Need advice with rebound water retention

That's a tough one! If you can handle seeing the scale go up it might be a good idea to go ahead and weigh once a week. You can do this!

I went off HCTZ before Christmas and immediately put on about 5 - 6 pounds......
Everone assumed it was the Holidays and I didn't bother to correct most of them.

just this week I got back to where I had been......

I just kept weighing in every week.. depressing at first but fun went it went back down.

Watch your sodium intake and enjoy the fact you don't need to get up and pee nearly as often.

I weigh daily. It is part of my morning routine and a part of my reminder and commitment to be as healthy as possible every day. For me it is nothing more than a number. My numbers go up and down daily. (depending on how much salt I have had, whether or not I've pooped, TOM, etc....) The number is nothing more than a relationship between my body and the earths gravitational pull as measured by a thing called a scale. It is ONE scientific part of measuring my progress. It does NOT tell me that my FAT % has decreased or increased. It JUST tells my physical relationship to gravity. I also use other things...like measurements, NSV's (being able to tie my shoes on TOP instead of on the instep...being able to keep walking or increase my speed or incline...being able to do a full pushup...then five...etc), and how my clothes fit and how I feel!

IF "your self worth is somehow tied to your body mass" (a quote from sheldon of Big Bang Theory) and will discourage you from staying on a healthy path, then DON"T weigh. Hide the scale. But also expect that with water retention comes things like swollen ankles and feet, expanding waistline making your pants fit tighter...so the frustration won't only be the scale. Just know it IS NOT YOU and more importantly, DON"T LET THIS BE A SETBACK TO THE AMAZING PROGRESS YOU ARE MAKING!!! TELL yourself every day, this is medical. I am OFF the medication because of all of the great things I am doing. I WILL NOT QUIT!!!

Whatever you decide (you know yourself and your attitude best...I'm just giving you things to think about so you make the best possible choice with the knowledge that you have at this time), know that WE are here for you. and the scale will eventually move again. This is TEMPORARY and will NOT hold you back nor does it define how great you are as a person...because you are GREAT as a person reguardless of your weight. (just ask Mrs. TFT!)

All of that said...

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO
YIPPY
WOWZAA
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

ALREADY OFF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS!!!!!
WAY TO GO!!!!
WAY TO ROCK THIS!!!!
And in ONLY 5 months!!!!!!!
Doc should put you up as poster boy in his office for what is POSSIBLE!!!!
happy dance happy dance


...just WOW!

No, I would not weigh, etc. However, if my doctor took me off my diuretic he and I would have some serious words.

Weigh yourself to keep track and in the meantime drink 80 to 100 ounces of water each and every day. Whatever sodium intake you have will flush out with the water and it will keep you hydrated. I went through something similar and as long as I kept my water intake high, my weight never went up more than 1-2 pounds the whole 6 weeks after I was taken off the meds. Don't miss a day of drinking water!!! Good luck - you can do it!

If it was me I would really watch my sodium intake. Keep it as low as possible and drink as much water as you can. Continue to eat right like you have been doing and exercise but stay off that scale. It's so defeating when I do everything right and see gains. It will all even out eventually.

^^ This - Sodium aka salt will make you retain water.

As hard as it is to watch if your routine is weighing every day stick to it. I was in the hospital for kidney stones and had a procedure done and the IV drip kept running I couldnt eliminate as much as they poured into me. I knew the reason and kept using the scale I gained almost 20 pounds of fluid in a week . I went home swollen and bloated BUT as I returned to normal could eliminate fluids I loved watching the scale drop 2 or 3 pounds a day. I did keep my fluid intake up and never use salt anyway.
So as everyone says keep drinking your 80 plus ounces of water a day keep sodium down and enjoy the second part of the process you might even find you are a few pounds down by the time the water is gone

I definitely wouldn't weigh myself once a day...it would make me crazy. Once a week is ok as long as you go into with the mindset that the scale might move up for a bit before it starts going back down. Do not let this derail you! You are doing such an amazing job and I think you have the mental stamina to get past this roadblock and keep pushing through...We're all on your side, here, Scott...YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

If it was me I would really watch my sodium intake. Keep it as low as possible and drink as much water as you can. Continue to eat right like you have been doing and exercise but stay off that scale. It's so defeating when I do everything right and see gains. It will all even out eventually.

^^ This - Sodium aka salt will make you retain water.

This, while sodium does increase the concentration of electrolytes, your body responds by diluting the electrolytes to an ideal concentration by retaining water. However, sodium minimum requirements are just over a gram a day, but as a preservative in most foods this is nearly impossible to attain as a minimum unless you cook your own meals from fresh food. In this case, you will have to add salt to get to 1 gram minimum (much more with physical output and temp/humidity a determinant).

As for weighing in, water rebound is psychologically difficult. I weigh in every day regardless just to track the trend.

You aren't looking for a quick fix, so forget about adding a mild diuretic like caffeine. Just go for the ride and in a week it should level out. I had to take a prescription diuretic for 4 days and while the 13 pound weight loss was great (I fit my medium fat pants-not just stretchies) it all came back. Keep to the code, be patient, understand what is going on, and keep moving forward. Don't break a habit that is good just because it pains you to see your body equalize.

Thank you for this post! I was on HCTZ, but my doctor changed my meds to Losartan. Once I lose weight, my doctor may take me off, so this is good post to see what I will be expecting in the future.

I have a similar issue when I retain water for two weeks every month. I keep weighing, just to keep an eye on it, but I don't record the gains on MFP (that's why my ticker doesn't move very often).

If I start to notice big spikes in my daily weigh-ins, I adjust my sodium and such accordingly, but I really just have to tough it out. It IS frustrating, but at least I know the reason for it. So will you. Please try not to worry, as you know why the water is piling on and that it WILL come off. You've done great so far, Scott.

Thank you ALL for your suggestions. Here's my plan.

#1 Weigh every day, same as always.
#2 Own it going up, knowing that I'm doing all the right things nutrition and calorie and exercise wise AND it's just temporary.
#3 Shrug it off and keep doing what I'm doing.
#4 Own it going down, knowing that I've earned every ridiculously large loss b/c of #2.
#5 Decrease sodium intake.
#6 Increase potassium intake NATURALLY (food rather than supplements).
#7 Shrug it off and keep on keeping on.

You folks REALLY know how to keep a guy balanced and focused. Thank you again!!!

If you can wrap your mind around the idea that hey, there's a scientific reason this is happening, and I'm still doing all the right things... sure, keep weighing yourself. You'll be able to look back at this and see how you overcame a huge mental hurdle - that's a huge deal. I like your plan

Drink lost of water! It seems weird but the more water you drink the more water weight you lose. Us woman deal with it every month. Just drink and drink!!