Excess water weight is usually a problem related to hormones in women, but men also experience water retention, particularly if they consume large amounts of salt. Regardless of the cause, water weight, like fat weight, can make you downright uncomfortable. Fortunately, water weight is one of the easiest to lose. Several different and effective approaches to getting rid of water can be utilized, and once you begin to lose excess water, the rest comes off quickly. In a week or less, you can lose the water weight that is an unnecessary problem for you.
Step 1
Reduce your sodium intake. Many foods such as frozen and canned vegetables contain large amounts of sodium that you may not be aware are there. Soft drinks also contain a lot of sodium, so switch to water instead. Always check labels for hidden sodium and if you're cooking, experiment with herbs and spices instead of salt. You may find that just by decreasing your sodium intake, you will cause water weight to drop off of you quickly.
Step 2
Drink at least 64 oz. of water every day. It may sound counterintuitive, but drinking enough water helps flush items such as sodium out of your system. Your body may be retaining water in an effort to keep dehydration at bay. To keep your body's processes going, it needs water. These processes include metabolism and digestion, and the more water you drink, the more retained water you will lose.
Step 3
Add fiber-rich foods or supplemental fiber to your diet. Fiber helps the body digest and pass everything, including water, and many people find themselves bloated because they don't consume enough fiber. In addition, fiber helps keep your metabolism going strong, which will help you shed excess water. Eat at least one fiber-rich meal a day or add a fiber supplement to your morning water consumption. In a week, you can drop as much as a gallon of excess retained water.
Step 4
Try an herbal diuretic such as dandelion root, which can be made into a tea. Several different herbal diuretic formulas are also available in pill form and can be purchased at your local health food store. Keep in mind, however, that some herbs can interact with medications or cause unwanted side effects. The safest form of an herbal diuretic, according to HerbNET, is as a beverage, as you only receive a small amount of the herb in a single serving. Despite the small amount, herbal diuretics can be very effective in helping you lose water weight quickly.
Step 5
Sweat off the water weight. If you have access to a local gym or spa that has a sauna, spend a half hour every day in there, sweating off excess water. Bring water with you and drink it while you sweat to help move the excess sodium and trapped water out of your body. A gallon of water weighs approximately eight pounds, and you can easily sweat off a quart of water by sitting in a sauna for half an hour.
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