Supplements (collagen/glucosamine/fish oil) and water retention

Alatariel75

So I've had a 2kg jump on the scale lasting multiple days for no reason, and all I can think is that I started back up on my collagen/glucosamine/fish oil after a period of not taking it. Otherwise, I've eaten within my calories (a few high days but more than covered by some big exercise burns) and nothing's changed from how I've been eating and working out for the last 6 months. The supplements are the only change.

I do know my rings are tight, so I'm definitely retaining fluid, but should/can I assume it's the supplements? My Googling is inconclusive.

Fursian

I wasn't sure about the collagen and glucosamine supplements so I looked them up, they can apparently cause bloating, though uncommon with the collagen, but still a possibility.

The only other things that stick out is when you mention that you've had a few high calorie days, and the big exercise burns, both have lead to water retention with me.

Is it near TOM for you? I've been looking pregnant, lol.

Alatariel75

Yeah, I'm wondering if it's the higher calorie days, though they really haven't been extreme, and nothing I've not done before. No TOM for me, thankfully haha.

I was wondering if it was the collagen because it reckons it plumps up skin (I'm taking it for hair, nails and general repair), and of the three supplements it's the one I've not taken super regularly before.

The big exercise days were really long walks, and I'm not at all sore, so I wasn't really thinking that - I generally notice a jump when I have DOMS!

neanderthin

Shift your focus to more long term results, then make minor changes.

Alatariel75

neanderthin wrote: »

Shift your focus to more long term results, then make minor changes.

I'm very much all about the long term results, and have the long term data to make a 2kg jump lasting multiple days enough of an anomaly to make me wonder if the one thing I have changed in the last week is causing it.

neanderthin

Alatariel75 wrote: »

neanderthin wrote: »

Shift your focus to more long term results, then make minor changes.

I'm very much all about the long term results, and have the long term data to make a 2kg jump lasting multiple days enough of an anomaly to make me wonder if the one thing I have changed in the last week is causing it.

Ok , lets say that it did cause some water retention, now what? I'm pretty sure over the course of the next 8 to 12 weeks we can find something else to focus on, that's all I'm saying. My weight shifts 3 or 4 lbs a day, when I use to actually use a scale regularly.

Alatariel75

neanderthin wrote: »

Alatariel75 wrote: »

neanderthin wrote: »

Shift your focus to more long term results, then make minor changes.

I'm very much all about the long term results, and have the long term data to make a 2kg jump lasting multiple days enough of an anomaly to make me wonder if the one thing I have changed in the last week is causing it.

Ok , lets say that it did cause some water retention, now what? I'm pretty sure over the course of the next 8 to 12 weeks we can find something else to focus on, that's all I'm saying. My weight shifts 3 or 4 lbs a day, when I use to actually use a scale regularly.

Curiosity is its own reward. Don't impute any anxiety or stress on my behalf that doesn't exist. I'm merely wondering. I like information. For someone who is very, very well read and researched on your areas of nutritional interest, it's a bit odd that you're chastising me for asking a question about mine.

neanderthin

Alatariel75 wrote: »

neanderthin wrote: »

Alatariel75 wrote: »

neanderthin wrote: »

Shift your focus to more long term results, then make minor changes.

I'm very much all about the long term results, and have the long term data to make a 2kg jump lasting multiple days enough of an anomaly to make me wonder if the one thing I have changed in the last week is causing it.

Ok , lets say that it did cause some water retention, now what? I'm pretty sure over the course of the next 8 to 12 weeks we can find something else to focus on, that's all I'm saying. My weight shifts 3 or 4 lbs a day, when I use to actually use a scale regularly.

Curiosity is its own reward. Don't impute any anxiety or stress on my behalf that doesn't exist. I'm merely wondering. I like information. For someone who is very, very well read and researched on your areas of nutritional interest, it's a bit odd that you're chastising me for asking a question about mine.

Actually I think you probably do have a decent argument that both collagen which has a hygroscopic nature to it helping to keep tissues hydrated and maintains elasticity and firmness as well as glucosamine which is vital for building that cartilage and collagen being vital in the hydration of that cartilage and I don't think fish oil has much to do with it imo. Anyway there's just so many other factors that can happen during a 24 hr period that effects water retention that I particularly don't pay much attention to the daily fluctuations and was just sharing my opinion, yeah it was not a reflection in your abilities, not at all.

PAV8888

Don't underestimate the "long walk". in my case it is not 2kg. But between my normal daily walking and reduced walking when sick (and back when not sick) it is definitely a 1 to 2 long term lb.

Alatariel75

neanderthin wrote: »

Alatariel75 wrote: »

neanderthin wrote: »

Alatariel75 wrote: »

neanderthin wrote: »

Shift your focus to more long term results, then make minor changes.

I'm very much all about the long term results, and have the long term data to make a 2kg jump lasting multiple days enough of an anomaly to make me wonder if the one thing I have changed in the last week is causing it.

Ok , lets say that it did cause some water retention, now what? I'm pretty sure over the course of the next 8 to 12 weeks we can find something else to focus on, that's all I'm saying. My weight shifts 3 or 4 lbs a day, when I use to actually use a scale regularly.

Curiosity is its own reward. Don't impute any anxiety or stress on my behalf that doesn't exist. I'm merely wondering. I like information. For someone who is very, very well read and researched on your areas of nutritional interest, it's a bit odd that you're chastising me for asking a question about mine.

Actually I think you probably do have a decent argument that both collagen which has a hygroscopic nature to it helping to keep tissues hydrated and maintains elasticity and firmness as well as glucosamine which is vital for building that cartilage and collagen being vital in the hydration of that cartilage and I don't think fish oil has much to do with it imo. Anyway there's just so many other factors that can happen during a 24 hr period that effects water retention that I particularly don't pay much attention to the daily fluctuations and was just sharing my opinion, yeah it was not a reflection in your abilities, not at all.

I did wonder if the way that collagen "plumps" is by retaining extra fluid.

@PAV8888 you might be right, there's been 2x 8 mile walks with decent hiking/stair components in the last week, so though I'm not sore there's probably a bit of retention due to that.

AnnPT77

Could be the supplements, but as I'm sure you know - given that you have long experience here - there are many other things that could cause unusual water retention, too: Minor infection or injury, allergies, etc. I'm sure you've read the scale fluctuations thread/article, which has a pretty good list of the possibilities. Sometimes for me these things for me are just a mystery. As long as it goes away in a couple of weeks, I don't much worry, personally . . . but I can understand curiosity.

For sure, I will sometimes get water retention from unusual exercise-ish activity, and I don't necessarily have muscle soreness in every case. Also, you mention eating extra calories, but not excess calories. That's presumably still more food than usual, even if within calorie goal. That extra food can increase water retention, too, of course, if it involves extra salt/sodium, extra carbohydrates, maybe even extra fiber until the full digestive cycle - potential up to 50+ hours - has completed.

Example: I'm up exactly a kg, 2.2 pounds, between yesterday morning and this morning. Why? I think it's a combination of unusual activity (on my feet for around 10 hours yesterday, very unusual for me, a good bit of it strolling), plus treating myself to a delicious Indian restaurant meal of mutter paneer, onion kulcha, rice, and ras malai last night . . . oh, and french fries in the afternoon . The food was way outside my norm, more carbs than usual, especially refined carbs, plus I'm sure there was quite a bit of salt in there. I didn't calorie-count that carefully. I was over goal calories but certainly wasn't 7700 calories over maintenance. Normally, I'd expect at least a couple of days, more likely a week, possibly even two weeks on rare occasions, before everything settles down to calorie-predictable weight trends again. The time to dissipate varies. (Not sure what the "multiple days" in your OP was specifically.)

Alatariel75

Thanks @AnnPT77 , I guess I'm just curious because the higher calories (and you're right, not excess) and the big exercises aren't really unusual but the big jump hanging around for more than a day or so is (even when I have killer DOMS, I usually drop back after 48 hours), so I can really only identify the supplements as the only changing factor, so I wondered if there was a correlation.

PAV8888

Hey: I just saw your walk update and congrats on the kgs dropped. And I've now got an alternate theory which 100% includes exercise?

First off you're talking 116 - 26 on 26.weeks, yeah 90!!! 256 -57.5 in 26.weeks: yeah onederland!!!!😎 🎉

And you're not just walking. you're hill and trail walking and stair climbing

Not just doms but regular use pump can account for most of your 2kg especially if you combine it with more food in your system necessitated by your bigger burns

I actually preferred to lose on high activity because ultimately it was both more healthy and sustainable for me. But the numbers moved, as fast, or faster on low activity!

The.other issue is that you're coming closer to weight loss number slow down territory (~6 months+ of fast losses, great physical shape improvements already in the bag etc.)

Esp with two months to go to a 25km trail run or trail walk. I don't see how 1kg a week works best. I guess that depends on your height too 🤷‍♂️

I sort of recall that when I started to lose at a slower rate the upticks would tend to last longer because they didn't have the faster weight loss to pull them down and make them go away!

It sure looks like you're rocking this!

Alatariel75

Thanks @PAV8888 ! You might be right, this might just be my body going "Right, time to his the brakes a bit". It will be interesting to see where this goes in the next couple of weeks!