Before, I'm plagued with water retention a lot thanks to my 'not so healthy' diet and my sedentary lifestyle. I like to think that I'm a 'chillax' kind of person but actually I'm lazy.
As lazy as this cat.. hahaha..
Sometimes, nearing the time of the month, we girls are more prone to have water retention problems. It is a classic symptom for PMS which occurs a week or two before your period begins due to hormonal changes in our body.
In my case, water retention occurs mostly on the lower half of the body, typically thighs, legs, feet, ankles.
How do I know that I have water retention? Well, because everybody told me so. Especially my beautician friends. They would poke at my legs and say "wow you have bad water retention problems". There's even a few customers of mine that says so when they see my legs hahaha..
For those of you who are prone to water retention, there are some things that you can do to, you know, lessen the symptoms. This comes from my many years of experience battling with it. Hope these tips can help you in one way or another.
1) Cut down on salt intake
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Sodium rich food causes water retention. I noticed, if I eat salty food especially at night, I'll have bad water retention problems the next day. If I prepare my own protein shakes or eat salad/fruits at night, I'll be fine the next day..
2) Drink more water
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Drinking enough water (recommended 2-3 litres/8-12 cups) a day. You would think, why am I adding water into my body if I am trying to get rid of water retained in my body? The fact is, the body is trying to retain water as a survival mechanism when it is dehydrated. Drinking enough water, tea, fruit juice is a great way to flush out retained water in the body!
3) Get moving a.k.a exercise
Exercising helps a lot because your heart is pumping, blood is circulating actively and you sweat. Sweating helps flush out all the excess water and sodium. Just remember to hydrate yourself properly after that.
4) Wear slimming socks
Slimming socks works by applying pressure to your calves preventing fluid from settling there. When pressure is applied on the legs, blood circulation also becomes better. Wear it to sleep at night and you will notice slimmer legs in the morning. Not because the legs are really getting less fat. It is just because fluid won't settle in your legs as much during the night.
5) Elevate your feet
Try using a pillow to elevate your legs when you sleep at night. This also encourage blood circulation and lessen water retention.
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My friend also teach me to put my legs against the wall when I am reading in bed or playing with my phone. It helps..
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like zis
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6) Go get massaged
Most masseuse will know how to do lymphatic massage to drain water retention. The first time I got my legs massage, my whole body felt warm. They say my blood is moving which I think is an excellent thing for me. I have to pee quite a lot after the massage. They say it is normal because my body is getting rid of excess water. After 2-3 sessions, I can see my legs looking less puffy.
7) Clean up your diet
Eating healthy food such as vegetables, fruits and grains and avoiding highly processed food definitely helps. Packaged food are usually laden with sodium. If you eat wholesome, healthy food, your body will thank you for it. I can feel the difference significantly when I am eating clean. My body feels less bloated in 2 days. It's like letting air out of a balloon.. Amazing..
I don't recommend taking diuretic from doctors unless all the natural ways above doesn't help you at all..
Do you suffer from water retention? Comment below to share more tips with me. Do let me know if my tips helped you in any way..
Thanks for reading. Until the next post, stay healthy~ XOXO~
Love,
Pam (May Yue)
