first weeks of precontest/cutting diet

[skinnyfat]

How much do you guys typically lose per week during the first 1-2 weeks of a precontest diet. A lot of people say they gain 10-15 lbs of water in the first days after a contest; does this come off as quickly? I've heard that you should shoot for no more than 1-2 lbs/week to avoid losing a ton of muscle, but is there an exception for the first weeks because you are losing so much water?

 

[Grizzly]

Personally, when I cut my carbs I drop between 5 and 7 pounds of water in the first couple of days. Then, as my diet progresses and I lower them even further I loose about a pound or two each time I drop them. At the end of 12-16 weeks that usually comes to about 20 pounds of water.

 

[MS]

Yeah, I'm the same. I lose as much as 4kg (~9lbs) in my first week of reduced carbs/sodium. After that it's usually a steady 2lbs per week of mostly fat loss plus some muscle loss. I lose another 3-4 kg in the last 2 days before a show, but that's intentional and extreme dehydration combined with carb loading so it's hard to say how much is water. Keep in mind I'm only ~160-170 lbs before I start my diet (and female) so the water weight loss is a pretty substantial part of my total weight.

Post competition I gain around 7kgs of pure fluid in just 3 days. Hmmmmm I wonder what that does to my BP??? yikes