Hi, I am a long time reader first time poster. I guess I usually find what I need to know on some other thread before I actually ask a question, so thank you for being so helpful.

I know that water weight often gained after a high sodium or high carbohydrate day, but what actually happens inside your body that causes the water to be retained? Where is it stored? How long does the body's level of water remain high? What are some good natural diuretics? Please post any other information related to water retention. Thanks

Fats and muscle tissue can store the water. Don't worry about the water weight as it is not fat. Basically, when you take in high sodium/carbohydrate, your body holds water or something. I'm not too sure. Good natural diuretic? Give it couple days. Also drink plenty of water to flush out any excess water.

I don't have an answer, not sure what question really is. Water is a natural part of our bodies:

Your body is composed of 50-65% water. your blood is 90% water, your brain is 85%, your muscle is 72%, your skin is 71%, your bone is 30% and your fat is 15%. A lean man of 180lbs has 112lbs of water. Men have more water than women because they have more muscle. I really don't think too many people know this.

I try to get a gallon of water a day, I do not plan on ever taking diuretics. I don't worry about water, I do worry about losing muscle and gaining fat- the big things! :tucool:

I don't have an answer, not sure what question really is. Water is a natural part of our bodies:

Your body is composed of 50-65% water. your blood is 90% water, your brain is 85%, your muscle is 72%, your skin is 71%, your bone is 30% and your fat is 15%. A lean man of 180lbs has 112lbs of water. Men have more water than women because they have more muscle. I really don't think too many people know this.

I try to get a gallon of water a day, I do not plan on ever taking diuretics. I don't worry about water, I do worry about losing muscle and gaining fat- the big things! :tucool:
Good post, rtestes.

Water weight is not a bad thing. It doesn't make you look fat. Water keeps your muscles full looking, your body hydrated, and you healthy. Taking any sort of diuretic to get rid of water weight is idiotic unless you're doing it for the few hours that you'll be in a bodybuilding contest. Even then, it's a precarious balance because if you come in too dry, your muscles are going to look flat.

What the others said, but as to what happens when you take in sodium? Osmosis!

If there are a lot of solutes (Na, Ca, K...etc) in your blood or in your cells, water is more likely to be retained rather than be filtered out into your kidneys.

So the only thing you should take out of this is that if you suddenly switch from a crappy diet to a good one, the first week or two will show you shed lots of lbs! as the water adjusts. So don't feel disappointed if this rapid progression slows.