South Beach Diet - When do you retain water?

I do believe I'm ovulating.

I didn't lose any weight over the weekend and I worked my tush off trying to get my exercise in and eat properly.

Do you retain water when you're ovulating or just about to get your period or what? I'm looking for reassurance, I guess.

Kara

Kara - I'm right there with you (again). I was really good this weekend but the scale this morning read 128 (I'm in denial and can't make myself change my ticker). I'm hoping its because I'm retaining water. I worked out yesterday after not doing so for a week so I'm thinking that may be the culprit.

You ladies who still have hormones will gain around the TOM. Eating more carbs will also cause water retention, as will salt. In fact, I once read someplace that we retain a pound of water for every pickle (this was referring to whole pickles, not spears or slices).

But speaking of salt, a diet doctor I once worked for used to tell his patients that when fat cells are breaking up they release salts into the blood stream which it takes the kidneys a few days to unite with water molecules and pee away.

It could be any of those things. Hang tough, chicks. As more and more "good days" stack up dietwise, that weight will come off. I finally gave in and upped my ticker today. Somehow I gained 2 lbs. in the last week. I weighed and reweighed for like 4 days, then decided maybe its muscle, maybe not. But whatever it is, it's all mine. :)

L

There are so many reasons you could be retaining water... It could be hormonal, it could be something you ate (salt?), it could be the exercise... From what I understand if you work your muscles hard, they tend to retain water in an attempt to heal themselves.

You're doing what you are supposed to be doing... don't let the silly scale discourage you... the numbers will catch up with what you are doing... :hug:

Kara, don't get discouraged, the scale is not always our friend. This is what I was talking about with the measurments. Muscel takes up less space than fat. Also you a pretty close to you goal weight so your body may just be taking some time to adjust. Give a day or two.

I retain water a few weeks before my period.I think any time between ovulation and your period it is time to retain water. It is terrible. I feel so bloated and don't loose weight. The only thing that helps is to drink a lot of water for me. Don't worry, in a week you will feel back to normal. As others stated above, try to stay away from a lot of salt right now.

Hi Kara,

I am totally with you, I find I retain water during ovulation and my TOM.

Hang in there girl, you are doing everything right.

Liannie, that's awesome! I had no idea that fat cells released salts. It completely makes sense because Friday was when I really got myself back in gear, Monday was when I weighed the same as Friday, and then this morning (Tuesday) the scale was down three pounds. Unbelievable!

Kara

Thanks for the encouragement, ladies! I do feel a bit bloated and I haven't been paying attention to my salt intake, so perhaps that's something I should keep an eye on. My cycle is so wonky now - I have no clue why. Avery's still nursing, but mainly at night and she's over one year old so I was expecting things to be back to normal by now like with the other two. My last cycle was 78 days long! I'm on day 61 of this one, and just yesterday think that I detected some signs of ovulation, which means I'll probable go 74 or 75 days for this cycle. I shouldn't be complaining, really. I like not having my period, I just feel confused about how things are off.

But thanks for the encouragement!

Kara