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 Women's Discussion Board
 Loosing the excess of water (woman)
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| Author | Topic: Loosing the excess of water (woman) |
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Big Boy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 120) |
posted May 10, 2000 02:40 PM
  
My wife his in very good shape but she seems to retain water easily. Is there a natural supplement that can help her loose the excess of water. She is 12% BF and very fit / muscular. She also drinks at least a gallon of water everyday.. Thanks IP: Logged |
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MrMuscle Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 156) |
posted May 10, 2000 02:41 PM
ripped fuel worked for me  ------------------ http://home.sol.no/~mrmuscle/ IP: Logged |
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JayeLynn Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 39) |
posted May 10, 2000 03:29 PM
Vitamin C It's a natural diuretic and I will often use it to balance out. I have a bypolar situation if you will. I retain more water as the day progresses regardless of what I do all day. ...my hands swell when I go for long walks, etc. That stuff is just genetics. But with respect to the bigger 'cycles' (of the female kind) I will periodically retain excess water resulting in bloating, yet at the same time be dehydrated. The dehydration leads to constipation, muscle cramps, etc. For me, its a matter of knowing my body very well. Usually, muscle cramps for me means low sodium instead of water. ..so, I'll swallow 2-3K milligrams of C with tonic water. (no gin!) Then, maybe the sodium increases my water retention, but it definately stops the muscle cramps. It's also my vague understanding that vitamin C plays a role in protein systhesis. When I'm working really heavy over long periods in the gym, I can tolerate up to 7-8K mg of C as opposed to my standard 3K. Try it out: the benefits are numerous. But just on the side, it's also my understanding that people with type A blood don't tollerate larger doses of vitamin c well due to the increased level of acid in their stomaches. If this is the case for your partner, try small doses throughout the day. [This message has been edited by JayeLynn (edited May 10, 2000).] IP: Logged |
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WonderWoman Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 46) |
posted May 11, 2000 05:23 PM
How much water are we talking here? Some ladies trully struggle with the retention issue premenstrually. I am one of them. You may wish to try an otc pms product if this is the case. Most of them contain mild diuretics and may be exactly what you are looking for. Again , we need to know why she is bloating. It could be that she just needs to eat less sodium. WW IP: Logged |
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BiffBoom Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 367) |
posted May 11, 2000 05:27 PM
dandelion can be an effective diuretic. Also, drinking lots of water can force your body to retain less extracellular water. Creatine can keep water in the muscles and keep extracellular bloat to a minimum. IP: Logged |
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MS Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 71) |
posted May 11, 2000 06:12 PM
I think it would be good to find why she's holding the water. Excess sodium (more specifically the balance of sodium to potassium) is a problem for many women, as are hormonal fluctuations. Creatine also causes extra bloating in some women. And not drinking enough water, even though sometimes you're sure you are, is another contributing factor. I agree a good anti-PMS supplement might help, but you could accomplish the same thing by going on a sodium restricted diet rich in fresh vegetables and whole grains, plus lean protein sources and EPO /Star primrose oil or flaxseed oil. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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WarLobo Moderator (Total posts: 430) |
posted May 11, 2000 07:23 PM
MS, you have hit a nerve with me! You were right on track when you mentioned the sodium and potassium One of the most dangerous and/or potentially powerful ratios the body must maintain is the Calcium/Magnesium/Potassium level. Not taking calcium means your using it from your skeletal base - and puts a great deal of pressure on the body. Also cramps are a problem when coming close to a show - or just as a result when trying to cut up. Some claim they avoid serious cramping and other side effects associated with the use of diuretics by supplementing extra mineral and potassium salts. This practice, although often effective, can be extremely dangerous. When self-administering diuretics and potassium salts, an extreme imbalance could result in heart failure. Be sure to limit your sodium as most roids like to hang on to it (bloating) but be sure to take a quality mineral supplement. Late Lobo p.s. I get very nervous when we start talking about using chemicals to reduce water. This is how most of the top big boys kick it. It's not the roids. p.s.s One thing we tend to forget is that if we have a bit more muscle it is easier to see! So maybe rethinking this a little might be the way to go. IP: Logged |
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MS Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 71) |
posted May 11, 2000 07:52 PM
Right on WarLobo. I still make far too many assumptions when I reply to these posts (and most posters don't help by not including enough detail). One thing I assume is that any women on this board is somewhat 'health conscious' and is ensuring they get enough calcium. But then I am reminded that most women DON'T get enough calcium (or Iron), and most Westerners consume too much sodium, not enough potassium.. And I haven't seen many women that couldn't use a little more muscle on their frames (pro-bodybuilders the exception of course). I also get 'nervous' whenever someone wants to use chemicals (even naturally derived diuretics) to solve problems which could be fixed in safer, more healthful ways. I guess Big Boy asked for a SUPPLEMENT his wife could take. A well balanced mineral and maybe some B-vitamins (especially B6) would be my answer to that specific question. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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WonderWoman Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 46) |
posted May 11, 2000 10:50 PM
Here here folks. The 1st option is always diet. I'm sure most of us here would agree that the majority of our mistakes in regard to supplimentation revolve around diet. Not enough of this nutrient, too much of that one, etc. I for one struggle with it on a daily basis. As we've heard it said before, diet is 90% of bodybuilding. Lots of leafy gerrns and other veggies + plenty of protein should get that water problem moving in the right direction. If not we'll at least know what's right and move on to other possibilities. WW IP: Logged |
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MS Amateur Bodybuilder (Total posts: 71) |
posted May 12, 2000 03:05 PM
You'll get no arguement from me Wonder Woman. I retain water like nobody I've ever met IF I don't eat right (low sodium, complex carbs, lotsa fibrous vegies etc....). If I stay clean enough in my eating habits I don't even need to use herbal diuretics pre-competition to get nice and dry. But I wonder how many people would visit this notice board if all the advice they ever got was "eat your grains, vegies and lean protein, and stay away from alcohol, salt, sugar, smoking. And don't forget to exercise regularly"? Isn't this the message the heart foundation AND cancer society has been busting themselves to get across for ever? I know there's plenty of Atkins/Zone/CKD fans in the bodybuilding world who would disagree with this sort of advice. We don't know what kind of diet (if any) Big Boy's wife is following, but at least you and I would advise that she sticks to the basics rather than trying to supplement her way to a perfect body? This overly verbose reply was meant for the benefit of Big Boy and his wife, so I hope they're still out there and feel like they can contribute more to this thread. ------------------ IP: Logged |
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Big Boy Pro Bodybuilder (Total posts: 120) |
posted May 18, 2000 12:13 PM
Thanks everybody... BB IP: Logged |
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