You may have stepped on a scale after a hard workout and thought you'd lost weight, only to come back after drinking water and realize you were simply dehydrated. If so, you know water weight can cause a significant change in the numbers on your scale.
Sodium
Salt can hinder weight loss. A diet high in sodium causes your body to retain water to balance out the increase in salt. Your body works to keep your electrolytes in balance. When your body retains excess water, it can manifest in your tissues by swollen hands and feet. It makes you feel bloated and even thirsty.
Weight Loss
Rapid weight loss can be attributed to a loss in water reserves. When the body is dehydrated, you can lose between 5 and 8 pounds, depending on your starting weight. This is a false weight loss, however, and is corrected when you are properly hydrated.
Diet
A diet rich in water-based vegetables aids in keeping the body hydrated and your electrolytes in balance. It also helps with constipation problems, making it easier for the body to eliminate waste and keep the number on the scale trending down. Foods such as watermelon and celery have high water content that hydrates and nourishes the body.
Water
The recommended amount of water per day is eight glasses. The body needs water to perform properly. By keeping the body hydrated and running smoothly, you decrease the need to retain excess water. The body receives all the water it needs through diet.
Considerations
If you are providing your body an adequate amount of water, restricting your sodium intake and still have water-retention problems, you may have health issues that need to be evaluated. Consult your doctor. Some water-retention problems can coincide with heart isues. A diet high in salt can also cause an increase in your blood pressure. Decreasing your salt intake can help alleviate blood pressure problems. If you take into account all the reasons why the body may retain water and you correct these, you should not retain water while trying to lose weight.
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