Water Retention on a Bulking Diet (Help!!!!!)

[HarmsWayBC]

I have been bulking for nearly seven weeks.....I have gained 8 pounds and experienced NO increase in my caliper measurements........so far so good, but I am retaining so much water!!!! My ab skin fold measurement is only 6.5-7.0 mm (depending on the time of the day) and i can barely see my abs, and only when standing 6 feet or so away from the mirror, in the light......compound this with the fact that I have lots of loose skin on my lower abs (i lost lots of fat, I am en ex-powerlifter)........

I am using 3 g of creatine with my post workout shake with 50 g of Whey and 50 g of maltodextrin........do I need to drink more water? Or should I get some over the counter diueretics? Maybe hit the sauna? I am natural and use no gear.....what can I do??

 

[Willyumyum]

well I know creatine can cause a bit of water retention, but not as much as it sounds like you have.... REduce your sodium intake, that can play a part in water retention... Drink 1.5+ gallons of water daily... what does your diet looke like?

YUM

 

[HarmsWayBC]

My diet is roughly 55% clean carbs, 35% protein, and 15% fats......

3500 cals a day......

I have always seemed to hold a lot of water......low carb dieting seems to be the only way to rid my body of water, but then i get flat muscles....since I'm bulking that's out of the question....my sodium is actually pretty low........

I think i need to drink more water.

 

[Willyumyum]

you'd be surprised how much watching your sodium intake (and lowering it) will help... are you positive it's pretty low? I'm not really sure what else could be causing you to retain so much water...

YUM

 

[Chuck T]

I have always had problems with looking smooth from to many carbs and salty food. Try to just cut back like 50g of carbs and replace with some protein and good fats. Maybe that will help ya bro.

 

[mike001]

yes he is right.. also, creatine gave me 2 spare tires around my waist, hehe.. drink shits load of water(like said;1.5-2gal)
second, a diueretic can be an option. go buy ECA or something simular, it will keep the water off nicely.. since your bulking, low dosages of eca shouldnt have any effect on your bulking

 

[HarmsWayBC]

Is a simple ECA a good way to keep water off?

Maybe 2 doses a day?

1 in the morning, 1 before workout?

 

[diamonddiceclay]

just wait until you start to cut, and if you do it correctly, all of the water will be lost-don't worry until that point

 

[HarmsWayBC]

This true.....i'm just hard on myself......I think the fact that have not put on any real amount of fat is a sign that i'm doing well.......I'll start ECA today and see if it helps.....

 

[saint808]

is there anything you can do to combat that loose skin? Not that i was really fat or anything not so long ago... oh, ok... i was... I hate that loose skin too.


Rich