If you know you are carrying extra water...

candiceh3

So, I have a suspicion I am holding onto a moderate amount of water in my body. I've been creating (through diet and exercise) a calorie deficit of about 7000 a week (2 lbs of fat) for two weeks. And other than a bit of water loss at the beginning (which was really from eating low carb for 4 days, which I quit doing and reloaded the glycogen), I am not really changing weight. I know the science works, and I'm measuring my food and logging everything and I wear a HRM when I work out. So I figure that, because I've just started lifting heavy again, that my muscles are hoarding water.

Any ideas how to get rid of this water so I can get some a realistic idea of where I am actually up to? Would a sauna work? I drink a lot of water.

MrGonzo05

Just wait.

TavistockToad

you have around 10lb to lose and you're wanting to lose 2lb per week??

i think you need a more realistic deficit of 0.5lb per week.

ndj1979

drink a crap ton of water and you should release it ....

smc864

It's very simple... monitor your salt intake and drink a lot of water. If you are truly holding on to water then in a day or two you will release the excess. Try to stay under the recommended 2500 mg of sodium/day and drink a minimum of 10 cups of water/day, more if you are exercising. Hope that helps!

smc864

you have around 10lb to lose and you're wanting to lose 2lb per week??

i think you need a more realistic deficit of 0.5lb per week.

^^And this!

3laine75

the water is NEEDED for recovery so just wait

i can totally sympathise, i started taking creatine last week and have had a 4lb gain, you just need to wait it out.

ETA: there's no way to guarantee a 2lb of fat loss a week - just a 2lb of whatever your body chooses to lose.

lucan07

The body is a complex machine like your car would you take water out of your cars radiator because you thought it was a few pounds to heavy, let your body decide when to let go of the water!

candiceh3

you have around 10lb to lose and you're wanting to lose 2lb per week??

i think you need a more realistic deficit of 0.5lb per week.

^^And this!

I have way more than 10 lbs to lose. I have at least 30 lbs to lose.

TavistockToad

you have around 10lb to lose and you're wanting to lose 2lb per week??

i think you need a more realistic deficit of 0.5lb per week.

^^And this!

I have way more than 10 lbs to lose. I have at least 30 lbs to lose.

just going by your ticker....

candiceh3

you have around 10lb to lose and you're wanting to lose 2lb per week??

i think you need a more realistic deficit of 0.5lb per week.

^^And this!

I have way more than 10 lbs to lose. I have at least 30 lbs to lose.

just going by your ticker....

my ticker will get me to the top of the healthy bmi range

smc864

You said that you are measuring your food... are you weighing it? This has made all the difference in the world for my weight loss!! It's much more accurate.

candiceh3

Yes I have a small digital scale and I never cheat the log.

I am really confused. 9 days, with weight fluctuating after heavy weights, both other than that bounce up and down, I've lost 200 grams in 9 days of eating 1200 net calories (on average).

smc864

Yes I have a small digital scale and I never cheat the log.

I am really confused. 9 days, with weight fluctuating after heavy weights, both other than that bounce up and down, I've lost 200 grams in 9 days of eating 1200 net calories (on average).

Your weight will fluctuate when you are lifting... especially if you get sore. Just try to stick with it for a full month and reevaluate.

jacksonpt

So, I have a suspicion I am holding onto a moderate amount of water in my body. I've been creating (through diet and exercise) a calorie deficit of about 7000 a week (2 lbs of fat) for two weeks. And other than a bit of water loss at the beginning (which was really from eating low carb for 4 days, which I quit doing and reloaded the glycogen), I am not really changing weight. I know the science works, and I'm measuring my food and logging everything and I wear a HRM when I work out. So I figure that, because I've just started lifting heavy again, that my muscles are hoarding water.

Any ideas how to get rid of this water so I can get some a realistic idea of where I am actually up to? Would a sauna work? I drink a lot of water.

I'm going to take a different approach than most.

Your body is ALWAYS going to be holdling water. It's something like 60% water to begin with, then there are fluctuations on top of that tied to diet and exercise (and probably other things as well). If you do lost the water, you're not losing any actual fat, so what's the point? Sure, the scale goes down a little, but tomorrow when walk by a potato chip, it all comes right back.

Just accept that you're holding water (as we all are, and all will always be doing) and focus on longer term, slower progress.

.

missADS1981

Swap out foods that bloat as well, which may be what you are seeing too. Plus if you changed your lifting/workout routine a bit your muscles are likely holding water. drink lots of water, also try green tea. bananas help with water retention as does asparagus, celery and cucumbers.

missADS1981

So, I have a suspicion I am holding onto a moderate amount of water in my body. I've been creating (through diet and exercise) a calorie deficit of about 7000 a week (2 lbs of fat) for two weeks. And other than a bit of water loss at the beginning (which was really from eating low carb for 4 days, which I quit doing and reloaded the glycogen), I am not really changing weight. I know the science works, and I'm measuring my food and logging everything and I wear a HRM when I work out. So I figure that, because I've just started lifting heavy again, that my muscles are hoarding water.

Any ideas how to get rid of this water so I can get some a realistic idea of where I am actually up to? Would a sauna work? I drink a lot of water.

I'm going to take a different approach than most.

Your body is ALWAYS going to be holdling water. It's something like 60% water to begin with, then there are fluctuations on top of that tied to diet and exercise (and probably other things as well). If you do lost the water, you're not losing any actual fat, so what's the point? Sure, the scale goes down a little, but tomorrow when walk by a potato chip, it all comes right back.

Just accept that you're holding water (as we all are, and all will always be doing) and focus on longer term, slower progress.

.

My scale always says around 60lbs of water and i am 108. We are always holding a good amount (2/3 or so) of water.

Getawayfromthecake

I burned 1000 calories everyday (minus two days which were 600 ish) for 11 days without a rest day. I also maintained a deficit and weighed my food. I put on 5 lb of water weight which has taken a week to come off, I don't expect to see an actual loss for a week or so. I can definitely relate. Just wait.

peachcats

decrease sodium intake
increase potassium intake

KANGOOJUMPS

YES! SAUNAS ARE GREAT!

Trechechus

Drink more water.

candiceh3

OK thanks everyone. I just have no idea how long this water bloating lasts.

Cheers

aliencheesecake

I'm going to take a different approach than most.

Your body is ALWAYS going to be holdling water. Sure, the scale goes down a little, but tomorrow when walk by a potato chip, it all comes right back.

Just accept that you're holding water (as we all are, and all will always be doing) and focus on longer term, slower progress.

This is great! lol

meerkat70

Yep, just hang on and weight. It will eventually balance out. If you're sure you're doing it all right, you're weighing your food, you're logging your exercise sensibly (be careful of MFP's tendency to overestimate burn, and to include base calories), trust the process. It will come right.

Chances are, if working out is new, you will be holding onto a bit of water, to aid muscle repair.

Keep an eye on other signs of weightloss - looser waistbands, etc. And don't stress too much about it.

Getting rid of the water artificially won't really help you much - it'll come back on again, as long as the causes for the retention are in place.

yoovie

scale =/= calculator

not an exact science. if you expect it to be, you will frustrate yourself

meerkat70

Actually, with so little to lose, I'd think carefully about whether the 2lb per week aim is sensible. Might actually be part of the problem?

_Waffle_

So, I have a suspicion I am holding onto a moderate amount of water in my body. ......So I figure that, because I've just started lifting heavy again, that my muscles are hoarding water.

Any ideas how to get rid of this water so I can get some a realistic idea of where I am actually up to? Would a sauna work? I drink a lot of water.

Your body will keep what's necessary for recovery and repair. Ignore this. If you're losing a pound each week and you're still holding on to 5 pounds of water the scale will eventually go back down even if it's 5 weeks later. It's not as if every day you exercise you add on more and more water.

calibriintx

HW 80 kgs / 176 lbs
CW 77 kgs / 170 lbs
GW 63.5 kgs / 140 lbs

Female, 30 y/o, 5'7

You're 30 years old, 5'7", 170 lbs and you're only netting 1200 calories? Stop worrying about water weight. Stop shooting for 2 lbs/week and eat more food. Try 1 lb/week, up your calorie intake and then be patient.

candiceh3

I changed it to 0.5 kgs / week. It increased my net calories to just under 1400, I'll try that.

But... I got food poisoning yesterday, ate 1200 calories in total, lost a lot of fluid the wrong way (no details, it is TMI) and still managed to put on weight.

WTF?

jacksonpt

I changed it to 0.5 kgs / week. It increased my net calories to just under 1400, I'll try that.

But... I got food poisoning yesterday, ate 1200 calories in total, lost a lot of fluid the wrong way (no details, it is TMI) and still managed to put on weight.

WTF?

So, you had food poisoning, but you're still worried about your weight?

Put the scale away for a month.

candiceh3

Not "worried", just perplexed. I really don't understand why I didn't lose weight. I understand this has put me back a week or so in terms of lifting and dieting, and that is ok, but I don't really understand.