What is Water Weight & Does it Matter?
Every function and process in your body requires water. In fact, water makes up 50 percent of your body weight. However, the amount of water you retain after your body’s natural functions heavily depend on your diet.
For many, excess water weight feels like bloating. But, here’s the thing: your body isn’t bloating because of the water. It’s bloating because of the foods you eat.
Yes, losing water weight will make you look thinner. But that doesn’t mean you should drink less. Dehydration is a big problem for the body. When you restrict your water consumption, you will notice a handful of symptoms. You may experience dry skin and eyes. Your thyroid slows down which decreases your metabolism. You could experience headaches, joint pain, mood swings, lack of focus, and bad breath. It’s also possible to notice a decline in muscle mass when you’re dehydrated.
So instead of limiting your H20 intake, focus on changing your diet to lose that pesky water weight.
Certain food groups are notorious for making your body store extra water. If your diet contains a lot of sodium, your cells get notified to absorb the water and swell up. Furthermore, your body will then store sodium when its insulin levels in the blood are higher than normal. What causes insulin levels to rise? Sugar. A diet heavy in salt and sugar will result in excess water weight.
Another culprit for water-based bloating could be your carbohydrate intake. Every gram of carb that your body uses for energy causes an extra 3 grams of water to be stored. Ever notice how bloated and uncomfortable you feel after a carb-dense meal like pasta and garlic bread?
During the weight loss journey, many people notice a significant initial weight loss. This is because we’re most motivated to change our health and fitness at the beginning of the journey. In those first few weeks, you will lose some of the water weight because your diet will ultimately limit your sugar and salt intake. It’s when you start slacking on your healthy eating that the water weight comes back.
So how should you adjust your diet? Focus more on proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Antioxidants, fibre, and other nutrients need to make a daily appearance on your plate. Say goodbye to refined sugars found in pastries, cookies, and chocolate bars. The same goes for salty treats; no more potato chips or movie theatre popcorn. Creating a new diet plan is a lot of work, so we took care of that for you. Check out our Ideal Protein Program to get your eating on a healthy path that will last.