How to Lose Water Weight Quickly and Safely

Even if you have lost a considerable amount of weight, having excess water weight can cause bloating and give the impression that you haven't lost any weight at all. Water retention can be caused by many things, ranging from medications to foods. There are various things you can do to safely and quickly get rid of water weight.

Instructions

• 1

  Lower the amount of salt you eat. Avoid hot dogs, olives, soy sauce, ketchup and other foods with high salt content. Replace salt with citrus juices and sodium-free spices and herbs that can flavor food just as well. The American Heart Association suggests you aim for a salt consumption of less than 1,500 milligrams per day to avoid bloating and water retention, and to lower your risk for high blood pressure and heart disease.

• 2

  Visit the sauna or perform cardiovascular exercise to sweat out sodium in the body. Taste your sweat; once the salty taste disappears, it means all excess sodium has left your body.

• 3

  Flush out salt by drinking water all day long. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily. Keep your body hydrated so it is less likely to hold onto water.

• 4

  Increase your fiber intake. What water does for your urinary tract and kidneys, fiber does for your intestinal tract and colon. Take a fiber supplement or consume fruits and vegetables, fiber-rich cereals, whole-grain bread and brown rice.

• 5

  Take a multivitamin, because shedding water weight can also get rid of essential vitamins your body needs.

• 6

  Take 5 grams of potassium daily. That helps the body balance fluid levels and get rid of bloating, according to the That's Fit website. Potassium-rich foods include bananas, apricots, raisins and avocados.

• 7

  Consult with your doctor if you think medications that you are taking cause water retention and bloating, which is often the case with anti-depression medicine. See whether your doctor can prescribe an alternative.