How To Get Rid Of Water Weight Fast

You've probably heard that when you lose weight fast, it's usually water weight. Or maybe you point fingers at water weight after stepping on the scale when you're feeling totally bloated. Yet, water weight is a totally normal, and your body's way of protecting itself against dehydration-and yes, it can go away on its own.

Though too much water weight can make you feel swollen and uncomfortable depending on your situation. Here's what you need to know about water weight, where it comes from, and how to get rid of it as necessary.

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What is water weight?

Water weight is when fluid collects in your tissues, causing them to swell-and it's often not the best feeling. "Water weight is where the body retains fluid that normally would go to the kidneys," explains Lynn Mack, MD, an endocrinologist at University of Nebraska Medical Center. Instead of peeing out that extra fluid, your body stores it between your organs and skin, she says. Water weight may be uncomfortable-but it's usually temporary, and it doesn't mean you've gained weight in muscle or fat.

What causes water weight?

Salty and carbohydrate-heavy foods

One of the most common causes of water weight is excess salt in your diet. Sodium binds with water and keeps it trapped in the body. "The higher the sodium in the diet, the more fluid retention a person will have," says Dr. Mack. Carbs can also have an impact on fluid retention, specifically if you start adding them back after a period of restricting them.

"The carbohydrates we don't use right away for energy we store as glycogen," explains Joanna Sheill DiCicco, a registered dietitian based in Michigan. "Glycogen pulls in water, so the more glycogen we are storing, the more water we are taking in."

Menstruation

Many women retain water weight the week before their period due to fluctuating hormones. Fluid retention may reach its peak the first day of your actual period, before subsiding for that cycle. You might also notice swelling in your face, legs, arms, and pubic area in the days leading up to your period. "With this type of fluid retention, the breasts can get really tender and some women get belly fullness," says Dr. Mack.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can cause you to gain water weight, especially as you get closer to your due date. You may see swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles. Hormones are partly to blame, but your growing baby also puts strain on your blood vessels.

"With pregnancy, you have a big belly so the [pressure causes] the fluid to go out into the tissues, and it has trouble getting back into the vessels," says Jennifer Wu, MD, an ob-gyn at Manhattan Women's Health in New York City.

If your only symptom is swelling, it's probably normal (although the weight may not all come off the minute you deliver your baby). If you have sudden swelling that hurts, you may have developed a blood clot (especially if the problem is only in one leg) or a spike in blood pressure. Either way, if you have these symptoms, get to a doctor right away.

Hormonal birth control

Just like there's a connection between pregnancy and menstruation and water retention, hormonal birth control can also sometimes cause water weight.

Both the estrogen and progestin in birth control pills can be culprits, says Dr. Mack. Usually the water weight isn't major and doesn't last long, Dr. Wu adds, but you may want to talk to your ob-gyn about other birth control options.

Your cortisol levels

Cortisol is best known as a "stress hormone," although it's actually much more than that. It's involved in keeping blood sugar levels stable, balancing metabolism, reducing inflammation, and even forming memories. Water retention as a result of elevated cortisol levels isn't common, but it can happen.

"You'd have to have a pathophysiologic release of cortisol for that," says Dr. Mack. In other words, there would have to be a lot of cortisol. "Just being stressed won't do that." (Phew.)

Cushing syndrome, for instance, might cause water retention. This is when tumors on the pituitary or adrenal glands release too much cortisol into the blood. People with low levels of thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) can develop swelling around their eyes, says Dr. Mack.

Travel

Sitting for long periods of time on cross-country flights or lengthy road trips can cause water retention. "Your muscles contract literally from sitting for too long," says Dr. Mack, and your feet and legs may swell in response as the fluid pools there.

Certain medications

Some medications like drugs for high blood pressure like calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause you to retain fluid. Certain diabetes drugs, called thiazolidinediones, also do this. If the amount of water weight you're gaining concerns you, your doctor or pharmacist can help you find out if your medicine is the cause and provide an alternative if possible.

Poor circulation

Our circulatory systems become weaker as we get older, or sometimes as the result of a more serious condition like heart failure (which is also more common as we age), says Elizabeth Kavaler, MD, a urologist based in New York City. The valves in the veins of our legs, which are supposed to keep blood flowing upward to the heart, collapse a little, so the blood pools in the lower extremities and causes fluid retention. "It's physics," says Dr. Mack. "You just get more pressure pushing down on those legs."

How to lose water weight

**Drink more water**

You might think that putting more water into your body just adds more water weight. In fact, the opposite is true. If your body feels starved for water, it will hold on to whatever water it has. If you're retaining water, make sure you're getting plenty of H2O, especially if you're also eating salty foods.

It might also help to limit tea, coffee, and alcohol, all of which can be dehydrating. Cranberry juice, on the other hand, has a slight diuretic effect and may help flush out some excess water.

Avoid super-salty foods

It's not so much the salt-shaker on your table you have to worry about, but salt used as a preservative in some processed foods, contributing to roughly 70% of our salt intake, according to the CDC. "All of your processed, packaged foods are going to have more sodium simply because [the manufacturers] want them to stay on the shelf longer," says DiCicco.

Cook from scratch when you can, using non-processed items like fresh fruits and vegetables. If you do need a packaged item, read the label and compare sodium content across similar products.

Exercise regularly

Physical activity is key to losing water weight. Not only will you be sweating out some fluid, but you'll also get thirsty and want to drink more water, says DiCicco. Moving around can also help decrease puffiness. If you're driving long distances, stop the car at regular intervals so you can get out and stretch your legs. Walk around when you can on planes, buses, or trains, and do simple exercises with your feet and legs while seated.

Regular exercise is also important if you're pregnant (although resting with your feet up is smart as well).

"When we are on restrictive diets and at first lose weight quickly, that really is just water weight from the loss of stored glycogen from our muscles," says DiCicco.

RELATED: Tracy Anderson's Favorite Exercises to Do While Traveling

Eat hydrating foods

This is almost as good as drinking water. "Foods that have high water content help with increasing one's overall hydration," says DiCicco. Taking in more fluids-even in the form of hydrating foods-will ultimately help your body excrete water, she says. Watermelon, spinach, strawberries, and cantaloupe, among other fruits and veggies, all have a lot of water. Eating potassium-rich foods like tomatoes and sweet potatoes (and most fruits and vegetables) can also help you get rid of excess salt, says DiCicco.