sodium intake effect on water weight?

As some of you may know, I am here to gain, I always shoot for 3000 a day but usually end up with 2100-2200 because I am full and feel bloated.  I drink at least 2-4 quarts of water a day and my sodium intake is relativly high.  Never really pictured sodium as being an issue because I already have low blood pressure.  Just curious if the high sodium intake can be one of the factors in the bloat that I have/the possible water weight I might be receiving???

Salty foods can cause bloating but, then again, so can a lot of other foods... simple starches, sugar, fruit, cruciferous vegetables, pulses (legumes), gassy drinks, eggs..... for example.  4 quarts of water alone will fill up your stomach and make it difficult to eat enough... time your drinking well away from meals.    Water weight is only ever temporary... hence why your 'real' weight is the one you monitor weekly/bi-weekly/monthly.

I'd suggest you take a look at your food choices and try to cut back on any foods that are either too salty, too bulky or too filling.....  Swap for more foods that are higher in calories, less bulky and less filling..... oils, oily fish, red meats, full-fat dairy products, avocados, unsalted nuts/seeds.... so that you are getting the 3000 cals you need.

its actually CHANGES in sodium/potassium ratio that cause bloating, not the sodium itself.

what are you eating in a day?  you could have some form of intolerance to something you are eating.

I am curious as to how you reply to for_zev asking what you usually eat in a day. I also want to add, if you are eating a high amount of fibre, this will also contribute.

I have two microwave meals high in sodium, other then that everything else I eat is relatively low in sodium.  I do get in too much fiber though

Lots of fiber+ two very salty meals + lots of water = very likely as to why you feel so bloated and stuffed.

Part of why you may feel that way may be because you don't generally meet your caloric  goal - so on a day where you actually get really close - you would definitly feel a bit uncomfortable.

That being said. I'm a 20 year old 98-lb 5'9" female. If I can eat 3600+ calories in a day without needing to drink supplement shakes - you can too! Albeit I am increasing up to somewhere's around 4000-4200 either today or tomorrow, and will be doing so with the aid of a milkshake. Anyways - if you do find it hard to eat that many calories - try making yourself a high-calorie milkshake or smoothie. Before I could handle much solid food, I was drinking about 1000-1400 worth of my calories every day. It helped a lot.

For really high intakes yes, smoothies and shakes are good, but I don't think he should try milkshakes or smoothies until he hits at least 3000 because otherwise he will not learn how to eat a structured diet.

Osainto, you were given a lot of ideas in your other thread asking about only having a microwave. Have you looked into these suggestions? And Rebel is right about the two micro meals leading to bloat. Water itself does not lead to more water retention but way way too much of it will also lead to that heavy feeling.

yes I have started to use some of those ideas, more veggies and started in on the peanut butter.