Cracking the Code of Water Loss
When you start a weight loss journey, it is common to experience an initial drop in weight due to water loss. This is because your body stores glycogen, a form of carbohydrate, in your muscles and liver, and each gram of glycogen is stored with three to four grams of water. When you reduce your intake of carbohydrates, your body burns through its glycogen stores and releases the associated water, leading to a rapid drop in weight.
However, after this initial water loss, your weight may rebound for a few reasons. One reason is that when you restrict your calorie intake, your body goes into "starvation mode" and tries to conserve energy by slowing down your metabolism. This means that your body burns fewer calories at rest, which can make it more difficult to lose weight.
Another reason is that as you lose weight, your body may start to burn more muscle instead of fat. This is because muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain than fat tissue, so your body may start to break down muscle tissue to conserve energy. When you lose muscle mass, your metabolism slows down, making it even harder to lose weight.
Additionally, your body may adapt to your new calorie intake over time, meaning that it becomes more efficient at using the energy you consume. This can also make it more difficult to continue losing weight.
Overall, it is important to remember that weight loss is a complex process that involves many factors and that the initial water loss is just one part of the journey. It may take time and patience to see sustained progress, and it is important to focus on making sustainable lifestyle changes rather than short-term fixes.