sodium

is it bad that i don't really care or keep track of my sodium intake? Does it really matter? I thought cals was the only issue...

sorry if this sounds dumb to some of you...

Sodium increases water retention.
SO, while it does not have any caloric value, it does effect weight gain (even if temporary).
If you regularly have a diet high in sodium, it is all the MORE reason to INCREASE your water intake.
Drinking water helps keep the body from holding onto it.
Thus, it lessens the retention somewhat.

No question is dumb, except the one you don't ask :)
I hope this helped!

MC

I recently gave up trying to reduce my sodium intake or even care what it is. I just had to change my priorities. Not to say that I would not choose a lower sodium product over a higher version, but I was driving myself crazy...not letting myself have condensed soup unless it was reduced sodium. For me it was I decision to pick my battles. I am much happier now.

**This was taking into consideration that I had no health issues that would be aggravated, like HBP.

If you don't have any medical problems then you should not worry about it.  I don't recommend pouring added salt on your food.  A little caution never hurt anyone, but as long as you aren't shaking more salt on top of what is already there, then don't stress about it to much.  You know why you should watch the salt.  It's up to you now.  :)

I watch my sodium or at least try to since I am borderline hypertensive.  If you exercise alot and sweat alot extra sodium isn't such a bad thing as long as you are also drinking enough water.

This is very important: 

CALORIES ARE NOT THE ONLY THING THAT MATTER

Okay, im not trying to be the food Nazi or anything, but this is actuallly one of the mistakes that I origionally made.  I don't want you to fall into the same trap.

When everything in your body is working to its full potential, your kidneys, your liver, etc, your metabolism, works better.  If you ONLY focus on calories, and do not concentrate on making sure you get enough of the essential things (calcium, potassium, etc),  or forget about keeping the toxins out (one being sodium), then your body does not function as healthily, and only ONE of the negative results is that you do not process your food as well.  While you don't have to religiously control your sodium, it does make a difference, makes your blood pressure high, is not good for a all your organs, and just pulls the whole system down.  A poor metabolism is just ONE of the negative results, (they also include diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and the list goes on)

Heres a great example for you, in the first version of my diet I was having not enough calcium.  I increased my calcium intake, (added yogurt and cheese) and lost weight.   I did NOT lower my calorie intake.  Mysterious?  Kind of.  Just make sure you focus on getting all the nutrients, less of the junk like sodium, and your body will function much better.

This is a good article about sodium

Sodium & Health

So how much sodium is the average person supposed to consume a day.  what is considered bad? and what is considered good?  Where, in the future would I find this information, is there a place on this site?  (I am fairly  new)

From what i've read 2500 is I'd say the max, I'm relatively new as well.  I have a VERY hard time controlling sodium and from what I am reading I'm not the only one.  I drink a lot of water though in the hopes it's enough to flush it out.