does water weight look different to fat??

hey everyone,

This is a strange question, but how do you tell the difference between water weight/retention and genuine fat?

I lost fair bit of weight when I had the flu and was expecting to put back the water weight (drinking tonnes of water though) and have even been very slow in adding my calories to my usual intake. But I really look like I've gained fair bit of weight on my thighs. Which is my trouble spot. I have been eating way under what I should- BUT- I am fixing this and trying to reach 1500 (for the first time) eating only healthy balanced foods. I really trying not to stress.

So, is it fat or water? It looks the same, is very wobbly. I have not gone anywhere near above maintenance so surely it can't be fat? Unless my body is hoarding??

I am also very due for TTOM.

Thankyou for your time!

 anyone??

(insert desperate-looking emoticon here!!!!)

I don't know what the technical answer is.... but, when I eat really salty things (which is how I gain water weight), it all goes to my belly... it looks distended and I fear that someone will ask me if I am pregnant! But, usually drinking alot of water flushes out the sodium and I get back to normal within a day or two... not sure if that helped, but that's my take on water weight! :-)

If I'm bloated from sodium and/or retaining water, I do look puffy. I hate using the tape measure for this reason because I never know if I'm a little bloated, that could effect the measurements, making me think I've gained inches of fat when really it's water bloat. Sometimes it's there when you don't know it! So I can relate, I can't tell the difference either, despite what the scale says.

Thanks guys, I always thought that fluid retention was mainly on your stomach, but can it go all over your body? Like especially the thighs?

Yeah, it doesn't have any one specific place it likes to hang out. A lot of people complain when they're retaining water that their hands are puffier and that their rings are tight.