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Post cruise weight/water gain of 12 pounds

BamaTripletMom
BamaTripletMom Posts: 1
edited March 2 in Health and Weight Loss
Been doing low carb since mid-May and on the day we left for vacation had lost 29 pounds (putting my BMI at 27.3 and only 15 pounds to goal weight). Sticking to macros of 10% carb, 60% fat, 30% protein with approx 1300 cals a day plus working out. It was going great! Well, while we were gone to Disney and then a 7 day cruise, I ate whatever I wanted. I knew I would gain weight and felt squishy, but I was shocked to see that it went up 12 pounds! Now I'm very discouraged, and getting right back on track with my diet and exercise. Low carb is a way of life for me now, and I did deliberately give myself permission to enjoy the food on the trip (and it was yummy!)

I know some of it is true weight gain (I'm sure I went over 3500 extra cals many times). But how much is likely water weight? Anything specific to do to help get this back off quickly? How long would you guess to get back down to pre-cruise weight?

Thanks,

Replies

  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    Body muscles store carbs as glycogen and requires plenty of water to do the process. High carbs means high water retention. Reduced carbs means reduced water retention. If you are going back to low carbs then your body will release the excess water soon.
  • SharonNehring
    SharonNehring Posts: 535 Member
    Once you get back on plan, it should only take a week or two to re-lose the water weight. Drink plenty of water and be active. If you have swelling in your feet, try propping them up on a couple of pillows when you are on the couch/in bed. Watch your salt intake for a couple of weeks as well.

    Unfortunately, I have slot of experience with fluid retention. :(
  • vismal
    vismal Posts: 2,463 Member
    Welcome to low carb dieting. Any time anyone goes on vacation and deviates from their normal diet they will gain a good deal of water weight. If you diet low carb and eat lots of carbs on vacation, you will gain even more water weight then the average person. Like always, once you switch back to low carb, weight will fly off at first then once a week or two goes by, you can begin to see how much weight gain was water and how much was "real". Low carb dieters might as well not count the first 5-10 lbs gained or lost as anything more then water. As always calories in vs calories out determine both weight gain and losses.
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