What Is ‘Water Weight,’ Anyway? 5 Tips to Get Rid of the Puffiness
If you want to learn how to lose water weight fast, you’re not alone. After all, just about everyone has experienced the unpleasant surprise of a few extra pounds piling on shortly before a major event, such as a wedding or dinner party. And let’s face facts: It’s a huge pain. The last thing you want on a big night out is to feel uncomfortable in your beautiful fall dress, especially if it’s a form-fitting one. But before you can learn how to get rid of water weight, you have to understand what water weight actually is first.
What is water weight?
No matter what number you see on the scale, water typically makes up about 60 percent of your body weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. As we all know, we need a lot of H2O to survive. If we don’t drink enough water, we risk dehydration, exhaustion, and our bodies not being able to function properly.
However, it’s possible for our bodies to hold extra water that we don’t really need. And this extra water in the body is what we refer to as “water weight,” according to Medical News Today. It can happen after simply drinking a whole lot of water in one sitting, or packing away an especially heavy and filling meal. Water weight, also known as edema, is extremely common and usually not a huge medical concern. That said, anyone who’s experienced water weight gain can tell you the issue is no picnic: It can cause bloating, puffiness, and overall discomfort in different areas of the body, including the belly.
Some folks experience more intense water weight than others. Studies show that a person’s water levels can cause their weight to fluctuate by as much as two to four pounds per day. (Yikes!) But here’s the good news: Water weight is a temporary problem — and there are ways to shed it.
How to Lose Water Weight
- Take it easy on the salt in your meals. According to the Mayo Clinic, eating a lot of salt can lead to more fluid retention, especially around your menstrual period.
- Talk to your doctor about taking a supplement. Dandelion, ginger, parsley, hawthorn, and juniper are a few examples of herbs and supplements that can help with water weight. With your health practitioner’s OK, this might be a great solution for you.
- Try drinking more water. We know, we know: This might sound like the definition of counterproductive. But dehydration can actually make your body hold on to extra water in your body, in order to make up for new water not coming in, according to Medical News Today. Important: Never try to lose weight by withholding water.
- Consider cutting down on carbs. We love a comforting starchy meal as much as the next person, but overloading on pasta or rice can cause your body to store more water, because your body’s not using the carbs for energy right away. Ask your doctor how many carbs are appropriate for you to eat per day, and try not to go over that amount.
- Focus instead on filling your plate with healthy foods. According to 1MD, the best foods to get rid of water weight are those that contain fiber, antioxidants, and potassium. As you can imagine, this includes a lot of fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, berries, and squash. Don’t forget a glass of water with your healthy snack!
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