Weight gained after a vacation or indulgent weekend is likely caused by water retention not fat, experts told Insider after actor Rebel Wilson said she put on three kilograms (almost seven pounds) while at an all-inclusive resort.
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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.
Vacation weight gain is often largely waterThis can be worrying if you're trying to lose weight, but it's normal after eating more and isn't anything to stress about, Kara Mockler, registered dietitian and coach at RP Strength, told Insider.
The key to dropping that weight is getting right back on track with a sleep routine + diet. Getting a good nights' sleep will give your body time to recover, and allow your body to start releasing water weight and providing it with proper nutrition will do the same.
If you have one high-sodium meal and then return to normal, healthy dietary habits, you'll likely return to your normal weight in 1-2 days. If you're returning from a vacation of over-indulging and are retaining a higher amount of excess fluid, it may take longer.
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.
There's no need to restrict your food or over-exercise, just get back to normal and drink some extra water, she said. The excess fluid will come off over the next few days and you'll be right back on track.
The study found that 61 percent of the participants gained weight while on vacation, with an average gain of 0.7 pounds, and that the weight gained throughout the entire study averaged 0.9 pounds. There was a large variation, however, with some participants losing weight and some gaining as much as 7 pounds.
If you lose weight over the course of a few months, you won't regain it in a week, a personal trainer said. The scale may spike after a vacation, but that won't be all fat gain, according to Jordan Syatt. You can set some health boundaries, but your main priority should be enjoying yourself, he said.
It takes two days for me to lose some water weightAnd upon my return it takes me about 4 to 5 days of regular meals and my exercise routine to feel normal again. Most of this extra weight is in the form of water.