How the heck do you get rid of water weight when your next show is in 7 days, its not because of eating it is all stress related. Two days after my overall win on 6/6, big high, came a smashing low. A friend of 10+ years suddenly died at the age of 47 on 6/8. We spent the entire night in the hospital and then I went straight to work and haven't slept restfully since. Now my next competition is on Saturday 6/20 and I am holding water miserably. Eveything is paid for. Any advice, help, insight would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Shirley. Stress will increase cortisol which tends to cause your body to use muscle as fuel, I am less familiar with cortisols effect on water retention.

Trying to get back into your diet and sleep routine will help for sure, actually ramping up water intake now then dropping down to normal water intake levels the day before the show may help your body naturally shed water. By ramping up intake your body realizes that it has plenty (too much) and it will get rid of it.

I assume that you did not significantly increase salt intake, but if you did, that could also account for water retention. If that occurred, going back to normal or lower sodium intake for several days should clear that out of your system and again would shed excess retained water after a few days. Since you have a week you should be able to get back into your winning condition. Don't do anything radical, stick with the basics and the things that caused you to have success leading up to your first show. Good luck!

Actually I have been faithful to my competition diet the day after the competition on 6/6. Did not over eat or even eat anything radical.

Stayed pretty clean, egg whites, 1/2 of a whole grain pancake, protein nothing out of the ordinary. No added salt, I don't use salt whatever sodium is naturally in foods.

Currently eating orange roughy (mostly), some chicken and spinach. Drinking a gallon+ of water and taking Beverly supplements. Will up my water and see if that works, thank you.

Everyone always says they look their best after the show when all the stress is gone. I once read this passage that the most stressful times in ones life are the passing of friends and family and divorce.

Maybe it would help you to talk with someone you trust about the passing of your friend maybe a pastor, counselour, friend, parent, or sibling to give you a peace of mind and spirit and help relieve your stress.

shirley sorry to hear that. i too am getting ready for jr nationals thisweekend and brother was serious condition in hopspital for past week. my water was high due to incredible stresss. i take relora and holy basil for cortisol control. i just stay the course and the body will adapt. if you try and force it it could cause more damage.

Thanks to everyone for your help and kind words, it worked. My stress levels evened out and I started to lose weight. I am 2 days out from competition, 1 day from weigh in. I actually weigh less then at the show I won the Master's Overall but I am leaner and more shredded than ever. So thank you once again for your encouragement.

By the way the show I won in was just 2 weeks ago. This is my 3rd competition in 6 weeks. Its quite exciting.

I hope you've dropped egg whites.

Dropped those 8 weeks or more ago. Actually used to hate them. Now I can't wait to have oatmeal(LOVE IT!!!), egg whites (used to hate them) and a "real" cup of COFFEE, lol. Well this morning weigh 127.4, it couldn't get any better.
Thank you all

P.S. will post outcome of comp on Sunday or Monday

quote:

Originally posted by fitness_girl68:
Dropped those 8 weeks or more ago. Actually used to hate them. Now I can't wait to have oatmeal(LOVE IT!!!), egg whites (used to hate them) and a "real" cup of COFFEE, lol. Well this morning weigh 127.4, it couldn't get any better.
Thank you all

P.S. will post outcome of comp on Sunday or Monday

Hey Shirley- how did it go? I'm loving my oatmeal, eggs and coffee now that my comp is over! The little things are so sweet now.

Well, entered the open heavyweight class weighed in at 127. I was as dry and shredded as I could be. Conditioning right on. Came in 3rd but that is great because I was up against girls 10-15 yrs younger than myself. Thay had never had a weight problem, so no loose skin.

I used to weigh 256 lbs and in late 2003 i decided to loose it the results are great except for dome loose skin in the ham glute tie-in and the saddle bag area. it is all good. I am enjoying myself and my body.

Thre more comps for the year then back to the drawing board to make advancements.

Yes, oatmeal, egg whites and coffee, what good things are made of!!!!

Congrats