Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on the abundance God has given us. Gratitude has been linked to many health benefits including reducing depression. For many of us, it is also a time for reflecting on the abundance of our waistline, which makes many of us "depressed".
Talking with a fellow wedding guest a couple months ago, I overheard another conversation regarding the relationship between water retention and glycogen, the storage form of glucose, commonly referred to as blood sugar. According to this guest the ratio of glucose to water was approximately 3:1, but according to Gary Tubes, it is closer to 2:1.
Either way, if the body can store 15g of glycogen per kilogram of lean body mass, it is evident that the body will store two or three times this in water. As you can see, someone like me can easily store 3.5 to 5.2 pounds of water along with the 1.7 pounds of glycogen.
This lends some credence to the common belief that the first "ten pounds" you lose on a low carbohydrate diet is "water weight". This also shows that someone like me can easily pack on 5.2 to 6.9 pounds over the holidays.
While this should not be an excuse to eat poorly for days on end, it should be a comfort that a little weight fluctuation is completely normal, particularly around Thanksgiving. So, take the time give thanks, enjoy a meal with family and friends and, as always, stay well engineered.
Glycogen and Water
Talking with a fellow wedding guest a couple months ago, I overheard another conversation regarding the relationship between water retention and glycogen, the storage form of glucose, commonly referred to as blood sugar. According to this guest the ratio of glucose to water was approximately 3:1, but according to Gary Tubes, it is closer to 2:1.
How Much Weight Gain Is Water?
Either way, if the body can store 15g of glycogen per kilogram of lean body mass, it is evident that the body will store two or three times this in water. As you can see, someone like me can easily store 3.5 to 5.2 pounds of water along with the 1.7 pounds of glycogen.
This lends some credence to the common belief that the first "ten pounds" you lose on a low carbohydrate diet is "water weight". This also shows that someone like me can easily pack on 5.2 to 6.9 pounds over the holidays.
This Should Be a Comfort
While this should not be an excuse to eat poorly for days on end, it should be a comfort that a little weight fluctuation is completely normal, particularly around Thanksgiving. So, take the time give thanks, enjoy a meal with family and friends and, as always, stay well engineered.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Devon
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These statements or products referenced are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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