All those pounds are mostly water weight. The reason for the five-pound “gain” is water retention. What is this? Not only do certain rich foods leave you retaining water, but you also have the physical weight of the excess food traveling through your system for at least 48 hours or so.
Weight gained after a vacation or indulgent weekend doesn't mean you've put on fat. It's probably just water retention, experts say. Rebel Wilson said she gained almost seven pounds while on vacation at an all-inclusive resort. Eating more salt and carbs can make us gain water weight, not fat, a dietitian said.
Water weight is the most common cause of the scale increasing. And if you've eaten out a lot on vacation, then you can blame the extra salty foods you ordered. But sodium isn't the only nutrient that can increase water retention. There's a major macronutrient you eat every day that causes excess water gain: carbs.
We all like to relax and indulge on vacation, but a new study has found that just a one-week trip away can cause us to put on weight, which we could still be carrying around for up to six weeks after the holiday has ended.
Celebrations and vacations can involve eating foods higher in carbs and salt than your normal diet, and both of these lead to water retention, she said. We store carbs as glycogen in our body, and for each gram of glycogen we retain several grams of water right along with it, Mockler said.
Travel: For some people, sitting for a long time in a car or airplane can cause fluid retention. The lack of circulation allows fluid to build up; however, the swelling usually goes away in a day or two. Blood clots: Blood clots in the veins of the arm or leg can cause swelling.