How much does sodium affect my weight loss?

beklew159
beklew159 Posts: 23 Member
edited December 25 in Food and Nutrition
I have been on MFP for about 2 months and I have lost about 7 pounds. Which is a decent amout, but the problem is I lost about 5 pounds in the first month and only 2 pounds in the past month or so. I have about 75-100 pounds to lose, so would have thought the weight would have come off more quickly once I started/and continued to eat well and excercise. I don't know why my loss has stalled and I was wondering how sodium plays a roll in weight loss. I looked back over my diaries and noticed I eat about 3000 mg of sodium a day. I didn't even realize it was that much because I didn't have sodium as one of my columns for tracking.

I mean if I eat pretty much the same things with the same amount of sodium all the time wouldn't I always carry the same amount of water weight, and therefore my weight loss wouldn't be affected, right? It makes sense to me, but am I wrong? Do I need to try to eat waaaay less sodium? Would I lose more weight?

Please enlighten me. :)

Replies

  • jodycoady
    jodycoady Posts: 598 Member
    I'd love to know more as well, thanks for creating this topic :)
  • uglyhobo
    uglyhobo Posts: 108 Member
    Eating more sodium might make you retain water and make the number on the scale go up even though that weight is just water.
    Some people will also feel a little bloated if they have a lot of sodium, but this can be counteracted by drinking more water.
    But it doesn't affect your weight loss at all.
    Foods high in sodium usually are high in calories and usually dont' have a very good macronutrient breakdown.
    Eating a high sodium diet without increasing your potassium intake can cause heart problems such as high blood pressure, and too little sodium can cause low blood pressure. Try to keep your intake around/under 2500mg.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    It would affect the gains you'd have from too much sodium and then the loss of water may be mistaken for fat loss. I don't think it affects the way you actually lose weight though.
    You would be healthier if you had 2500mg or less of sodium per day however. I use to just pour on the salt because I had no reason not to and then out of the blue I ended up with high blood pressure. It does make HBP worse. and some studies have shown that it causes high blood pressure. I'll never know if that's why I got it but if I could go back, I'd eat less of it.
    Once you start eating less of it you don't really miss it. In fact, it's hard for me to eat any processed, frozen meals or canned foods now because they taste too salty. Now I cook most meals from scratch to control the sodium intake and I feel like I can actually taste more of the food flavor also.
  • Hezzietiger1
    Hezzietiger1 Posts: 1,256 Member
    Your entire diet is processed foods. IF you dropped the processed foods and ate fresh fruits, veggies, and proteins you would easily be dropping 2 lbs a week with 60-70 lbs to lose and a 1300-1500 calorie diet.

    **edit** which in turn would cut ur sodium down 65%..
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,903 Member
    There may be health benefits for you if you reduce your sodium intake, but increased fat loss isn't among them. As others have stated, sodium might trick the scale due to water retention.
  • ArtemisMoon
    ArtemisMoon Posts: 144
    If you drink enough water and weigh yourself in the morning right after a bathroom break, you should see almost no affect from Sodium and your most accurate weight. I eat that much sodium a lot, but my body does get rid of it pretty easily too (I have been told medically I cannot drink plain water when I sweat much - which is a lot in Florida - as my fingers go numb and I eventually pass out) so I guess I might be a little friendlier with sodium than the average person, lol...

    The first month was probably a good bit of water weight, so your second month is probably more accurate. Sounds like you may need to adjust your calorie intake/exercise habits instead of looking so much at sodium. I don't go by what MFP recommends and many people don't. Adjust it until you find what works for you, and use calculators such as on fitnessfrog to give you a place to start.
  • papate
    papate Posts: 67 Member
    I have always been a major salt-aholic. Today, starting at lunch, was the first time I had honestly attempted to lower the sodium. I did NOT pick up the shaker at all. I'm hoping it will help in my loss as well, figure it sure can't hurt. Our foods are loaded with enough salt already in it, don't need to add.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    IMO your sodium and your carbs are contributing to your lack of weight loss. Too much sodium can make you retain water. Some women who have struggled with their weight for years have issues metabolizing carbs, called "insulin resistance". Once you cut your carbs down low enough that your body can metabolize them, the weight starts dropping off.

    I spent 3 months busting my booty in the gym for 90 minutes 3-4x a week and following the MFP suggested macros. I lost 7 pounds, but I struggled to lose every ounce. I cut my carbs down to under 100g net and lost 8lbs the first month. The second month I lost 6lbs. I'm in the third month now and hoping to lose another 6lbs.
  • mandypizzle
    mandypizzle Posts: 633 Member
    Exactly what I was going to say. Cut the processed foods and you will notice a huge difference!
    Your entire diet is processed foods. IF you dropped the processed foods and ate fresh fruits, veggies, and proteins you would easily be dropping 2 lbs a week with 60-70 lbs to lose and a 1300-1500 calorie diet.

    **edit** which in turn would cut ur sodium down 65%..
  • andreamkelly
    andreamkelly Posts: 169
    I'm on a low sodium diet of 1,500 mg per day. Which means I can't eat anything from a can/box/freezer unless it has no sodium added. I've cut out red meats and stick to fish, chicken and turkey, but you have to be careful because they add a sodium solution to chicken and turkey to make it stay fresher longer. Even some vegetables are high in sodium. I've invested in low and no sodium bouillon and soup bases to help with the lower sodium meals. It's been about a month and I'm beginning to not miss it and my daily 'cheat' of baked lays tastes really salty. I've been losing 2-4 pounds a week, by eating my bmr calories (or trying to). (i am on the low sodium/low calcium diet for my kidneys, not weight loss)

    Good Luck!!
  • marycmeadows
    marycmeadows Posts: 1,691 Member
    I drastically cut my sodium recently - to stick around 1500 or less on a day to day basis. I feel better - and I believe it does help with weight loss. I cut my sodium and upped my calories to 2000 recently to break a plateau - and it worked. :) Not sure which to attribute it to but I think it's a combination of both. Also if you're high on sodium, increase your water intake.
  • ShannonBas
    ShannonBas Posts: 101 Member
    I know for me... if I consume too much sodium my body will react by retaining water. :sick: I also feel sluggish. (and sometimes will go "on the hunt" for something sweet to counter the salty... Oops! :embarassed: ) Usually, an increased water intake will help the body to flush out the extra water. :drinker: Some people have to take a water pill, though.
    I try not to over-do the sodium, but sometimes it happens & I definitely feel it. It does seem to affect my weight as my body seems to cling on whatever moisture it can get while it's trying to flush the extra sodium out.
  • insectseige
    insectseige Posts: 28
    The problem with those 'low fat', 'lean cuisine' processed foods is that they pack in the salt & often the sugar to make up for the lack of flavour in the product. To reduce your sodium intake you need to reduce your reliance on these types of snacks & meals.
    Giving up/cutting down on excess salt is like giving up sugar - it takes a while but once done it's hard to go back to tasting that level of salt or sugar.
  • MochaMixAZ
    MochaMixAZ Posts: 844 Member
    My thoughts on this (part opinion and part from my RN background) - sodium doesn't affect weight loss long-term. You may see daily fluctuations in weight due to sodium intake and water, but long term... no effect.

    If you take in the same amount of sodium from day to day (be that 100 mg or 4000 mg), your body acclimates.
  • carolk843
    carolk843 Posts: 5
    Have you increased your exercise? If you are building muscle, your short-term loss might be less than you would expect. However, since muscle uses more calories than fat, longer term you will lose weight more quickly.

    I lost less weight the first weeks than I expected, but my measurements are better.

    It would not be the sodium.
  • sunnyside1213
    sunnyside1213 Posts: 1,205 Member
    Mortons Lite Salt is 1/2 sodium and 1/2 potassium. Great way to get potassium which helps move water out of your system.
  • jeannette120
    jeannette120 Posts: 65 Member
    My thoughts on this (part opinion and part from my RN background) - sodium doesn't affect weight loss long-term. You may see daily fluctuations in weight due to sodium intake and water, but long term... no effect.

    If you take in the same amount of sodium from day to day (be that 100 mg or 4000 mg), your body acclimates.

    This is what I was going to say. I have a diet that is higher on the sodium, but it is consistent. It does not affect my weight loss except for minor fluctuations from day to day.
  • Keiko385
    Keiko385 Posts: 514 Member
    I've invested in low and no sodium bouillon and soup bases to help with the lower sodium meals.

    Good Luck!!

    I do low sodium because of my health as well. If you have the time Google Vegetable Broth from scraps, it can be frozen and used instead of the bullion and is so much more tastier
  • ScottFree_66
    ScottFree_66 Posts: 200
    Your entire diet is processed foods. IF you dropped the processed foods and ate fresh fruits, veggies, and proteins you would easily be dropping 2 lbs a week with 60-70 lbs to lose and a 1300-1500 calorie diet.

    **edit** which in turn would cut ur sodium down 65%..

    agree with this 100%

    Losing weight is basically eat less calories than you burn.... but for consistent and healthy weight loss you have to look at the quality of the foods you eat. When i first started I tried to eat the same fast food I had become used too... but found that preparing my meals myself was best.

    and you'll feel better eating healthy foods vs processed
  • beklew159
    beklew159 Posts: 23 Member
    Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the responses. I know I need to cut way down on the processed foods. They just make it so easy! hahaha. Blood pressure and heart issues run in my family so I will definitely cut down the sodium now that I realize how much I am eating. Thanks again!!
  • healthierlydia
    healthierlydia Posts: 1
    Great post - thank you!
  • kristyloz75
    kristyloz75 Posts: 9
    Someone told me to read the label and look for 5% or less of sodium if possible.
    So when i see 5 mg or less of sodium i buy it without any guilt!
    My first week my sodium was more than 3500 this week only 1200 over.
    It's a learning process..
    Same with the carb and fiber.....
    I learn so much about food since i'm on fitness pal.
  • indayxoxo
    indayxoxo Posts: 1
    yes I strongly agree with this. after eating fresh fruits and raw vegetables I droppe 2.5 lbs in just a week. Eating healthy is the key to fat loss.
  • GnothiNikki
    GnothiNikki Posts: 2 Member
    I understand that you want to meet your weight-loss goal and retaining water weight slows that process. But studies have shown that not getting enough sodium is actually worse than getting too much, health-wise. My advice is to try to achieve the recommended daily value of 2400 mg, which means that you only have to find ways to cut 600 mg. I can only echo what others have said, because it's 100% correct. Eating less processed/prepackaged foods and cooking/preparing meals & snacks yourself (as much as possible) will definitely allow you to achieve not only your sodium intake goal, but your weight-loss goal as well. Good luck :happy:
  • stevenlcopeland
    stevenlcopeland Posts: 57 Member
    Sodium equals 0 calories. If you work out vigourously water retention is a non issue, and sodium intake is necessary to maintain electrolyte balance. I have always been amused talking to people and how they tell me that there doctor told them to cut out salt due to high blood pressure. I ask are you off your blood pressure pills, they respond no. Appears that scientific advise isn't working out too well. I then ask did the doctor tell you to lose weight and begin exercising and they respond no. I just smile and think enjoy your life of blood pressure pills, no salt, obesity, and being out of shape. I can tell this story because I was this person some 7 years ago. Now I make darn sure I take in sodium via the salt shaker since it is a vital mineral in my daily workout routine.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,266 Member
    Glycogen and water retention will be with all of us for the rest of our lives and will always effect daily weight.......it's the weight loss over time that's important......which is created through a calorie deficit, exercise or both.......forget about the rest, it will drivce you nuts....replace the sclae with a tape measure and enjoy the freedom.
  • ThePhoenixIsRising
    ThePhoenixIsRising Posts: 781 Member
    Sodium doesn't change your fat loss, but can drastically influence your scale weight.
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