Water weight is something that is often misinterpreted as something that isn’t bad for the body. It refers to the extra water stored within the body, which adds to one’s weight.

When people, more women than men, try to lose weight, the first thing they usually lose is water weight, which generally adds up to 2 to 10 pounds. This number might even increase, depending on one’s state of health, and whether you have a higher body fat percentage than the average person.

Why Women are More Likely to Have Water Weight Than Men

Apart from being overweight, or obese, women also tend to hold on to more water weight than men. It is because women have a 15 to 20% higher natural body fat percentage than men, which is primarily due to their body’s anatomy.

Women need added bodyfat to be able to conceive and give birth to babies. For that apparent reason, there are also more reasons why women hold onto water weight than men. These include higher levels of hormones, such as progesterone, and their menstrual cycle. Women also tend to hold onto water weight one week before the start of their cycle, which causes temporary weight gain by holding onto water alone. Women usually gain 2 to 10 pounds during this time.

Causes of Water Weight

As mentioned, water weight isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it’s just something that occurs due to health-related factors. Water weight can be bad due to the health factors that increase the effect it has on the body.

Having bad habits, such as having a poor diet, a lack of sleep, as well as certain illnesses, could be the cause thereof. It also occurs due to the types of fluid you consume, as well as the amount that you consume, and the timing thereof.

Even though having water weight is a temporary condition, it would still be nice to prevent it, especially if you’re a woman. 

Tips to Lose Water Weight

  • Increase Your Water Intake – Although it sounds strange, it works. Since your body is made up of 60% water, you must keep consuming it. People generally want to get rid of water weight, due to the bloating caused by it, as well as the additional pounds that gets added to the scale. Not only does increasing your water intake help you lose weight, but, it also helps you stay lean and keep the water retention to a minimum.
  • Exercise – The number one way to get rid of water retention, is to work out. That is because, when you exercise, the swelling in your skin gets reduced, leaving you looking, and feeling, a lot less bloated.

Another amazing benefit of exercise is the fact that it helps you control fluid level, which decreases water weight loss, along with fat loss.

  • Sleep More – Who doesn’t like a little bit more sleep. The importance of sleep cannot be emphasised enough. If you want to be healthier, it’s not only your diet and exercise habits that need to be adjusted, but it’s your sleeping habits too. Aiming for 7 to 9 hours each night should be a priority. Not only does it reduce water retention, but it also maintains proper levels of body hydration.
  • Skip the Salt and Processed Food – Let’s be real. Nobody said that losing weight was going to be easy. The number one cause of water retention, however, is adding sodium to your diet. What’s more is, it’s found in all types of processed food. 

So, how do you solve this problem? You stop buying KFC, along with any other on-the-go foods.