What Is Water Weight?

EDesq

And ISN'T it as difficult to lose as "any other weight?"

I have found for Myself that whenever I go up quickly, do to "water gain" it still takes Me a week or two to lose that 2-5 lbs as it would to lose "fat." So I don't think "water" loss or gain should be taken as "Oh well it's JUST Water weight." I still have to WORK HARD/AS HARD to Lose It!

What about You?

saldridge

I am no expert, but if it takes you a week or two, it isn't water weight. Why do you assume it is "just water weight"?

Water weight is weight that accumulates when your body is storing water in its cells. It is often connected to a high sodium intake - for example a double whammy from eating pizza, because not only did you eat all that food but you also probably ate 3 times the sodium you should Sodium "binds" water to your body.
Another time to deal with water weight is during your period and/or your ovulation. I usually go up 3 pounds over night, but I lose it within a couple of days

From what I understand, all of this should not take more than a couple of days until either the salt is flushed out or your hormones are normal again.

callipygianchronicle

I am no expert, but if it takes you a week or two, it isn't water weight. Why do you assume it is "just water weight"?

Water weight is weight that accumulates when your body is storing water in its cells. It is often connected to a high sodium intake - for example a double whammy from eating pizza, because not only did you eat all that food but you also probably ate 3 times the sodium you should Sodium "binds" water to your body.
Another time to deal with water weight is during your period and/or your ovulation. I usually go up 3 pounds over night, but I lose it within a couple of days

From what I understand, all of this should not take more than a couple of days until either the salt is flushed out or your hormones are normal again.

My understanding is the same, with one exception. And that is that new exercise routines, particularly strength training ones, can also cause some water retention. This is a protective move by your muscles that retain extra water in order to aid in repair. This water retention can last a few weeks while the body adjusts.

But, yes. The scale can go up because of water retention, extra fat, or larger muscle mass. Dealing with excess water is infinitely easier than dealing with excess fat, and people who are losing weight get comfort in knowing that there are some parts of the journey that are easy .

JDMPWR

I can drop 2-6lbs of water weight in one day with no exercise. Today is a perfect for instance. I went over my cals yesterday opted out of my workout cause of sore legs and butt and still dropped 4lbs from yesterday,

4theking

Water retention results from:

1. excess cortisol hormone from exercise or extreme caloric deficits or any other form of stress on the body.
2. carbohydrate intake....carbs pull in water at a ratio of 3:1.....more carbs you eat, the more water your body holds.
3. sodium intake..the more your sodium intake is out of balance with your potassium intake, the more water you will hold.

Has nothing to do with gaining or losing fat from a fat cell.

hroush

I like to weigh myself before and after I work for an indication of how hard I worked. Usually I will lose 1 lb with drinking 40 oz of water.

wewon

Water retention results from:

1. excess cortisol hormone from exercise or extreme caloric deficits or any other form of stress on the body.
2. carbohydrate intake....carbs pull in water at a ratio of 3:1.....more carbs you eat, the more water your body holds.
3. sodium intake..the more your sodium intake is out of balance with your potassium intake, the more water you will hold.

Has nothing to do with gaining or losing fat from a fat cell.

That's informative.

I really didn't know that about carbs.

rileysowner

Water weight comes off for me in a matter of days. If I was really over on sodium it might take 3 days, but not much longer. Usually it is gone in 2 days and all I have to do it get back to my 1800mg sodium limit (Usually I am under that).