RETAINIG WATER

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Replies

  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    Ok, I see you are a male so I'm guessing that's why you don't understand.
    It is water, because that is what makes you feel bloated. Water retention.

    So then the uterus turns into a 2 humped camel?
    Um, it has nothing to do with the uterus.
    Then how does being a male make me not understand. That's the only difference between myself and the OP. We both have intestines, arms, legs. Maybe even the same blood type. (B-)
    Because women experience bloating during their menstrual cycle - which you have never experienced and you said you didn't understand how you could feel like you are retaining water.

    I'm not saying that just because you are a male, you can't or have never experienced water retention or the bloated feeling, but men do interpret the feeling differently.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    Because women experience bloating during their menstrual cycle - which you have never experienced and you said you didn't understand how you could feel like you are retaining water.

    Okay, so this has nothing to do with diet and weight loss. It's just a normal cycle? I guess I stumbled into the wrong corner of the Internet.
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    Because women experience bloating during their menstrual cycle - which you have never experienced and you said you didn't understand how you could feel like you are retaining water.

    Okay, so this has nothing to do with diet and weight loss. It's just a normal cycle? I guess I stumbled into the wrong corner of the Internet.

    I didn't say that either.
    You previously asked "How do you feel "retaining water"? What does that mean exactly?"

    Unless you were screwing around, I'm guessing that question means that you don't know what it feels like when you are retaining water in your abdomen and you feel bloated.

    Women experience this during their menstrual cycle - so they are pretty familiar with the feeling - and since you've never had a menstrual cycle - you might not be as familiar with the feeling -otherwise you wouldn't be asking that question, would you? It has nothing to do with being a woman or a man - but men and women DO interpret the feeling of bloat differently. If you research a little on that, you will see what I'm talking about.

    No, it doesn't mean it is DEFINITELY water causing her to feel bloated, she COULD have IBS or a gluten allergy instead. But chances are, based on her food diary that the feeling of bloat is due to her consuming high sodium levels.
  • catbyrd
    catbyrd Posts: 87 Member
    I agree with everyone else that sodium is a factor. However, for me what works is putting a little bit of lemon juice in each glass of what that I drink. I read a long time ago that there is something in lemon juice that helps keep your body from retaining water. This has always worked for me. Sometimes it will take a couple of days to see the difference but it does help.
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    The Burger King Wraps on Tuesday actually had 1060 mg of sodium each that some misguided person neglected to post on MFP nutritional facts. That is over 2000mg that you had not tracked... Watch out for prepackaged foods like Lean Cuisine and restaurant/fast food they are always higher in sodium than what you need. 2500mg is actually on the higher side of acceptable for sodium. Shooting to stay between 1500 and 2000 is much more advisable. You do not want to drop it below 1000 especially if you workout and drink lots of water. Drinking water will flush out additional sodium that you don't need and will also help you to shed excess water it is a natural diuretic. Feel free to add me... Anyone can. I've dropped 128 in the past seven months and my BP has gone from 145/95 to 122/82 and my resting pulse rate from 92 to 64.

    Oh the bananas she is eating too, they have sodium, but her diary says 0.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You're always going to retain some amount of water. Beyond that, there are a number of factors that contribute to a lot of water retention...hormones...certain foods...high sodium levels...low potassium levels, etc.

    High sodium is often a major contributor and the average diet is loaded with the stuff. When I first started logging, I found that I was consuming almost 1.5 to 2 times the DRV. When I cut back to 1,500-2,000 mg per day, I lost a ton of water weight my first couple of weeks then things mellowed out. It freaked me out a bit because I only wanted to lose 1 Lb per week and I dropped about 5 Lbs in the first week before I regulated.
  • baileysmom4
    baileysmom4 Posts: 242 Member
    It's the sodium. I found my diet was way high in it and cut back and in one day lost 3 pounds of water and 2.5 inches overall! It makes a huge difference. Its hard to find stuff to eat when you quit eating the packaged crap, but I made a bunch of grilled chicken and buy bags of frozen veggies. I sprinkle salt on them because they don't have the 100s of mg of sodium the packaged stuff does. So I get my salt fix without all the bloat! I use a tablespoon of parmesan cheese too on veggies too.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I don't believe she ever said anything about being concerned with the water weight - she said she is feeling bloated and uncomfortable. She doesn't want to feel that way.

    How do you feel "retaining water"? What does that mean exactly?
    Are you a woman? It is called feeling bloated, like your stomach is full, painful, hard sometimes. Same as feeling bloated during TOM.

    Even guys feel bloated and uncomfortable when they're retaining water....but probably not nearly to the extent as the ladies.
  • 2bmeagain12
    2bmeagain12 Posts: 284 Member
    1) It is possible for you to drink too much water. Aim for minimum 64 ounces to 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight. (Example: If you weigh 160 pounds, put your top limit around 80 ounces)
    2) Dandelion capsules and/or tea. I swear by this stuff! My last two periods I actually lost weight by incorporating Dandelion. I start taking Dandelion capsules 3x per day for the first day or 2 of my period. Otherwise, I take 3 nightly.
    3) Try incorporating diuretic foods: http://www.3fatchicks.com/36-diuretic-foods/
  • MightyDomo
    MightyDomo Posts: 1,265 Member
    I happen to think about sodium water retention this way. If I am not drinking 1mL of water for every mg of sodium then I will likely retain water (recommended intake of water being 8-10 glasses per day which is 2000-2500mL of water so that coincides with having up to 2300mg sodium per day as a maximum in a healthy diet)

    If you are eating processed foods they are loaded in sodium more often than not. By consuming high levels of sodium and not drinking the water to balance then you will retain water.

    A similar thing happens if you are working out and you are not drinking water during a workout you will probably retain some water weight from not replenishing the water lost during exercise.
  • 1) It is possible for you to drink too much water. Aim for minimum 64 ounces to 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight. (Example: If you weigh 160 pounds, put your top limit around 80 ounces)
    2) Dandelion capsules and/or tea. I swear by this stuff! My last two periods I actually lost weight by incorporating Dandelion. I start taking Dandelion capsules 3x per day for the first day or 2 of my period. Otherwise, I take 3 nightly.
    3) Try incorporating diuretic foods: http://www.3fatchicks.com/36-diuretic-foods/

    so do you take 9 pills on the first couple days of your period?
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    I don't believe she ever said anything about being concerned with the water weight - she said she is feeling bloated and uncomfortable. She doesn't want to feel that way.

    How do you feel "retaining water"? What does that mean exactly?
    Are you a woman? It is called feeling bloated, like your stomach is full, painful, hard sometimes. Same as feeling bloated during TOM.

    Even guys feel bloated and uncomfortable when they're retaining water....but probably not nearly to the extent as the ladies.
    True, but judging by the fact he was asking that question, I'm guessing he's never felt it before.
  • 2bmeagain12
    2bmeagain12 Posts: 284 Member
    so do you take 9 pills on the first couple days of your period?

    Yes. I have a bottle of organic Dandelion and take 3, 3x per day. Just for those 1-2 days, and then I go back to once a day.
  • slyon68
    slyon68 Posts: 4 Member
    8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is what is normally recommended, so I think you are drinking too much water and retaining it. Try backing down on the water and see if that helps. Also, here is a good article about effects of too much water : http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm
  • lindaw66
    lindaw66 Posts: 258 Member
    1) It is possible for you to drink too much water. Aim for minimum 64 ounces to 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight. (Example: If you weigh 160 pounds, put your top limit around 80 ounces)
    2) Dandelion capsules and/or tea. I swear by this stuff! My last two periods I actually lost weight by incorporating Dandelion. I start taking Dandelion capsules 3x per day for the first day or 2 of my period. Otherwise, I take 3 nightly.
    3) Try incorporating diuretic foods: http://www.3fatchicks.com/36-diuretic-foods/

    good info, will check out later
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is what is normally recommended, so I think you are drinking too much water and retaining it. Try backing down on the water and see if that helps. Also, here is a good article about effects of too much water : http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm
    But there would be a reason her body is retaining the water - not replenishing it after working out - not counter balancing the sodium, or....?
  • cbrrabbit25
    cbrrabbit25 Posts: 384 Member
    the sodium and bread is what does this to me...its difficult to avoid salt!
  • Track your sodium, do more cardio, eat less carbs or try a diuretic. Solutions.
  • bridgelene
    bridgelene Posts: 358 Member
    I agree with watching your sodium intake, and while some women are more sensitive than others, your sodium intake doesn't seem RIDICULOUSLY high. Especially not compared to your water intake.

    1 quart = 4 cups. You said 7-8 quarts/day generally? This is a LOT of water (28-32 cups). It's a LOT more than is proportionate to the moderate (maybe on the higher side if you're sensitive to it, 'but in general i"m presuming you don't have renal issues or htn so it's still moderate) amount of sodium you're consuming. I love how all of these chicks are jumping all over this like it's the sodium when it's really not that incredibly sky high, especially with the amount of water you're consuming.

    Presuming you're a healthy individual, you really only need to be consuming enough water to produce pale yellow urine. For me, that can be as little as 4 cups of water some days and as much as 9 cups other days (4-9 with out working out. But still use the color as a good indicator)

    If this is an ongoing issue, as a licensed healthcare professional I would suggest that a trip to the doctor might be in order.