Water Retention Diet | Lose Water Weight
This site is about Linda Lazarides’ diet that can help you lose up to 14 pounds in a week by shedding hidden water retention.
If you have great difficulty in reaching a normal weight, and if your doctor cannot find any medical explanation, the chances are that your fluid balance mechanisms have gone wrong and you have a weight management problem due to not excreting enough water. Your body usually consists of 50-60 per cent water, but if you have water retention, your body weight may be 65 per cent water or even more. Water weight is heavier than fat, so the good news is that if you can lose it you may be able to shed several pounds quite quickly.
Water retention can be very hard for a doctor to diagnose. Almost all your body’s tissues have plenty of capacity to hold a little more water without looking abnormal. For example, excess fluid could be making your tummy look rather large. When you pinch it, you can feel its normal covering of fat. You may easily believe that your tummy’s size is due to this fat. But if you lose the water retention in your tummy it may subside and flatten, so that you can see you have no more fat there than on the rest of your body. Of course, a tummy with slack, poorly toned muscles due to lack of exercise can also look big. Good muscle tone is very important for maintaining a good figure.
A genuine breakthrough
Until recently, there was no medical treatment for water retention, except diuretics, which have only a temporary effect on water weight and can worsen some types of water retention. Linda Lazarides’ Waterfall Diet is a new treatment to help you lose water weight. It tackles seven different causes of water retention and makes your kidneys (if they are healthy) permanently release the excess water weight.
Some people believe that you cannot get rid of water retention permanently - that it comes back as soon as you go off your diet. For instance some who have followed a low-carb diet for a long time lose water weight quite quickly. Sadly, they find all this water weight returns as soon as they reach their target weight and start to eat a few carbs again.
The Waterfall Diet is different. It is a plan of action in three stages. Phase I aims to get rid of water retention and water weight as quickly as possible. Phase II consists of a test which you carry out yourself to find your safe foods. These are foods which do not make you gain water weight. Phase III is a long-term eating plan which is as close to normal as possible. It emphasises the foods which help to keep water retention away, and avoids any foods which in your particular case seem to aggravate it. In short, the Waterfall Diet puts you back in control of your weight.
How much water weight can I expect to lose?
About one third of people lose 10 lbs of water weight in a week on this diet. Very occasionally people have lost 20 lbs in two weeks. If you are careful this water weight will not come back again. Even if you only lose 2 lbs, you will find that other diets work better once you have lost this water weight, as excess water cools down the metabolism and slows down fat burning.
The instructions for the Waterfall Diet can be found in the book with the same name. Or if you’re in a hurry to get started, they are also in Linda Lazarides’ E-guide: Low-Carb Dieting and the Waterfall Diet.
Linda Lazarides is a popular and well-respected British health practitioner who has helped many people. A private consultation with her costs $80, but the E-guide will give you very similar advice and costs only $12.
Related posts:
- The Waterfall Diet | Not Just For Weight Loss
- Why Do I Lose A Lot Of Water Weight On A Low-carb Diet And Gain It Back Again Afterwards?
- What Is Water Retention?
Comments
Comment from joe j
Time July 5, 2009 at 3:28 pm
i have a female pro fighter trains real hard but still has a lot of water weighht
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time July 6, 2009 at 11:00 am
Hi D Felix, as you will see on this site, there are about seven different causes of idiopathic water retention, from salt sensitivity to excessive dieting. Even not drinking enough water can, by a strange quirk of metabolism, make you retain water. The waterfall diet program helps you identify what you need rather than groping in the dark. Water retention and low thyroid often go together. If you’d like me to recommend one of my books for you to improve the health of your thyroid you are welcome to use the contact link in the right-hand column. Alternatively I also offer personal health assessments based on a detailed questionnaire.
Comment from May
Time July 6, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Felix D.
I have the same problem, and did brisk walking maybe a mile or 2/day, but to no avail. Then I learned and searched about DASH diet, which is cutting back on salt gradually from your food and as well as calorie and it works. But before starting on any of this program make sure that you have no other health related issues. Getting your health check from your healthcare provider will or should clear your issues, because retention can be a cause of hidden health problems. So it’s very important to watch your sodium intake, the main source of water retention on food and practise healthy diet, and maintain a good weight, and DASH diet should help you..I hope this helps..goog luck
Comment from Robyn G.
Time July 10, 2009 at 7:48 am
Hello there. I am a 24 years old. I have a really tall frame for a female. I have played athletics majority of my life. I noticed now tht I have stopped the training and now the “weight” is on. I am currently taking birth control pills for my pms and when I started the pills…the “weight” came rapidly. Do you think this is water weight? I really would like to try this diet bc I’ve tried other diets and even bout water pills and I have seen no change.I won’t lie…I am a little scared. Please help me.
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time July 10, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Don’t be scared - your body will respond if you do the right things. Birth control pills may seem to help PMS but they won’t get to the cause of it. They are also notorious for causing weight gain, most of which is water weight. Water pills are not very effective for this kind of water retention. Do try to read the Waterfall DIet book or E-guide. It will give you insights that will help you feel more in control and you can start to balance your metabolism which will help not just your weight but your PMS too.
Comment from diane
Time July 12, 2009 at 2:46 pm
please help me i weigh 200 pounds and its mostly water ,water swells are all over my whole bady,my tummy is enoromose,nothing works for me,i do not use salt,i take lasics,im so disgusted my waist is 48 inches around ,im 5 feet tall and live in pain from carring excess water thanks
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time July 13, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Assuming your doctor says your heart, liver and kidneys are ok, then it’s just a question of reading the right information. I know there’s a lot of stuff out there on the Net, from “just drink plenty of water”, to websites about medicines and herbs. But if you’re fed up with going round in circles, I can only suggest that you read the waterfall diet book to get the depth of information you need to tackle this difficult problem.
Comment from Carolynn Wain
Time July 27, 2009 at 4:47 am
How crucial is the ‘no coffee’ part of the waterfall diet? this is only day 2, and I’m completely non-productive without my caffeine jolt.
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time July 27, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Most people feel a bit poorly for a few days if they’re used to daily caffeine. This will pass within a week, leaving you feeling much clearer-headed. It’s important to take away all stressors during Phase I, especially ones which affect the kidneys.
Comment from Pamela
Time July 27, 2009 at 7:37 pm
As an addendum to a previous email, I am THOROUGHLY convinced I have low thyroid production, but I understand the usual thyroid test given to us does not detect all low thyroid problems. I am MOST frustrated b/c I just know I have this, and I have always had a lower body temperature, sometimes 97.4,but usually 97.6. Isn’t this extremely indicative of a thyroid imbalance? I have even heard/rad about Wilson’s Syndrome, and even one of the symptom’s, collar intolerance, has ALWAYS been very prevalent with me; I feel like NO ONE understands what I feel like I KNOW to be true. I would GREATLY appreciate ANY help that you can send my way. God Bless!
Comment from April
Time August 15, 2009 at 10:58 pm
i was just curious if this diet would help me i have lupus of my kidney and my body does not flush properly but my kidneys themselves are healthy and working however i have a ton of excess wieght from water and therefore i am getting health problems i want to lose the weight sooo bad please help me
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time August 16, 2009 at 8:30 am
The waterfall diet would be a good starting point to help your lupus. I think there is a good chance you would lose some of the water but you may need a bit of extra help from me to lose the rest. The E-guide will give you the diet but not so much of the theory. If you are interested in reading about the kidneys I recommend getting the paperback version of the book.
Comment from sreeram v.g.
Time October 20, 2009 at 6:00 am
am a renal transplant recipient. are your ways safe for me?
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time October 20, 2009 at 3:56 pm
If your doctor or dietician has given you a diet it is best if you stay with that. The E-guide would not be suitable for you but if you are interested you could get the printed version of the book and ask your doctor if it is ok to try the diet.
Comment from Kathy
Time December 5, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I have fought this battle with fluid retention for years. Most every morning my eyes, hands, fingers… are so swollen. I can’t wear my jewelry. I take lasix. It helps very little. I only run to the bathroom for a few hours. Then some days I’m not swollen, but I can’t figure out what causes it. I ate tomato soup yesterday, and I looked awful and felt awful. I made the soup from tomato juice that I canned. I only put 1 tsp of salt in a quart jar. Then added 1 more when I made the pot of soup. Do tomatoes have that much sodium naturally? Please help. I’ve already downloaded your book. Just started it today.
Thanks,
Kathy
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time December 6, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Kathy, you will find when you read the e-book that it is not just salt and sodium which cause water retention. Wishing you well with the diet - let us know how you get on.
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time January 7, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Lucy, I emailed you privately with details of my consultation service, as a problem like this cannot be helped with just a few words.
Comment from Ken Putman
Time January 11, 2010 at 4:28 pm
For a long time I have had noticeable water retention in my outer extremities, especially my lower legs and ankles. I eat a low salt diet and hydrate myself regularly. I have hypertension and one of my meds is Furosemide. This causes excessive,frequent urination, and this water pill does not lessen water retention. I do extensive cardio training on the exercise bike at the gym and weight training on my legs and upper body. Still water retention is an issue. I am about 20 lbs. overweight. Please help.
Thanks, Ken.
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time January 11, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Ken, if you read the waterfall diet book, you will see there is information about water retention causing high blood pressure. In many cases the diet can remove the excess water more efficiently than the pills. Most people find they can reduce their prescriptions (with their doctor’s permission) within a few weeks after starting to follow the diet. Let us know how you get on.
Comment from Fran
Time February 22, 2010 at 2:46 am
Is one of the causes of water retention not enough protein? Also I have lipodema, are you familiar with that DX?
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time February 22, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Yes, water retention can indeed be caused by a severe deficiency of protein. Yes, I am familiar with lipodema.
Comment from jill
Time February 28, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I have an underactive thyroid but take thyroxin to compensate for this. I find that I now put on weight very quickly. But what I find curious is that my face is puffy all the time, especially round the eyes, and when I do my daily 3 to 4 mile brisk walk I always come back with really swollen fingers and hands. Any comment?
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time March 2, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Jill, there are many possible causes of this swelling, which may be water retention. Any health professional could only guess what is causing this for you. Presumably you are following a healthy lifestyle and drinking enough water. I always wish that people would have a better understanding that most health problems are a sign of not eating right.
Comment from D Felix
Time July 5, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I am desperate. I believe I have Idiopathic edema. For years now I have noticed that some times my face looked swollen in the am. But it was so subtle that I wasn’t sure. I also have low thyroid disease. Yesterday, I ate some chips and I woke up w/swollen hands, ankles, face and gained a pound over night. I went on WebMD and this is the 1st time that all systems matched what I have been experiencing. No matter what diet, walking a mile a day I always gain. PLease help, desperate!