd also suggest looking at your sodium intake.

If you really must try to manipulate things to look extra svelte in that little black dress, a few days of low carbs and no exercise will do it. Bear in mind, that's a temporary solution, and any weight loss will come back once you replenish glycogen stores. In general, try not to get hung up on water weight unless it is a real issue.

janejellyroll

Alternate solution: get some Spanx (or a similar product) for your special event. I find it makes me much more confident especially when my dress is more fitted.

Keladelphia

I think you should just focus on staying well hydrated and not worry about it. As others have said its probably your sodium intake that's causing you to feel like you look bloated not from consuming too much water so if anything i'd focus on simply reducing your sodium if it bothers you.


I wont go into detail but there are methods to losing a good amount of water weight (if its for a particular event) that involve hyper hydrating several days prior to the event and then gradually reducing the amount of liquid consumption each day leading up to the event until you consume virtually no liquids the day prior or the day of (as well as carb manipulation) but i'd never recommend it, especially for vanity purposes. I only ever do it to cut weight for a lifting meet.

Nony_Mouse

janejellyroll wrote: »

Alternate solution: get some Spanx (or a similar product) for your special event. I find it makes me much more confident especially when my dress is more fitted.

Yeah, Spanx seems preferable!!

I am the queen of fluid retention, I do nothing to try to manipulate it b/c I assume my body is doing it for a reason.

TimothyFish

Drinking water doesn't make you puffy. Without sodium and carbohydrates to hang on to the water it will mostly go right through you. Foods high in potassium can help counteract the sodium. Aside from that your best bet is to reduce your intake of sodium and carbohydrates.

cefleischman

Thanks for the advice! I'll stick to my normal hydration and take a look at my sodium/carb intake.