Destination...Hard Body Boot Camp

Fat Loss Boot Camp

214-843-8349

3263 Independence Pkwy

Plano, TX 75075

Think of this scenario. You've had a great couple weeks with your
eating and exercise. You're starting to really see progress: your
clothes are fitting looser, your face looks leaner, your stomach's
tightening up, your energy's increasing... You're fired up to weigh
yourself now, because you know the number will be much less. You
step on the scale and... OH NO! Your weight is actually up... You
think to yourself, "How can this be? It's not possible!" So you
get off the scale, look at yourself and see if you're wearing something
different or maybe the scale isn't calibrated correctly.   All
that amazing progress you were experiencing is discounted and you're
frustrated and upset. You think all your hard work was a waste. Does
this sound familiar?  We've disregarded all the positive work we've done with our health
because we've been attached to a number on the scale.

Sometimes that number does mean something... and sometimes it doesn't.

There are many factors that determine your weight. The biggest one is
water retention. Your body's made up of somewhere between 55%-75% of
water (the percentage depends on the size of your body). This means
that your weight will be directly affected by your body’s retention of
water.

Every cell in your body controls its water balance through a
sodium/potassium pump.    Potassium resides inside the cell and sodium
stays outside the cell.  Both of these are electrolytes. An equal
balance of sodium to potassium must remain in each cell so that proper
cell integrity and water/electrolyte balance can be maintained.   As
with every other system in the body, the goal is to maintain
homeostasis (balance).  Water retention is a side effect of the
disruption of this balance.

Why does the body retain water?

Once the balance is lost, the body will need to make an internal
adjustment in order to regain cell balance. Many times, the body
adjusts by retaining water.  The main reason for this is blood flow. 
Our circulatory system is the method in which our body is supplied with
oxygen. Without water, our blood cannot flow.    When there's a cell
imbalance with possible dehydration (lack of water), the body triggers
the release of hormones to retain and protect its remaining water and
ensure the proper hydration of the body’s blood supply.

What causes water retention?

This cell imbalance can be affected by many things; the most frequent
are:  high sodium and/or carbohydrate foods, a lack of water intake,
the ingestion of diuretics (substances that force your body to release
water), women’s menstrual cycle and stress.  Every gram of sodium and
carbohydrates attract 3-4 water molecules.  This means when you eat too
much sodium or carbohydrates, you will force the body to retain
excessive water.   Many people also think that drinking water causes
water retention...  Not true. In fact, the exact opposite is true. 

Please remember that the body is a "feed as it goes" machine... If the
body is being fed consistently, it will release consistently. This
means by drinking more water, your body will release more water and in
turn flush out excess sodium.   Taking diuretics or "water pills" are
also a big cause of water retention.   These substances force the body
to release its water and directly affects the sodium/potassium pump of
each cell. By taking diuretics, your body begins to rely on them, and
temporarily loses its ability to self regulate this internal water
balance.    This means that when the substances aren't taken, the body
doesn't know how to release water, causing heavy water retention.   
Diuretics taken for long periods of time can cause permanent damage to
the body’s water regulating system as well as the kidneys. 

 Another
cause of water retention is a women’s menstrual cycle.  This is caused
by the increased levels of hormones present. Typically, a woman on her
menstrual cycle can gain 5-6 lbs. 

The last thing that frequently causes water retention is stress.  Stress is defined as the body's
reaction to change, producing a physical, mental, or emotional
response.  Stress naturally occurs in life, so in moderation it's a
non-factor.  When stress levels reach a high point, they cause a
hormonal response that triggers the accumulation and retention of water
and toxins in the body.