Water Retention: How Does it Occur???

[Casablanca]

I'd love some enlightment on this. I'm majorly bloated and 'd love to know how it happens. Do our muscles retain water or is it our skin, and why? Thanks

 

[MS]

If you feel bloated then it's from extracellular water. This could be from several different causes such as too much sodium/not enough fluid intake, stress or other hormonal imbalances which cause your kidneys to retain electolytes and fluids. Most of this fluid will be in the blood volume or interstitial spaces since the inside of your cells keeps a very tight regulation on the electrolytes it allows in.

 

[Casablanca]

Thanks MS! in my wildest deams I wouldn't have expected such a quick response, and from you!!!

 

[anthrax]

let's say you've eaten a couple of meals with far too much sodium.

what would be the best thing to do to get rid of that water retention ?
drink large quantities of water ?

And how long will it take to get rid of this water ?

 

[Kid Dynamite]

Yes, drinking alot of water will help flush out the sodium.

 

[MS]

If I have too much sodium and want to get rid of the fluid fast, I double my water intake AND drop my carbs. It usually takes no more than 24 hours for me to feel and look better using this method. Of course, for the first 12 hours it gets worse since I keep dumping more fluid in while my kidneys are still thinking "retain that stuff 'cause ya might not get any more'. Once I start peeing regularly I know things are improving!

 

[Lumberg]

So sodium hepls you retain water, right?

Say you were about to do some heavy training. Let's say running a marathon or playing a football game in 90 degree weather. Would the athlete who ate a very salty meal with high carbs the night before, or even just a few hours before perform better than his identical twin who just drank a shitload of water???

How about a powerlifter under the same scenario??

Just wondering.

JC

 

[anthrax]

if you run a marathon you'll lose a lot of minerals (by sweating)

you should then take additional vit/min


but too much sodium will make you be more heavy which is not good when running

 

[Casablanca]

How much weight can one put just from retaining water? does 10 pound sound right? how does it look like on love handles, in other words, if you use calipers to measure the extra "flesh" put on, how can you tell that it is water and not fat?

 

[SUST-MAN]

Lasix