


Water makes up the majority of human body composition, but weight leading to uneasiness and feeling bloated is a common problem a large population faces. So fret not if you’re experiencing the same, as there are quite a few strategies you can practice to help you shed off those extra pounds. If you’re hoping to lose some excess water weight quickly in order to fit into that outfit or look extra good for a special night, here are some weight loss tips and more for how you can safely lose water weight in 24 hours.
Water Weight and its Common Causes

Water weight is often responsible for the day-to-day changes in your body weight, which result from fluid retention. This usually amounts to 2-4 pounds, commonly caused by high sodium intake. Although it can be quite harmless, if you observe symptoms like swollen ankles, legs, or feet, you’re probably suffering from a condition called edema [1].
There are also other causes that lead to fluid retention and you can gain water weight from any number of these. This includes high carb intake, hormonal shifts caused by birth control, pregnancy or menstruation, prolonged sitting, and even dehydration can lead to water weight accumulation. If you also have thyroid dysfunction or elevated cortisol levels, the hormonal imbalance can also result in fluid build up. Please seek medical assistance if you were to suffer from any of these symptoms for a longer period of time.
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Identifying Water Weight
If you’re confused as to how to know if you’ve put on actual weight or if your body has stored water weight, here are some ways you can check and signs you can look out for:
Look out for signs of swelling and puffiness, and if you’re feeling bloated. To check if an area is swollen due to water weight, add some pressure to it and observe if it causes an indentation in the region. If it bounces back, then it’s most likely actual weight gain. But if you can see that the indentation remains, it might usually be water weight [2]. However, if you’re truly uncertain it’s best to not jump to conclusions and you check with a healthcare provider to be sure.
Tips for Losing Water Weight in 24 Hours
If you need to drop some water weight in 24 hours, here’s what can help with it:

- Drink more water – It sounds counterintuitive, but staying hydrated helps your body flush out excess fluid instead of holding onto it.
- Cut back on salt – Salty foods make you retain water, so avoid processed snacks and restaurant meals for the day.
- Break a sweat – A light workout or even a quick sauna session can help you lose extra water through sweat.
- Try a natural diuretic – Herbal teas or dandelion supplements can help you shed water weight by increasing urine output.
- Eat fewer carbs – Your body stores extra water with carbs, so skipping bread and pasta for the day can help you look and feel less bloated.
Ways to Maintain Water Weight Loss
To avoid water retention and maintain the weight loss that you achieved from losing water weight quickly, here are practices you can incorporate in your daily life to help you with those goals.
Dietary Changes

Following a low-carb diet is one of the most important changes you can make. Include whole grains and fiber-rich food in your meals that help clear out excess fluids by cleansing your kidneys and colon.
Exercise Regularly
Stimulating your body physically through regular exercises will get your blood circulating, lose weight, and also sweat out excess water. Workouts like High-Intensity-Interval-Training (HIIT) help with increasing cortisol levels, which can help you lose water weight and promote overall wellbeing.
Staying Hydrated
Although it may sound ironic, drinking water does help with losing water weight as it allows your body to carry out its daily function properly. Your body stores water if it feels like it’s dehydrated, so regularly providing it with the fluid intake it needs will cleanse your body of any unnecessary excess water weight. Also remember to limit your alcohol consumption, which can cause dehydration. Your ideal water intake should at least be 8 glasses a day.
Regulate Salt Intake

Too much salt can make your body hold onto extra water, making it harder to keep off water weight. Since most sodium comes from processed and fast foods, cutting back on those and cooking more at home with fresh ingredients can help. If you have conditions like kidney disease or heart issues, keeping your sodium intake in check is even more important to avoid fluid buildup, and you should go for a potassium-rich diet.
Focus on Quality Sleep
Getting sufficient and quality sleep can go a long way towards impacting your health positively. It contributes towards healthy kidney function, which manages the sodium and water storage in your body.
Consume Electrolytes, Coffee, and Tea
Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea may help reduce water weight by acting as natural diuretics, and this increases urine output in the short term. Potassium and magnesium are electrolytes that also help with regulating fluid balance and help with avoiding water retention.
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Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand how fluid retention works in our body, and given you insights on the ways we can lose water weight quickly and safely. Remember to always check in with a health care professional if the symptoms feel extreme. For more tips and resources for how you can lead a healthy lifestyle, check out the JustFit app!
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Edema: Causes, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, March 19). Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12564-edema