How many people drive themselves crazy with watching sodium

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  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    Watching my sodium severely limited the processed food in my diet. My frozen lunches for lazy days are very limited, because I refuse to buy any that have more than 450 mg of sodium per meal. And my garlic salt is lasting a lot longer than it used to. :wink:

    Now, I have to be really bad to go over 2000mg per day.
  • seeingthelight4444
    seeingthelight4444 Posts: 11
    I have high blood pressure and for me I retain water by just looking at a saltshaker. My doctor recently took me off the water pill attatched to my meds becauce my potassium was so low. I gained 5 pounds in two days just in water which I have just shedded with the help of extra water intake and watching my sodium., I now carefully watch both my sodium and potassium. I agree that it is more important for folks like me.
  • SakanaUshi
    SakanaUshi Posts: 27
    High sodium leads to retained water weight, but does it actually affect fat loss in any way? If it does, why?

    If not, and blood pressure isn't really an issue, wouldn't ignoring sodium not really be an issue? Does high sodium have long-term effects?

    I know people have lost loads of weight and kept it off while completely ignoring sodium. The changes we're making are big enough without throwing another stupid number to fret over into the equation. So, if it's a "well, you really should lower your sodium, but it doesn't actually affect fat loss" thing, I say screw it.
  • slapshotgolf
    slapshotgolf Posts: 163 Member
    I too am routinely over in sodium, and it concerns me more for cardiovascular health than weight loss...water retention can be dealt with quickly, but once that is done, sooner or later, you have to battle the fat. I have managed rapid weight loss without the use of any medical or nutritional supplements, and while I am aware of my sodium intake, I find it the hardest to control. One thing is for sure, I have cut sodium back considerably since I started with MFP, and I am hoping that as my weight continues to fall, my caloric needs drop, and it should be easier to keep the sodium in line...SSG
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    High sodium leads to retained water weight, but does it actually affect fat loss in any way? If it does, why?

    If not, and blood pressure isn't really an issue, wouldn't ignoring sodium not really be an issue? Does high sodium have long-term effects?

    http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/daily-sodium-intake

    Basically, for healthy people, it's a better be safe than sorry with regards to sodium.
  • beatlemom
    beatlemom Posts: 250 Member
    I don't watch my sodium at all. doesn't cause me any problems and my BP is always right around 117/72.
  • kentlass
    kentlass Posts: 325 Member
    i wasn't really watching my sodium intake until last week, i went away for a few days and ate two bad meals...an egg and chips...and a one slice of pizza and some fries....i don't know if it was these meals that caused it, but when i got home i found i was up 9lbs!!!

    i have kept my sodium at the maximum of 1500mg(have been under it every day) and have dropped the whole 9lbs again....maybe coincidence...but i'm watching my sodium anyways
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