Questions about water and weight

Samuraiko wrote: »

Beginning round 2 with MFP, I find myself with a few questions.

1) At what point during the initial weight loss 'rush' would most folks say it stops being just "water weight" and is actual slow-but-sure "weight loss"? Five pounds? Ten? Twenty?

2) In an attempt to stave off cravings, I force myself to drink water -- if after 3 glasses, I still crave whatever it is, I let myself have some. (FYI - I have a horrendous habit of forgetting to log that water because I'm more focusing on "don't eat that, don't eat that, don't eat that.") However, I don't find myself needing to go to the bathroom any more often than I'd have thought I would, even with drinking more water. Which is slightly puzzling.

3) Since going on the diet, I find myself being thirstiest at night. As in, I usually want a glass of water right before going to sleep. This was not a thing prior to the diet.

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Not a water-related question, but one other that comes to mind. Having cut Coke out of my diet (and thus caffeine) out of my diet, how long does it take for someone to 'detox' off the caffeine? (I don't drink coffee, I don't drink tea, and I've been TRYING to keep the chocolate to a minimum.) And could this be why my body is wanting more water?

Thanks in advance for the help, you guys.

I'd think more in terms of time than pounds, with respect to water weight. If you're quite certain you're in a calorie deficit (weighing all your food, etc.), then give it at least a month.

Most people here seem to find that the quick water weight drop at the start of calorie deficit will last for a week or two. But, given that you're female & 42 (per your profile), I'm assuming you're pre-menopausal still, so monthly hormone cycling can confuse the situation a bit. That's why I'm suggesting a month minimum.

And don't count on "slow but sure", even after that: Most people, especially pre-menopausal women, see ups & downs in scale weight, sometimes an apparent plateau for a week or two with a sudden drop at the end, etc. It will probably be an up & down path, with an overall, longer-term downward tendency, if you're consistent in your calorie deficit. (I'm (now) a kind of tiny person at 120 pounds, and menopausal, but I can add 5 pounds from one morning to the next (in water weight)!)

If you're drinking water, and not urinating excessively, don't worry about it. You want your urine to be kind of a pale color, not dark, though. If the caffeine reduction is causing headaches or other bad symptoms, you could consider a tapering process with something less caloric. But if it's just difficult, not headache-producing, I wouldn't worry about that, either.

One granny-esque piece of advice from this little old lady: Please try to stop focusing on "don't eat this, don't eat that". Focus on trying to identify what healthy foods you can eat, and when you should eat them, so that you feel as energetic & satisfied as possible as much of the time as possible.

Everyone is different in what helps them feel satiated, but many find that one or more of the following is key: Sufficient protein, sufficient fat, sufficient volume (think high-fiber, lower-calorie vegetables & fruit for this last one).

Some people are happier when they skip breakfast to allow for heavier lunch/dinner or evening snacks, some are less crave-y if they eat a bigger breakfast with plenty of protein. Some people like several small meals and/or snacks, some like fewer but bigger meals.

Experiment. Find what makes you feel best. It will make the whole process so much more manageable and easy to stick with.

And allowing for the occasional treat (and not designating "forbidden foods" is a good strategy.