Losing fat = losing water weight?

angiechimpanzee
angiechimpanzee Posts: 536 Member
edited January 2 in Health and Weight Loss
I just read on Yahoo Answers someone say that losing water weight is going to happen regardless while losing fat, because fat cells hold water. I've never heard that before but it actually makes sense because I know all cells hold water to some extent. So is this person correct?

And if so, does that mean that when we lose a pound of fat by creating a deficit of 3500 (or whatever the actual number is, because I'm starting to think it varies from person to person), are we actually losing a pound that consists of some water AND some fat, and not just pure fat?

Replies

  • Forensi
    Forensi Posts: 56 Member
    Youll always lose water weight first. That's why when someone just starts out on a diet they might lose 3 or 4kg's or 7lb's in the first week. Then 2 or 3kgs or 5lb's in the second week. Most of that will be water weight. After about 3 weeks it tapers out and you start losing fat. This is assuming you don't eat stupid amounts of sodium that causes your body to retain water.
  • WolfPackFan13
    WolfPackFan13 Posts: 95 Member
    All cells hold water. I think it does vary by type of cell, so I'm not sure how much water you lose if you lose a pound of fat.

    Also, if you lose a pound of body weight, it is almost never a pound of fat. You will lose some muscle when you are losing weight. The trick is trying to lose as little of that muscle and maximizing the fat that you lose.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Yahoo Answers isn't where I'd look for anything I'd put stock in. Below is a doctor's explanation.

    "During the first few weeks of weight loss due to dieting, a rapid drop in pounds is normal according to the Mayo Clinic. When you reduce your caloric intake, your body gets its needed energy by releasing and utilizing its stores of glycogen, which is a type of carbohydrate found in the muscles and the liver. Glycogen holds onto water, so when glycogen is used and burned up for energy, it also releases the water it holds onto. This is about 4 grams for every gram of glycogen. This results in the initial "water weight" loss that accompanies early weight loss from dieting and calorie restriction."
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