Shedding retained water

amy_b

amy_b

Cathlete
Hi, Cathe,
I have 3 more weeks before I need to be "camera ready." I would like to look my leanest at that time. Right now, I am working pretty hard (rotations including Mus. End., Bootcamp, Imax2, PP & SS, KPC) and I wonder if that contributes to water retention. I know I need to be drinking lots of water. (how much is lots??) Is there anything else that will help me shed that water weight that mysteriously comes and goes? I'm also trying to decide if I should "ramp up" and go all out for the next 3 weeks or take it kind of easy for the next weeks or even take a break. I would like to do whatever it takes to look my best on that certain date.
Thank you!! I'm going to be on a TV show. I'll tell you which one if I like how it turns out. ;o) My life isn't normally this exciting as a mom of 3 kids.
 
Amy, how exciting! I'm sure you'll look wonderful! Sure you don't won't to give us a hint??? Good Luck and we'll be waiting to hear all about it.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
One of the most reliable ways for me to lose five imaginary pounds is to stop exercising completely. I have found for myself, and several others on the forum have agreed, that we always look thinner on vacation. Of course this isn't really good for our fitness levels, but if it's just temporary thinness you want, if you stop exercising 2 or 3 days before the event, all the puffiness that comes from working muscles hard will melt away. Is this making sense? Muscles pump up and grow when you work them hard.

Also, there is false puffy weight gained from salt and from hi carbs. So, I would cut back on the salt and eat a low carb diet the last 3 or 4 days before the event.
 
Hi, Amy! It has always been my understanding that exercise reduces water retention which is one of the reasons I never let myself talk myself out of exercise when PMSy, no matter how cranky and unmotivated I might be! LOL!

Reducing your salt intake is a wonderful idea. Keep working out, drinking plenty of water and eating clean and you won't require any special measures to look your best. You'll look your best because you ARE one fit, hot mother of three!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
I have read that cutting carbs decreases water retention too. I remember reading in one of my magazines a few months ago (possibly Self) an article on "Looking good in 30 days, 3 days, 3 minutes" that had various things you could do and I believe under the 3 days one, it mentioned reducing carb intake as a way to de-poof. I will look through my stacks of mags tonight and if I still have it I will scan and email it to you. Good luck!

RS
 
Thanks so much for all your advice! They are filming a segment about exercise and my "role" is the fit mom, so...the pressure is on! :eek:) I hope it will be fun. They are flying me out to LA for it.
 
Wow, how FUN! Keep us posted. Would love to see the show. You'll be awesome. You have a great role model!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
That sounds like fun and a little scary too! Is there an audience? Remember to envision the audience, the crew and the host in their underwear. No one is intimidating in their skivvies. :) And imagine you are at home, working out with Cathe and you will rock. I think Debbie is right. You have a great role model and you ARE a great role model, fit mother of three! I hope you have a blast!
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
Hi Amy! Wow this sounds very exciting! Be sure to keep us posted. You sound like you are one hard working fit mama and focused too. Good for you. It is so hard to figure out that exact formula that keeps one's body from gaining (or even losing) that one to three pounds of water per given day. We all work and react differently so it is tough to give an answer. Some things that can make your body hold water are overtraining, lack of sleep, stress, menstrual cycle, ovulation, high starch or carb diet, high sodium, certain prescription medications, etc. There is just so much to consider.

This is certainly not an accusation by any means, but one thing I want to stress (to everyone)is that if you are looking to lose a bit of extra water, please do it 100% naturally and normally. If you take over the counter "tricks" you will lose much more than water. Unfortunately, I have seen this happen much too often over the years surrounded by people eager to lose unwanted pounds/water just before bathingsuit season. Shedding water unnaturally can cause the body to lose muscle, physical stamina, mental focus, electrolyte balance, important vitamins, minerals and more. I don't encourage it at all.

The things I try to do are eat small meals 6 times a day, eat foods in their most natural unprocessed state, keep the water intake up around 10 glasses a day, get good sound sleep, workout consistently with a good 36 to 48 hours recovery time when I am very sore.

However, be prepared, sometimes you can do all the right things and your body still doesn't react the way you would have hoped for. On the flip side, sometimes you "slip up", therefore expecting to retain a lot of water and actually wake up feeling thinner (huh?).

Another thing to consider is the time of month that you are filming. If it is during your menstrual cycle, you may not be able to do much about water retention. For example, I was just bitten by that bug this past round of DVD's we filmed. No matter how much I sweat under those hot lights, my body was reluctant to part with being somewhat bloated.

So as you can see, water retention is not a cut and dry issue to deal with. I encourage you to keep up the great job you have been doing and listen to your body every step of the way. If at any point you feel overtrained, take a couple of days off. The next three weeks will be filled with a lot of excitement and anxiety. This can be hard on you emotionally and physically so be sure to sleep well, eat well, and train smart. Best of luck to you Amy:D
 
Quote from Cathe: "No matter how much I sweat under those hot lights, my body was reluctant to part with being somewhat bloated."

I just looked at all of the photos from the new DVDs again. Cathe, if that's what water retention looks like, I want to be bloated!:)
 
Me too Jilly!!! Ha!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Thanks to all of you for all the encouragement! Cathe, I very much appreciate your commitment to a natural and normal approach. I have toyed with the idea of stopping into a health food store to look at their products for quick water reduction, but I won't. After all, they must to want "real" people for the show, so why should I fake it now? I am not on any prescriptions, so that is good. I sleep well (most of the time, if the kids are well), so that is good. I should be just barely past my cycle- hopefully that will be good. I can up my water, go lower on the carbs, and listen to my body for recovery time. I sometimes push myself too hard.
I really appreciate it!!!!! :7 I can feel the adrenaline rush if I think about it too much, so I try not to!
 
Haha Cathe bloated? That sounds like an oxymoron. I thought you looked great in the pics from the new stuff! Can't wait till they ship!
 
>One of the most reliable ways for me to lose five imaginary
>pounds is to stop exercising completely. I have found for
>myself, and several others on the forum have agreed, that we
>always look thinner on vacation. Of course this isn't really
>good for our fitness levels, but if it's just temporary
>thinness you want, if you stop exercising 2 or 3 days before
>the event, all the puffiness that comes from working muscles
>hard will melt away. Is this making sense? Muscles pump up and
>grow when you work them hard.
>
>Also, there is false puffy weight gained from salt and from hi
>carbs. So, I would cut back on the salt and eat a low carb
>diet the last 3 or 4 days before the event.

Yes I know what you mean!! It's very strange but now I understand. Sometimes my tight shirts fit tighter around the arms and then on my days off they are looser. I wasen't sure how much you puff up- I'm glad I;m not the only one
 
RE: Shedding retained water-rockstar

>I have read that cutting carbs decreases water retention too.
> I remember reading in one of my magazines a few months ago
>(possibly Self) an article on "Looking good in 30 days, 3
>days, 3 minutes" that had various things you could do and I
>believe under the 3 days one, it mentioned reducing carb
>intake as a way to de-poof. I will look through my stacks of
>mags tonight and if I still have it I will scan and email it
>to you. Good luck!
>
>RS
can you send it to me too? I'd apprecaite it!!
thanks
michelle
[email protected]
 
RE: Shedding retained water-Cathe

Thanks for all the informative words Cathe! I sometimes wondered about those Stacker 2 pills because they say they use all natural herbs and now they have the epedra free kind. I've taken them before and I know they work- but I stopped about 3 years ago because I don't feel that well when I take them..also what are your thoughts on Creatine?
 
RE: Shedding retained water-rockstar

I am so sorry guys, I can't find the issue that the article was in. I know it was sometime in the last 6 months or so, but, of course, that is probably the one issue that I tossed out! Sorry!!!
 
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