How to Get Rid of Water Weight

Water weight is the weight of water stored in your body. Under normal circumstances your body doesn't store water. It uses what it needs and flushes the rest out of the body. It is important to note that many times water that is flushed out of the body is done so because it is an important part of the process and just because it is leaving doesn't mean it isn't needed elsewhere. Sometimes though, the processes get thrown off and the water stays in the body. This not only adds weight to your body it can be very uncomfortable with swollen feet, ankles, hands, and even puffiness around the face. Often times water weight can be uncomfortable as well as frustrating.

There are a huge number of reasons that you may be retaining water. Everything from how much water you drink to what you are eating to how much movement you have in the day can effect your water weight. Check out the article Reasons Why You May be Retaining Water for an in depth look at those possibilities.

However, it should be noted that there are some medical conditions that can cause you to retain water. It is a good idea to evaluate any other symptoms that you may have and go to the doctor if you retain a significant amount of water or have other symptoms. In most cases, there is nothing really wrong, but it is often better to be safe than sorry.

Many people recommend water pills to get rid of water weight. This is a complicated issue because on one hand the water pills work. They draw the water out of your cells and urinate it away. This provides relief if you are feeling bloated or swollen. However, you can't use water pills to get rid of water weight in the long run. Water pills are a diuretic which causes the body to release potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Water pills also causes the body to get rid of too much water. It then becomes dehydrated and your body then works to retain more water.

Many people think that if they drink more water their body will retain more fluids. However, the body then knows that it won't run out and it will use water in a more normal way. This is the first thing that people who are suffering from water retention should do to see if they can get rid of it!

In most circumstances getting rid of water weight is really about making lifestyle choices. Many causes of water weight have to do with not living a healthy lifestyle and by making simple changes you can make a huge difference in your life.

1. Drink More Water! Some feel that because they retain water they shouldn't drink as much. However, it is usually opposite. Most people are either dehydrated or on the brink of dehydration. This can cause people to retain water. The body thinks that it will have to go without, so it holds back as much as possible and stores it in the only place it can. Drink at least eight glasses of water, but in many cases more is better.
   
2. Avoid Drinks That Dehydrate. There are several drinks that are commonly consumed that are diuretics (things that make you go to the bathroom more and cause the body to release potassium, magnesium, and calcium) and cause dehydration. These include coffee, tea, soda, alcohol, and any drink with caffeine in it. You should avoid these whenever possible. When you do consume these beverages make sure that you are drinking water to compensate.
3. Eat Less Junk! As a whole our society eats too much sugar, salt, and other bad stuff. The sugar and salt can directly lead to water retention complete with bloating and swelling.
   
4. Eat More Good Stuff! While salt and sugar remain your enemy there are a lot of important food ingredients that can help to get rid of water weight. These include potassium, magnesium, calcium, fiber, amino acids, and protein. It is also likely that more B vitamins can make a difference. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can all help with the water weight.
   
5. Eat Small Meals. Some evidence has also been brought forth on eating smaller meals throughout the day. Rather than eating three large meals aim for five to six small ones. The idea behind this is that waiting a long time between meals to eat will cause your body to store food and water just in case it is going to be starved. On the other hand, small frequent meals make it easy to feel full and keep your body believing that it has all that it needs.
   
6. Exercise. Water weight is often brought on by an inactivity. If you don't move enough then water has the chance to settle and stay where it is. On the other hand, if you are exercising regularly then it will be harder to keep water weight.
   
7. DeStress. Stress can also cause the body to retain water. Learning to let your stress go will help a lot. There are many different ways to destress and using them will make your life better in many ways.
   
8. Herbal Detox. Many people believe that toxins in the body can also make your body retain water. Doing an herbal detox can help you to get rid of the unwanted toxins in your body. There are many to choose from, just make sure that you are including plenty of water and that you are aware that the herbal detox is likely to contain herbs that cause elimination.
   

Often the best way to get rid of water weight that is not caused by a medical condition is to make sure that you work towards a healthy lifestyle. All of these things will help you to live a life without excess water.