Do you lose water weight before "fat" weight?

classicalguitar1
classicalguitar1 Posts: 27 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Just a quick question,
when you start dieting and exercising do you lose water weight followed by "fat" weight.
The reason I ask is because I have lost 16 lbs in 7 weeks following a strict diet and exercise regime, but alot of people have told me that the vast majority of that weight is water weight.
So what now? can I expect to start losing fat now that I have shifted my water weight?
I really don't get it.
Someone please explain.
Thanks

Replies

  • Littlestandrews
    Littlestandrews Posts: 96 Member
    I may be off here but from my research, depending on your starting size, you will lose anywhere from 3-8 pounds of water weight. After that the majority of it should be fat loss if you are maintaining/building muscle.
  • tomhaegdorens
    tomhaegdorens Posts: 36 Member
    You don't lose water weight before fat weight. You lose it at the same time. If you eat less than your body needs, you will burn fat. Eating less and healthier also means that you consume less sodium, so your kidneys will secrete more water in the beginning of your weight loss.
    You can expect that you will start losing less water and the same amount of fat (Considering you have the same calorie intake daily)
  • sydneyplainjane
    sydneyplainjane Posts: 140 Member
    I may be off here but from my research, depending on your starting size, you will lose anywhere from 3-8 pounds of water weight. After that the majority of it should be fat loss if you are maintaining/building muscle.

    I have a question about this, because, well, how do you know if you are maintaining/building muscle? I lost about 7 pounds in the past month, as well as a few inches (I haven't measured, but my pants are roomier, although I'm still wearing the same size). But, I look flabbier. I jiggle more, especially under my arms, front of thighs, and belly. (I've been doing lots of walking, and go to Curves about 3 times a week for toning.)
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    Yeah the 'water' weight is the first to noticeably go (with some fat going too? don't know...) you're using up all the food stores in your muscles, which are made of glycogen and water. So the muscles use the glycogen energy and you excrete the water... in your breath and you'll find you're peeing more!

    It's like squeezing out a sponge... and when your body has used that up it hits the fat stores. When you have enough calories to spare, the muscles will refill.... which is one reason why weight can vary so much day-to-day esp. if you over or undereat.
  • cingle87
    cingle87 Posts: 717 Member
    Yeah the 'water' weight is the first to noticeably go (with some fat going too? don't know...) you're using up all the food stores in your muscles, which are made of glycogen and water. So the muscles use the glycogen energy and you excrete the water... in your breath and you'll find you're peeing more!

    It's like squeezing out a sponge... and when your body has used that up it hits the fat stores. When you have enough calories to spare, the muscles will refill.... which is one reason why weight can vary so much day-to-day esp. if you over or undereat.

    Quoting to make sure people read it
  • JamesParsons7
    JamesParsons7 Posts: 78
    You don't lose water weight before fat weight. You lose it at the same time. If you eat less than your body needs, you will burn fat. Eating less and healthier also means that you consume less sodium, so your kidneys will secrete more water in the beginning of your weight loss.
    You can expect that you will start losing less water and the same amount of fat (Considering you have the same calorie intake daily)
    no.


    people lose water weight first when dieting, hence the rapid drop in weight in the first couple of days.

    people might look 'leaner' but thats because YOU cant tell what the difference between water retention and fat loss looks like
  • bridgie101
    bridgie101 Posts: 817 Member
    Just a quick question,
    when you start dieting and exercising do you lose water weight followed by "fat" weight.
    The reason I ask is because I have lost 16 lbs in 7 weeks following a strict diet and exercise regime, but alot of people have told me that the vast majority of that weight is water weight.
    So what now? can I expect to start losing fat now that I have shifted my water weight?
    I really don't get it.
    Someone please explain.
    Thanks

    That's pretty much a constant kilo a week... I suppose I'd ask if you were eating 1000cals less a day than your tdee? If so, logic says it's fat.

    :) As to this water weight concept: I'm not convinced by it. I think water weight comes off when people starve themselves on silly diets and use up all their glycogen (which binds with 4 times its own weight in water) but it would fairly shortly go back on. Especially in 7 weeks.

    I hope I've lost 16lb in 7 weeks. :D Go, killer! :D
  • tomhaegdorens
    tomhaegdorens Posts: 36 Member
    You don't lose water weight before fat weight. You lose it at the same time. If you eat less than your body needs, you will burn fat. Eating less and healthier also means that you consume less sodium, so your kidneys will secrete more water in the beginning of your weight loss.
    You can expect that you will start losing less water and the same amount of fat (Considering you have the same calorie intake daily)
    no.


    people lose water weight first when dieting, hence the rapid drop in weight in the first couple of days.

    people might look 'leaner' but thats because YOU cant tell what the difference between water retention and fat loss looks like

    The biggest part is water in the beginning. But you don't only lose water in the beginning. Unless your body can burn water ;) If you only lose water it means you're eating enough calories to keep your weight level and consuming less sodium. But if you do that, your weight loss with stop when your sodium levels are steady again.

Categories