Why do I always gain weight when I travel?

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.



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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.

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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.

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Vacation weight gain is often largely water This 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.

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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.

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Frequent Flyers' Tips To Keep Weight Off
  1. Bring your own healthy food onto the plane.
  2. Book hotels near walking paths.
  3. Use hotels' fitness facilities.
  4. Don't let convenience or cost savings determine your restaurant choice.
  5. Eat salads and foods with low salt, low sugar and low calories.
  6. Limit fried foods.


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“As we travel, we tend to eat in restaurants, eat snacks, and consume other processed foods high in salt. This will raise our salt level in our body, increasing the fluid and again contributing to dependent edema [leg swelling].”

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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.

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Pressure changes can disrupt the gases in the digestive system and cause them to expand, leading to discomfort, bloating, and sometimes nausea. There's also the fact that when you're traveling via plane, car, or train, your usual diet has to change.

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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.

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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.

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