Fat or Water Weight

[cheriysmith]

So, I was sick for about two weeks, and only hit the gym about 4 times in that time period. NOw that I'm back, I've put on either fat or water weight. How can I tell the difference? Around my torso area is rather soft and pliable, more soft than the fat I could pinch before.

How can you tell the difference between the two?

[cyco85]

Typically when you're sick you lose water weight, but I dunno how much fat one could gain in a week if they weren't eating like a pig. Sure way to know is drink a lot of water (1+ gallons) per day for 3-5 days. If it goes down, it was water weight. If it doesn't, it is fat

[Rval86]

So, I was sick for about two weeks, and only hit the gym about 4 times in that time period. NOw that I'm back, I've put on either fat or water weight. How can I tell the difference? Around my torso area is rather soft and pliable, more soft than the fat I could pinch before.

How can you tell the difference between the two?

Now that you're back, just keep drinking an adequate amount of water for a few days and then check the scale. Like cyco said, you more than likely didnt gain much fat while you were sick unless you were eating a crazy amount.

[cheriysmith]

Thanks I didn't think it was humanly possible to gain that much weight in such a short time span... but then again, we are talking about me

[eappleton1]

how much weight? If it is 5-10 pounds probably water. Less, could be either. Also, how did you eat while sick?

[cheriysmith]

how much weight? If it is 5-10 pounds probably water. Less, could be either. Also, how did you eat while sick?

I had gained about 7 lbs. Since after a week of working out, I'm down more than 10 lbs, I'm assuming that it was mostly water weight Either way, it motivated me to hit the gym hard, so all in all, I'm grateful for it, ha!

[msm00b]

I had some chinese food for lunch yesterday smothered in soy sauce. Clocked in at the 150s (6-7lbs over current weight) for the first time in many many months due to water retention ... mmmm salty goodness.

Nobody can definitively answer you. If you ate more than you burned, you likely gained some fat. If you gained 7lbs, a big chunk (maybe even nearly all) may just be water weight due to increased intracellular carb load and sodium balance. Most likely it's a combination of the two. You'll get your best answer by re-weighing yourself 2-3 days after you get back into your routine. It doesn't take long to shed carb/sodium associated water weight.

[Electricheadd]

I always notice I am a lb or two lighter the day following a workout. I attribute it to water since it goes back to normal on my off day. My guess is you had something similar going on. You would really have to pork out to put on any significant fat in a week.