Discussing water weight

SugarAndSugar

So theres diets like the 3Day Military diet in which a man loses roughly 10 pounds. But after research I found that its mainly water weight. But that idea came into conflict because isnt the fitness industry all about drinking more water. But then our body is on average 70% water. I know im probably going in circles but can someone explain? Because the 3day diet you lose water weight but since drinking lots of water is good, isnt losing water weight bad?

AnnPT77

It's neither good nor bad to lose or gain reasonable amounts of water weight. It's normal for water weight to increase and decrease within a few pounds' range. It's just something a normal, healthy body does. For example, your water weight goes up as part of repairing sore muscles after exercise, or as part of processing sodium or carbohydrates in foods, among other reasons. The water is sort of a tool the body uses.

Thing is, most people "go on a diet" in order to lose fat. If the 3-day military diet makes the scale go down only (or mainly) because of lost water weight, it kind of misses the point for someone who's looking for fat loss. It's faking people out, making them think they've lost fat because the scale went down, but they really haven't.

Drinking water, within reason, is good. It gives your body the raw material it needs to create healthy water weight ups and downs. If your body doesn't need the water at the time after you drink it, it just lets the water leave your body via urination, so no big deal.

livingleanlivingclean

Drinking enough to be hydrated is good. Drinking more water doesn't equal holding more water. Not drinking enough water doesn't mean you'll hold less water. Trying to drop water weight to be lighter isn't necessarily a good idea, or sustainable long term.