What is the ideal water weight?

tcpowell25
tcpowell25 Posts: 292
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm 5' 6" 148 pounds and my water weight this morning was 55%. It's typically around 48% and I don't typically drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. I usually drink between 5-6 glasses a day and this doen't include other drinks such as tea etc. This percentage seems a little high to me. What is the ideal water weight?

Replies

  • kjw1031
    kjw1031 Posts: 300 Member
    How do you measure your water weight? I've never heard of this.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    How do you measure your water weight? I've never heard of this.

    Some scales estimate it.

    I have no idea what "normal" or "ideal" would be, but unless you have some sort of disorder, your body should regulate its water retention pretty well.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    my scales always shows mine between 49-51%
  • tcpowell25
    tcpowell25 Posts: 292
    my scales always shows mine between 49-51%

    Thanks mine says the same. So I guess those numbers are pretty normal. I use my scale as an indicator and I just thought that it was a bit high. Guess not. :happy:
  • tcpowell25
    tcpowell25 Posts: 292
    How do you measure your water weight? I've never heard of this.

    Some scales estimate it.

    I have no idea what "normal" or "ideal" would be, but unless you have some sort of disorder, your body should regulate its water retention pretty well.

    Thanks
  • Amryfal
    Amryfal Posts: 225
    i'm trying to remember what the booklet said that came with my scale. it measures water %, and it said something like 35-40 (ish?) was average. i just moved so i don't know where the booklet is to double check.

    i generally measure in the high 30s, but i also have high blood pressure and take diuretics to keep my water retention under control. the only time it jumped to 48% was when i was off my meds and on TOM at the same time, and my feet were so swollen i couldn't see my ankles :( it may be different, though, for someone with a lower fat % than i have.

    maybe your workouts are causing your muscles to hold some water.
  • McBully4
    McBully4 Posts: 1,270 Member
    The human body is 61.8 percent water by weight. Protein accounts for 16.6 percent; fat, 14.9 percent; and nitrogen, 3.3 percent of human body weight. Other elements constitute smaller percentages of body weight.

    Source: Rovin, Jeff. Laws of Order, p. 108.

    funny-science-news-experiments-memes-cool-refreshing-science.gif
  • tcpowell25
    tcpowell25 Posts: 292
    The human body is 61.8 percent water by weight. Protein accounts for 16.6 percent; fat, 14.9 percent; and nitrogen, 3.3 percent of human body weight. Other elements constitute smaller percentages of body weight.

    Source: Rovin, Jeff. Laws of Order, p. 108.

    funny-science-news-experiments-memes-cool-refreshing-science.gif

    Thanks this makes sense
  • tcpowell25
    tcpowell25 Posts: 292
    i'm trying to remember what the booklet said that came with my scale. it measures water %, and it said something like 35-40 (ish?) was average. i just moved so i don't know where the booklet is to double check.

    i generally measure in the high 30s, but i also have high blood pressure and take diuretics to keep my water retention under control. the only time it jumped to 48% was when i was off my meds and on TOM at the same time, and my feet were so swollen i couldn't see my ankles :( it may be different, though, for someone with a lower fat % than i have.

    maybe your workouts are causing your muscles to hold some water.

    On second thought. I think I still have my manual from my scale. Thanks for the reminder and information.
  • 70davis
    70davis Posts: 348 Member
    Bump
  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    The human body is 61.8 percent water by weight. Protein accounts for 16.6 percent; fat, 14.9 percent; and nitrogen, 3.3 percent of human body weight. Other elements constitute smaller percentages of body weight.

    Source: Rovin, Jeff. Laws of Order, p. 108.

    funny-science-news-experiments-memes-cool-refreshing-science.gif

    Not sure where you get the percentage as it is certain that not everyone is 14.9% fat.

    Adult male is 60-65% water, and adult female is 50-60% water.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I have one of those scales and it's not really very accurate.

    There are so many variables for the scale; water retention, digestion, allergies, sodium, carbs, water intake, DOMS, inflammation, the list goes on. People mistakenly think they lose or gain weight when they eat more or less because of these fluctuations.

    Just because you don't drink the recommended amount of water doesn't mean you are not retaining water.

    You need to just let the body do it's thing, it will fluctuate. As long as you are not swelling with pain it doesn't matter.
  • phildawson75
    phildawson75 Posts: 205 Member
    Most people have 50-65%
    Women less due to less muscle and higher BF.

    The leaner you are the higher the %. Male athletes will have ~70%+

    I've been tracking mine since I started. 

    Body Fat %
    Start = 25
    Week 1 = 23.7 (-1.3)
    Week 2 = 22.5 (-1.2)
    Week 3 = 21.8 (-0.7)
    Week 4 = 20.8 (-1)
    Week 5 = 20.4 (-0.4)
    Week 6 = 19.4 (-1)
    Week 7 = 18.8 (-0.6)
    Week 8 = 17.8 (-1)
    Week 9 = 17.2 (-0.6)

    Body Water %
    Start = 57
    Week 1 = 57.9 (+0.9)
    Week 2 = 58.5 (+0.6)
    Week 3 = 59.3 (+0.8)
    Week 4 = 60.1 (+0.8)
    Week 5 = 60.3 (+0.2)
    Week 6 = 61.1 (+0.8)
    Week 7 = 61.5 (+0.4)
    Week 8 = 62.2 (+0.7)
    Week 9 = 62.7 (+0.5)
  • kjw1031
    kjw1031 Posts: 300 Member
    Most people have 50-65%
    Women less due to less muscle and higher BF.

    The leaner you are the higher the %. Male athletes will have ~70%+

    I've been tracking mine since I started. 

    Body Fat %
    Start = 25
    Week 1 = 23.7 (-1.3)
    Week 2 = 22.5 (-1.2)
    Week 3 = 21.8 (-0.7)
    Week 4 = 20.8 (-1)
    Week 5 = 20.4 (-0.4)
    Week 6 = 19.4 (-1)
    Week 7 = 18.8 (-0.6)
    Week 8 = 17.8 (-1)
    Week 9 = 17.2 (-0.6)

    Body Water %
    Start = 57
    Week 1 = 57.9 (+0.9)
    Week 2 = 58.5 (+0.6)
    Week 3 = 59.3 (+0.8)
    Week 4 = 60.1 (+0.8)
    Week 5 = 60.3 (+0.2)
    Week 6 = 61.1 (+0.8)
    Week 7 = 61.5 (+0.4)
    Week 8 = 62.2 (+0.7)
    Week 9 = 62.7 (+0.5)

    Cool!
  • tcpowell25
    tcpowell25 Posts: 292
    I have one of those scales and it's not really very accurate.

    There are so many variables for the scale; water retention, digestion, allergies, sodium, carbs, water intake, DOMS, inflammation, the list goes on. People mistakenly think they lose or gain weight when they eat more or less because of these fluctuations.

    Just because you don't drink the recommended amount of water doesn't mean you are not retaining water.

    You need to just let the body do it's thing, it will fluctuate. As long as you are not swelling with pain it doesn't matter.

    good to know
  • tcpowell25
    tcpowell25 Posts: 292
    Most people have 50-65%
    Women less due to less muscle and higher BF.

    The leaner you are the higher the %. Male athletes will have ~70%+

    I've been tracking mine since I started. 

    Body Fat %
    Start = 25
    Week 1 = 23.7 (-1.3)
    Week 2 = 22.5 (-1.2)
    Week 3 = 21.8 (-0.7)
    Week 4 = 20.8 (-1)
    Week 5 = 20.4 (-0.4)
    Week 6 = 19.4 (-1)
    Week 7 = 18.8 (-0.6)
    Week 8 = 17.8 (-1)
    Week 9 = 17.2 (-0.6)

    Body Water %
    Start = 57
    Week 1 = 57.9 (+0.9)
    Week 2 = 58.5 (+0.6)
    Week 3 = 59.3 (+0.8)
    Week 4 = 60.1 (+0.8)
    Week 5 = 60.3 (+0.2)
    Week 6 = 61.1 (+0.8)
    Week 7 = 61.5 (+0.4)
    Week 8 = 62.2 (+0.7)
    Week 9 = 62.7 (+0.5)

    Wow mine is similar...so glad you guys are making it more plain for me.
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