Can you see or feel your water retention?

squirrelzzrule22

So this may sound bizarre. I'm on a training schedule for a half marathon. Last weeks long run was 11 miles. It was tough! and man was I sore!! I was pretty fatigued for several hours afterwards and very sore but I drank boatloads of water and refueled with some good grainy carbs and veggies (made my own pizza on a whole wheat crust. Loads of veggies, a small portion of lean ground meat, and I'll admit some empty carbs things for dessert.) I ate way more that day than I ever do (something like 2200....i usually stay around 1500-1700) but was still at a deficit because a run like that burns just over 1000 calls for me.

Anyhow, throughout this training I've lost barely any weight but I know that my body is also doing crazy things with water. However, I've noticed some small but encouraging body changes, and as I have been doing some strength training as well I've been able to firm up a little, look shapelier, etc.

But the day after this long run I was getting into the shower and noticed that every flabby part of my body looked....so much flabbier!! Things were jiggling that haven't jiggled like that in weeks!! I felt flabby as can be! I'm talking butt, thighs, back of the arm flab, even the back and love handle area. My legs were a bit swollen, especially one ankle (but I have Achilles issues there so some slight swelling is normal after a run like this.) I didn't weight myself because I knew I wouldn't like the results.

So, my question for you- am I seeing water retention? Am I responding the next day to a calorie increase on a day I burned that much? Is it hormonal (I switched to new birth control two weeks ago), did I get fatter overnight??? In your experience, can you see bloat or retention in parts of your body? Still feeling bloaty today (the next day).... If you did notice it, how long did it take to drop off??

I'm very proud of myself for sticking to this running routine, and giving it up is not an option. My race is two weeks away and I may switch up my weight loss program after that to be less running. But this jiggliness is demoralizing! Advice appreciated!

tehzephyrsong

I think the new BC might be the culprit at least partially; if you pay close attention to your body normally and literally just noticed this jiggling, it is probably water, yes. Unless you accidentally ate a few thousand calories over the weekend, it is not possible for it to be fat.

squirrelzzrule22

I think the new BC might be the culprit at least partially; if you pay close attention to your body normally and literally just noticed this jiggling, it is probably water, yes. Unless you accidentally ate a few thousand calories over the weekend, it is not possible for it to be fat.

Thanks!! That is what I am trying to tell myself...it's just weird because I've never felt like I could SEE water retention before. However during this whole process I have definitely been paying much closer attention to my body.

pobalita

It is water retention for sure. I did a 10 mile run on Sunday and weighed 2.5 more pounds on Monday morning! I don't know enough about the science of why this happens, but it's happened to me a lot. Maybe it could be that the body is holding water with the carbs you ate. The water will come off. It's frustrating though to burn 1,000 calories on a run and weigh more the next day!

I also feel it when it happens - my calves feel tight and and I feel "heavy" in general.

It could be related to the pills too.

Congratulations on the running. Keep up the good work.

squirrelzzrule22

Thanks! I hope switching up my workouts once the race is over will make this not happen...