Fighting the Good Fight

My body and I are locked in the ultimate battle for control of my tissues… and I’m losing miserably.

According the www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au, fluid retention is described as follows:

Fluid retention (oedema) occurs when fluid isn't removed from the body tissues, including the skin. Causes include the body’s reaction to hot weather, a high salt intake, and the hormones associated with the menstrual cycle. Symptoms include swelling of body parts such as feet, hands, and ankles, a feeling of stiffness or aching and weight fluctuations. Drinking plenty of water will actually help your kidneys to flush out excess fluid.

I am raising my hand right now and calling foul. It’s not fair that I've been working so hard to feel lighter and healthier, and my body pays me back by retaining up to FIVE POUNDS of extra fluid. For this entire week I've felt heavy, bloated, and tired. I've gained FIVE POUNDS. I have swollen sausage fingers and divots in my shins. What’s next? Locusts?

I’m sure that many of you agree that living a healthier life is a cycle of forward and back steps. Not everyone is comfortable all the time and even skinny, fit folks fight this same battle against fluid retention. I’m definitely not the only person who suffers this plight. I’m just the loudest right now. In an effort to help others, and hopefully to rid myself of excess weight, I have done a little research and will share it RIGHT NOW!

1. Eat bananas. I thought I’d start with the easiest one. Bananas are loaded with potassium which makes them a quick, no-nonsense way to help your body get rid of excess fluid.

2. Eat cabbage. Um, no. In preparation for entering the military my ex-husband ate nothing but cabbage soup for a week. The house smelled like farts. I will no longer eat cabbage.

3. Drink LOTS OF WATER. Drinking water kick starts your kidneys and gets them working more efficiently. Some call this the waterfall diet. I've been to the bathroom 65 ½ times today.

4. Drink other stuff like evening primrose tea or cranberry juice.

5. Cut back on dehydrating drinks such as coffee and alcohol. This is a tough one. Good luck.

6. Cut out excess salt and avoid salty foods. Sodium is a silent killer, my friends. I've never known something that tastes so delicious yet is so very bad for a body in so many ways. Cut it out, or at least cut back.

7. Exercise. Don’t you find that exercise is a pretty common remedy for most of what ails ya? Just saying, it pops up all the time, so there must be some truth to its efficacy.

8. Try all-natural, over-the-counter water pills. It’s worth a try, right?

So, that’s about all I've got – a comprehensive list of tried and true methods of fighting the bloat. If any of you out there have other suggestions, I’m dying to hear them! Please post them in comments here, or message me on FB. I’m going to try them all… after I get back from the bathroom.