The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[loriannk]

I have been off MF for probably 3 weeks or so, maybe a bit more. My choice, I was/am comfortable with the weight I am. But in that time the scale went up 10 lbs. So yesterday I decided to go back on MF and get back down to 160. I am comfortable there. So I weighed in yesterday morning at 170.4. This morning I weighed in at 165.2. 5 lbs in 24 hours. Is that possible? Was I really retaining that much water. That shocks me. I didn't think I put 10lbs of fat back on because I watched what I ate but did indulge in chips and cookies sometimes.

So I guess I am wondering how people that do maintence and then are just not on MF anymore don't gain 5 lbs or more of water weight back. Is drinking a boat load of water the answer to keep from retaining water when not on MF? Thanks for letting me vent a bit and for any help on the subject.

[GucciGoo]

I was wondering the same thing. When we get off MF and stop drinking 10 glasses of water per day, so we gain all our water weight back? It seems like if I cheat one day and go out for Italian food, the scale is up 3 pounds the next day. And there is NO way I ate 3 pounds of food the night before.

[JeepGirl]

Hi Lori..I wondered where you were lately!

Not that I know by any means but why would you stop drinking the water that is good for ya just because your offplan or on maintance?

Just a question that popped into my head..I am sure someone who knows about all that will post soon lol

[loriannk]

I didn't stop drinking water all together but I did not drink as much as I do when on MF. I guess I just dont get the water weight deal. If you have an off plan meal why does your weight go up so much the next morning. It isn't fat weight. I was just shocked by my 5lbs loss in a 24 hour period.

[Sarya]

I have gone off of mf twice now for at least week. both times I gained 10 pounds. Both times I lost almost all of it within the first couple days back on the program.

You are losing water bloat and glycogen store.

[loriannk]

This was posted on the mymedifast forum and it answered my water questions so I thought I would share it here. Very interesting info.

]HEALTH BENEFITS OF WATER
How 8 Glasses A Day Keeps Fat Away

Incredible as it may seem, water is quite possibly the single most important catalyst in losing weight and keeping it off. Although most of us take for granted, water may be the only true "magic potion" for permanent weight loss.

Water supresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat. Studies have shown that a decrease in water intake will cause fat deposits to increase, while an
increase in water intake can actually reduce fat deposits.

Here's why: The kidneys can't function properly without enough water. When they don't work to capacity, some of their load is dumped onto the liver. One of the liver's primary functions is to metabolize stored fat into usable energy for the body. But if the liver has to do some of the kidney's work it can't operate at full throttle. As a result, it metabolizes less fat more fat remains stored in the body and weight loss stops.

Drinking enough water is the best treatment for fluid retention. When the body gets less water,it perceives this as a threat to survival and begins to hold on to every drop. Water is stored in extracellular spaces (outside the cell). This shows up as swollen feet, legs and hands.

Diuretics offer a temporary solution at best. They force out stored water along with some essential nutrients. Again, the body perceives a treat and will replace the lost water at the
first opportunity. Thus, the condition quickly returns.

The best way to overcome the problem of water retention is to give your body what it needs -- plenty of water. Only then will stored water be released.

If you have a constant problem with water retention, excess salt may be to blame. Your body will tolerate sodium only in a certain concentration. The more salt you eat the more water your system retains to dilute it.

But getting rid of unneeded salt is easy -- just drink more water. As it's forced through the kidneys it takes away excess sodium.

The overweight person needs more water than a thin one. Larger people have larger metabolic loads. Since we know that water is the key to fat metabolism, it follows that the over weight person needs more water.

Water helps to maintain proper muscle tone by giving muscles their natural ability to contract and by preventing dehydration. It also helps to prevent the sagging skin that usually follows weigh loss -- shrinking cells are buoyed by water which plumps the skin and leaves it clear, healthy and resilient. (gotta love that one)

Water helps rid the body of waste. During weight loss, the body has a lot more waste to get rid of -- all that metabolized fat must be shed. Again, adequate water helps flush out the waste.

Water can help relieve constipation. When the body gets too little water, it siphons what it needs from internal sources. The colon is one primary source. Result? Constipation. But when a person drinks enough water, normal bowel function usually returns.

So far, we've discovered some remarkable truths about water and weight loss:

* The body will not function properly without enough water and can't metabolize stored fat efficiently.

* Retained water shows up as excess weight.

* To get rid of excess water you must drink more water.

* Drinking water is essential to weight loss.

How much water is enough? On the average, a person should drink 8, 8-ounce glasses every day. That's about 2 quarts. However, the overweight person needs one additional glass for every 25 pounds of excess weight. The amount you drink also should be increased if you exercise briskly or if the weather is hot and dry.

Water should preferably be cold. It's absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. And some evidence suggests that drinking cold water can actually help burn calories. To utilize water most efficiently during weight loss, follow this schedule:

Morning: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.

Noon: 1 quart consumed over a 30-minute period.

Evening: 1 quart consumed between five and six o'clock.

When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, it's fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, you have reached the "breakthrough point." What does this mean?

* Endocrine-gland function improves.

* Fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost.

* More fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat.

* Natural thirst returns.

* There is a loss of hunger almost over night.

If you stop drinking enough water, your body fluids will be thrown out of balance again, and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain and loss of thirst. To
remedy the situation you'll have to go back and force another "breakthrough."


Are you drinking your water?

[ascicles]

If you just jump off of the plan and don't follow maintenence, expect to gain weight. You have to slowly begin adding other things.

[Arklahoma]

What manly says is correct. After low carbing, when one adds more carbs you will gain lots of water weight quickly because of the body storing glycogen in the liver. Just the nature of the beast. You might want to consider dropping your weight a little bit extra to compensate for the "bounce" you will get if you go full carb.