Does Sodium Stop Weight Loss?

dakotababy
dakotababy Posts: 2,407 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I have been using my bodymedia armband consistently through out the last few weeks. Logging very accurately, and I am often WAY over on sodium! Now, from what I have read is that sodium causes water retention, but could it stop weight loss all together if intake is often high?

Replies

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    It can mask weight loss, but in the end it won't stop fat loss. If you're retaining a lot of water, the number on the scale will likely move more slowly.
  • linsey0689
    linsey0689 Posts: 753 Member
    It does cause wires to be retained. To even out the high sodium intake. But in the end you will still end up seeing the scale change but it may just be slower than if you didn't have a high salt diet.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I had an anatomy instructor once say, "where the water goes the salt goes." If you think your salt intake is too high and youre not a salt sensitive hypertensive...drink until your pee pee runs clear. Otherwise, salt is an essential electrolyte and used in our metabolic processes.
  • skywalker0829
    skywalker0829 Posts: 39
    I've always wanted to know about this. I've noticed the one consistant thing that I'm over on with the numbers is Sodium.
  • Shaky44
    Shaky44 Posts: 214 Member
    When someone says that "water retention masks weight loss," they are talking about the short term. The very short term. Let's say that you have a high sodium intake on given day that causes you to retain 3 lbs of water more than you would if you had a lower sodium intake. If you continue to eat a high sodium diet, that extra water you are retaining won't go up to 6 lbs, then 9 lbs, etc. It will just stay around 3 lbs (or whatever). So if you eat a diet below your TDEE, but with a high sodium content, you will lose weight. In the long run water retention won't matter much. It may move the scale on a daily basis, but it won't matter in the long run.

    I also eat a high sodium diet and I've lost 90 lbs since I joined MFP last April. I'm not saying this to recommend high sodium diet, just saying that it won't have much impact in the long run.

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