Pasta Problems

LaLaVee13
LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have finally concluded I have a problem with pasta. I doesn't matter if I eat 1600 calories or 1000 calories that day or what is on the pasta, it never fails I gain a pound every single time. Why? What does it mean?
FYI It is always just 1 serving.

Replies

  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    1 serving of pasta will not make you gain a pound. You're math is off somewhere. On another note, I could eat an entire pound of pasta on my own. Ugh, the carb rush is incredible.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Sodium.

    A lot of pasta and pasta sauces have high sodium the way they are prepared. If you injest sodium it takes a large amount of water to solubilize it to the appropriate ionic strength your body can tolerate. The result is if you eat a lot of salt your body will retain a lot of water. Eat pasta, get sodium, retain water, gain "weight". Has nothing to do with the levels of fat in your body though so wouldn't worry about it as long as you aren't exceeding calories for the day.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    1 serving of pasta will not make you gain a pound. You're math is off somewhere. On another note, I could eat an entire pound of pasta on my own. Ugh, the carb rush is incredible.

    1 serving of pasta will most definitely make you gain a pound if the salt content is high, its a pound of water but the scale can't tell the difference.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    1 serving of pasta will not make you gain a pound. You're math is off somewhere. On another note, I could eat an entire pound of pasta on my own. Ugh, the carb rush is incredible.

    1 serving of pasta will most definitely make you gain a pound if the salt content is high, its a pound of water but the scale can't tell the difference.

    Pasta barely has any sodium in it. If the OP is using sauces of some sort, then we might have a cause for the weight gain. But honestly, I am more inclined to believe that her measurements are off on something else. Is there any known number for how much water sodium actually retains?
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    I don't know much about sodium, is 400mg in the sauce a lot?
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    "Is there any known number for how much water sodium actually retains?"

    I'm sure its calculatable. It would be based on the ionic strength of blood serum vs the amount of dilution of NaCl to achieve that ionic strength. My guess is that you'd be surprised how little sodium equates to 1 pound of water.

    "Pasta barely has any sodium in it."

    True, but the way most pasta is prepared with sauces and salt added to the water during cooking it CAN be quite high. If the OP finds that everytime she eats pasta her weight goes up the next day it could be due to sodium content.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    "Consuming 400 milligrams of sodium, the amount in a single gram of table salt, causes your body to retain an extra 4 cups of water, which equals roughly 2 pounds. "

    http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/high-sodium-water-retention-7494.html

    400mg of salt would cause your body to retain an extra 2 pounds of water. This does NOT mean avoid salt, its water weight and that's perfectly healthy. It just explains that if you have more sodium than you usually have in a day the scale goes up and a 400mg sodium pasta sauce could explain that.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    I don't know much about sodium, is 400mg in the sauce a lot?

    Answer above, apparently! As long as your calories are fine, don't worry about water weight fluctuation.
  • Jbarbo01
    Jbarbo01 Posts: 240 Member
    It depends what you're eating normally. If you're cutting carbs and then have a small indulgence you will gain weight because carbs make you hold water weight especially when youre cutting them on certain days.
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    "Consuming 400 milligrams of sodium, the amount in a single gram of table salt, causes your body to retain an extra 4 cups of water, which equals roughly 2 pounds. "

    Ohh dear! That's nuts.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    It depends what you're eating normally. If you're cutting carbs and then have a small indulgence you will gain weight because carbs make you hold water weight especially when youre cutting them on certain days.

    Another good point, sugars also require a fair amount of water to solubilize which means added carbs = added water weight again.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    "Consuming 400 milligrams of sodium, the amount in a single gram of table salt, causes your body to retain an extra 4 cups of water, which equals roughly 2 pounds. "

    Ohh dear! That's nuts.

    Please do not take this to mean you should avoid sodium, salt is part of a healthy diet (just not in excess of something like 2300mg a day). Its just water, don't focus too much on your scale weight.

    This is the reason though that you can't trust your scale weight day to day as indicating whether or not you are losing fat. To track fat loss with a scale takes months to see a trend, your weight day to day will fluctuate a lot due to things like salt.
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    It depends what you're eating normally. If you're cutting carbs and then have a small indulgence you will gain weight because carbs make you hold water weight especially when youre cutting them on certain days.

    I'm a 'carbavore'. I love all things carbs, so no cutting there.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I have finally concluded I have a problem with pasta. I doesn't matter if I eat 1600 calories or 1000 calories that day or what is on the pasta, it never fails I gain a pound every single time. Why? What does it mean?
    FYI It is always just 1 serving.
    You gain a pound overnight or for the week? If you weigh every day, it's probably water weight. Carbs retain water.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Look. Basically whenever a poster posts a comment saying "OMG I gained X pounds in one day what is happening to me!" the answer is almost always that they just had a little extra salt the previous day. It really doesn't take much salt to make a big difference in your scale weight.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    It depends what you're eating normally. If you're cutting carbs and then have a small indulgence you will gain weight because carbs make you hold water weight especially when youre cutting them on certain days.

    I'm a 'carbavore'. I love all things carbs, so no cutting there.

    Again, water weight so don't stress it. What matters is you eat at a slight deficit so you lose fat. Your weight will fluctuate by many pounds day to day due to differences in water, don't let that confuse or discourage you.
  • Ellyssandraa
    Ellyssandraa Posts: 9
    Hmm sodium or carbs? Carbs make you retain water and sauces usually have a lot of sodium. Don't sweat it, just continue what your'e doing. I'm almost certain that pound is from some sort of water retention.
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    1 serving of pasta will not make you gain a pound. You're math is off somewhere. On another note, I could eat an entire pound of pasta on my own. Ugh, the carb rush is incredible.

    1 serving of pasta will most definitely make you gain a pound if the salt content is high, its a pound of water but the scale can't tell the difference.



    Pasta barely has any sodium in it. If the OP is using sauces of some sort, then we might have a cause for the weight gain. But honestly, I am more inclined to believe that her measurements are off on something else. Is there any known number for how much water sodium actually retains?

    You're right that pasta itself doesn't have salt, but if you read the directions on the package it says to boil in salted water. The pasta absorbs the salt in cooking. You can not add salt, but the pasta may not be as tasty. Also remember 1 serving of pasta is 100g dry weight. This is alot for most people. I eat 50g dry weight at a time, and it's plenty.
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    I love all kinds of pasta. I will not give it up. LOL! I understand the sodium and weight issue because I add salt to the water as I cook because pasta without salt is gross to me. As long as you stay within your calorie range, the water retention will go away.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Look. Basically whenever a poster posts a comment saying "OMG I gained X pounds in one day what is happening to me!" the answer is almost always that they just had a little extra salt the previous day. It really doesn't take much salt to make a big difference in your scale weight.
    Which is why people shouldn't weigh daily (unless they understand about fluctuations and it doesn't bother them).

    I never add salt to water when I make pasta. Mine tastes just fine.
  • Amanda_Gx6
    Amanda_Gx6 Posts: 320 Member
    Barely any salt in pasta but you salt the water. I'm assuming you put butter on the pasta there is some sodium. Are you adding sauce? Sodium. What about grated cheese ( love me some Parmesan ) sodium. Try getting your pasta fix but drinking extra water to help combat the sodium intake. No problems with pasta, only solutions :heart:
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    I have finally concluded I have a problem with pasta. I doesn't matter if I eat 1600 calories or 1000 calories that day or what is on the pasta, it never fails I gain a pound every single time. Why? What does it mean?
    FYI It is always just 1 serving.

    Congrats on your weight loss so far! I took a peek at your diary and I mean this is the most constructive way - you need to eat WAY more protein, drink less mountain dew and add more fresh fruits and veggies to your over processed diet. Pasta is the least of your worries. But hey you're losing so that's all that counts right?
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I have finally concluded I have a problem with pasta. I doesn't matter if I eat 1600 calories or 1000 calories that day or what is on the pasta, it never fails I gain a pound every single time. Why? What does it mean?
    FYI It is always just 1 serving.

    Congrats on your weight loss so far! I took a peek at your diary and I mean this is the most constructive way - you need to eat WAY more protein, drink less mountain dew and add more fresh fruits and veggies to your over processed diet. Pasta is the least of your worries. But hey you're losing so that's all that counts right?
    I'm pretty sure that wasn't the question she asked ...

    OP, seriously, don't worry about it. Stick to weighing yourself no more than once a week at the same time and expect there will be fluctuations in between.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    I have finally concluded I have a problem with pasta. I doesn't matter if I eat 1600 calories or 1000 calories that day or what is on the pasta, it never fails I gain a pound every single time. Why? What does it mean?
    FYI It is always just 1 serving.

    Congrats on your weight loss so far! I took a peek at your diary and I mean this is the most constructive way - you need to eat WAY more protein, drink less mountain dew and add more fresh fruits and veggies to your over processed diet. Pasta is the least of your worries. But hey you're losing so that's all that counts right?

    I'm in the best shape of my life and I hate veggies. I rather be fat again than eat that crap.
  • KristenMarieRuffles
    KristenMarieRuffles Posts: 25 Member
    didnt have a chance to read through every comment so i apologize if i repeat something...but perhaps think about using stewed tomatoes instead of pasta sauce or pureed vegetables of some kind...maybe a pureed/mashed caulilower or mashed squash etc...I also found a pasta today called Misura its whole wheat has no sodium at all and very low in calories (at least in comparison to other pastas)
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    didnt have a chance to read through every comment so i apologize if i repeat something...but perhaps think about using stewed tomatoes instead of pasta sauce or pureed vegetables of some kind...maybe a pureed/mashed caulilower or mashed squash etc...I also found a pasta today called Misura its whole wheat has no sodium at all and very low in calories (at least in comparison to other pastas)

    Ohh I want to try mashed cauliflower! Nobody in my house likes cauliflower except me so I never buy it. :(
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    Did anyone mention the following? If you LOVE pasta, the texture, the feeling, eating a huge plate of it... you can definitely fit it in your calorie goals. HOWEVER, there are substitutes that can help meet the need in the brain, without all the calories (of course they're not perfect substitutes, but they are really, really yummy and have fewer calories than wheat pasta)

    (1) spaghetti squash. If you've never made it, buy it. Try it. It is AWESOME.
    (2) buy one of these http://www.amazon.com/Joyce-Chen-51-0662-Saladacco-Spiral/dp/B0000DDVYE with it, you can make angel hair "pasta" out of things like zucchini, sweet potato, turnip, rutabaga, and other veggies. You spiral cut them, and then cook them for 3 minutes or so in boiling water. If you make a rich, delicious fresh tomato sauce with tons of garlic and oregano, and then toss that with some of your spiralcut veggies -- IT IS SO GOOD YOU WONT BELIEVE ITS ONLY LIKE 70 CALORIES FOR A HUGE PILE OF IT
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    I have finally concluded I have a problem with pasta. I doesn't matter if I eat 1600 calories or 1000 calories that day or what is on the pasta, it never fails I gain a pound every single time. Why? What does it mean?
    FYI It is always just 1 serving.

    Congrats on your weight loss so far! I took a peek at your diary and I mean this is the most constructive way - you need to eat WAY more protein, drink less mountain dew and add more fresh fruits and veggies to your over processed diet. Pasta is the least of your worries. But hey you're losing so that's all that counts right?

    Suggestions for protein? I would never eat meat if I had the choice, it's gross. I only eat it every once in a blue moon for iron. I buy a ltr on Dew maybe once a month and only have a few half solo cups of it.. I must have a taste every once in a while! And until fruits and veggies are in season the ones at the rinky dink grocery store here look.. rotten. We're trying to grow our own, but the sun seems to keep frying them as soon as they spout.
  • ottermotorcycle
    ottermotorcycle Posts: 654 Member
    If every serving of pasta made me gain a pound I would be the heaviest person on this website, hands down.

    There's no reason you can't work it into a healthy diet. I will defer to others in that they are probably right about your overall diet balancing. If you need more protein and love your pasta, switch to whole wheat and fix your pasta with lots of parmesan cheese. If you want a creamy sauce try making one with plain nonfat greek yogurt. I make my mac and cheese that way and it's super tart and yummy.
  • LaLaVee13
    LaLaVee13 Posts: 54 Member
    Did anyone mention the following? If you LOVE pasta, the texture, the feeling, eating a huge plate of it... you can definitely fit it in your calorie goals. HOWEVER, there are substitutes that can help meet the need in the brain, without all the calories (of course they're not perfect substitutes, but they are really, really yummy and have fewer calories than wheat pasta)

    (1) spaghetti squash. If you've never made it, buy it. Try it. It is AWESOME.
    (2) buy one of these http://www.amazon.com/Joyce-Chen-51-0662-Saladacco-Spiral/dp/B0000DDVYE with it, you can make angel hair "pasta" out of things like zucchini, sweet potato, turnip, rutabaga, and other veggies. You spiral cut them, and then cook them for 3 minutes or so in boiling water. If you make a rich, delicious fresh tomato sauce with tons of garlic and oregano, and then toss that with some of your spiralcut veggies -- IT IS SO GOOD YOU WONT BELIEVE ITS ONLY LIKE 70 CALORIES FOR A HUGE PILE OF IT

    I will have to try that! I love zuccinni cooked in tomatoes so.. :D

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