Water Weight

[han-grrl]

Our bodies are mostly water, that is that water serves as the liquid for "stuff to happen" as in to make blood, sweat, tears etc...

water is also stored along with muscle glycogen (ie carbs) in our muscles for use later. So when someone goes on a restricted calorie diet, their body starts to use up stored glycogen for energy, but there isn't enough to put it back, so you end up losing water at the same time.

alternatively, when someone carbo-loads, they start off by depleting their carb stores first, then when they re-introduce carbs back in, their body compensates from the loss before by storing a bit more "just in case". so often someone who carbo loads will gain a bit of weight (sometimes 4-5 pounds) because carbs are stored with water.

hope that helps!

han

[CycleChic06]

Our bodies are mostly water, that is that water serves as the liquid for "stuff to happen" as in to make blood, sweat, tears etc...

water is also stored along with muscle glycogen (ie carbs) in our muscles for use later. So when someone goes on a restricted calorie diet, their body starts to use up stored glycogen for energy, but there isn't enough to put it back, so you end up losing water at the same time.

alternatively, when someone carbo-loads, they start off by depleting their carb stores first, then when they re-introduce carbs back in, their body compensates from the loss before by storing a bit more "just in case". so often someone who carbo loads will gain a bit of weight (sometimes 4-5 pounds) because carbs are stored with water.

hope that helps!

han

Thanks Han, that was really helpful and it makes sense!