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Does being sick make you retain water?

hoovified
Posts: 46 Member
I began getting sick two days ago. I am trying to stay hydrated but especially yesterday it was very hard to swallow water due to my sore throat. So I know I didn't drink nearly as much water as normal. I did drink some OJ and clear sodas as they were easier to get down. Anyway, I'm drinking water a little easier today so drinking up!! However when I weighed myself this morning I saw I was up 2 pounds from several days ago. What do you think? Is this water weight?
I know I heard before that your body holds onto water to help fight infections... and maybe since my water intake was low yesterday it didn't help but I have been drinking other fluids (and stayed with in my calorie goals). Another question, why does water always seem the hardest to swallow when you have a sore throat?! Lol... anyway, I'm fairly certain the pounds will disappear on their own soon enough. Was just curious as to what you guys thought, or your experience with it.
I know I heard before that your body holds onto water to help fight infections... and maybe since my water intake was low yesterday it didn't help but I have been drinking other fluids (and stayed with in my calorie goals). Another question, why does water always seem the hardest to swallow when you have a sore throat?! Lol... anyway, I'm fairly certain the pounds will disappear on their own soon enough. Was just curious as to what you guys thought, or your experience with it.
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Replies
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i don't have any experience with that, but personally, i wouldn't weigh when sick. just focus on getting well. too much stress to worry about losing while also being ill.1
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Good advise! I wasn't going to let it get me down if I did gain... my curiosity just gets the best of me sometimes lol0
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Good advise! I wasn't going to let it get me down if I did gain... my curiosity just gets the best of me sometimes lol
oh i know! i will swear-off weighing until end of week and end up on the scale almost every day. LOL
get well soon! :flowerforyou:0 -
It's water, get better first, worry later.0
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Your Mom's chicken soup may be a little high in sodium, but it's a needed electrolyte. (Potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium, I think.) Be well and don't fret a bit of water weight while you're under the weather--hydration with those electrolytes is more important. And, in my experience drinking til you're ready to float helps chase a pesky bug or virus away a bit quicker. I do it for myself and my husband just groans and drinks when I hand him glass after glass of tea or kool-aide when he's sick. We do make those with artificial sweetener (and just a sprinkle of sugar to take away the bitter after taste of the sweetener) so it's not an overload of calories and carbs. We're just not big water drinkers.0
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