water retention confusion

LadyGrey75
LadyGrey75 Posts: 55 Member
edited November 16 in Health and Weight Loss
I am trying to understand water weight! !! I am always fluctuating 5 to 7 lbs but I am drinking 3 to 4 liters a day! How is this possible? ? :s

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Too much sodium?
  • NeliusPT
    NeliusPT Posts: 34 Member
    Sodium and carbs is what holds water.
  • alliesgettinghealthy
    alliesgettinghealthy Posts: 87 Member
    Are you weighing yourself throughout the day? If so that's totally normal. :)
  • LadyGrey75
    LadyGrey75 Posts: 55 Member
    I am over my sodium today..go figure haha.. but I looked at my weekly averages and I am usually well below. I always weigh in the morning after the potty. I am just so frustrated because it is a daily battle to see if I have lost or gained....
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You're in a continual cycle of water retention/release...it's normal...do you know what % of you is water? Check that out and then maybe you'll understand. Things like being over on sodium, more/less carbs, drinking plenty of water can impact this cycle...but the cycle exists even if you were bang on perfect all of the time...because most of you is water.

    check it out...
  • LadyGrey75
    LadyGrey75 Posts: 55 Member
    I am guessing 60%ish but how would I know my personal percentage? I don't understand. I mean I should have some weight fluctuations but from day to day I never weigh the same and 5-7 lbs every week seems like a lot
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,312 Member
    edited April 2015
    Use trendweight.com or weightgrapher.com
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    edited April 2015
    Compare weight today to weight 30 days ago. As females we certainly have a monthly cycle - TOM/hormones are a big contributor to water weight. So by comparing now to a month ago, at least you're looking at the same point of the cycle. If you weight less today than 30 ago, you're on the right track.

    Other things factor also - sodium, stress, sleep, etc. But you can probably recognize those. Like looking back at your diary and think "Chinese food on Friday, no wonder Sat-Sun were crazy!" Or expecting extra retention after starting a new strength training program.
  • hhnkhl
    hhnkhl Posts: 231 Member
    1. carb intake causes glycogen stores to fill up.
    2. sodium intake causes water to move from your bloodstream to underneath your skin (bloating)
    3. cortisol (due to a stress response, like excessive exercise and low calories) causes you to excrete potassium and retain sodium, which leads to #2. It has other effects on body composition too.
  • Camo_xxx
    Camo_xxx Posts: 1,082 Member
    One gallon of water is equal to 3.8 liters of water. One gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds.
    So your fluctuation of 5 to 7 pounds is simply a mater of weighing yourself during diffrent phases of the cycle your body goes through.
    As noted your diet affects this cycle in various ways.

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