I'm dumb, and proud of it... so.. tell me.. what exactly happens when you take one of those water pills? I worry it will be hard on my stomach, which is so incredibly sensitive. Also, when do you take it? Would the day before be alright? Is that long enough? I don't get paid until Friday, so I wonder if I could take it on Friday and if I'd lose weight by Saturday night?? I'm just not experienced in this dept. I started my first diet when I was 22, impressed?

-Aimee

I don't have any experience with them, so I can't answer your specific questions, but ...

Just be aware that the only way your body can get rid of water is by sweating and peeing. So, if excessive bathroom visits are a problem because of your schedule, then ... ANY kind of diuretic, whether it's a pill or lemon-and-water or green tea, will all have the same issues for you.

another thing that is an absolute killer for water retention is salt! anything with high sodium content will suck that water up and not let it go.

One thing I learned recently is potassium helps counteract excess salt. I have tried it and it does make me less bloated and feel better so if you can eat banana's I would add that in addition to the water and green tea!

Other terrific sources of potassium, should you not have the free calories or inclination to eat bananas, are spinach (you'll get more of an impact from cooked vs. raw because you'll get more spinach per cup) and tomatoes. They're both quite high, with spinach being particularly low in calories and a good source of fiber!

Potassium is the only nutrient I struggle with -- the rest I get in abundance -- and I've taken to eating a 1-2 cups of cooked spinach per day, and making a point of upping my tomato intake as well. I take potassium supplements, but you have to take so many to get any real impact (at 5% per pill that's a lot of pills!) so I've turned to spinach as my savior. I love it, and it has all sorts of other great benefits as well.

I don't think OTC water pills are strong enough for you to lose all the water you want in a day or 2. I think you would have to take them for a few days. Also as far as laxatives goes, once in awhile will do no harm to take them but if you take them frequently over a long period of time your bowel will not respond to normal body stimulation to excavate itself and you'll have a difficult time having bowel movements without laxatives.

Please don't take the dieretics!! I'm old enough (44) to have known women who have really damaged themselves using these things.

Here's what you do....NO SALT!! None! Eat fruit, veggies, totally unsalted (boring) meat and drink tons of water and tea. Berries and melon naturally will help you (I know they're out of season though!) Can you get some frozen berries and mix them with some nonfat milk and protein powder? Just eat a totally salt free diet with fruit and water included and you'll be good as new tomorrow I promise.

So, I did something else.. I bought new pants, in a small size I might add. Old Navy clothes annoy me, which were the pants I was having issues with. And I have been eating less bad foods, no bubbly drinks, lots of veggies and lean meats, and brown rice. I don't know that I lost any water weight, my stupid TOM is gonna start tomorrow I think.. grrr. Being a woman shouldn't be so darn complicated! Thanks for all the great advice.. and Sarah, I love the potassium thing too. I can usually spare the calories for a banana, and I love them.. heh. I didn't know about the spinach thing, I might get my bf to add that into my food mix (he's the cook around here).

-Aimee