We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Does being sick make you retain water?

hoovified
hoovified Posts: 46 Member
edited March 4 in Health and Weight Loss
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.

Replies

  • La5Vega5Girl
    La5Vega5Girl Posts: 709 Member
    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.
    :smile:
  • hoovified
    hoovified Posts: 46 Member
    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
  • La5Vega5Girl
    La5Vega5Girl Posts: 709 Member
    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:
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    It's water, get better first, worry later.
  • chaos416
    chaos416 Posts: 89 Member
    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.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories