How does post-diet water weight rebound manifest visually?

[HansAndFranz]

In other words if someone regains 3% of their bodyweight in water weight within a few days of a diet, or whatever is a reasonable figure, does that look like an increase in bf% or is it more complicated than that?

I asked this in a bodybuilder forum assuming it would be common knowledge but nobody seemed to have an answer.

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

How do you know it's water weight?

[HansAndFranz]

Well say you're eating at what you reasonably estimate to be your TDEE and you gain five pounds in a few days. Is there a likely alternative?

[Jordan Feigenbaum]

If you're eating at maintenance, you shouldn't be gaining weight. Most likely scenario is overestimation of caloric needs and/or some extra food in the GI system.

That said, if someone was coming off a low carb diet and starts eating carbs again- gaining water weight would be more likely.

Sounds like you're eating too much, but I wouldn't worry about what happens over a few days as much as I would track trends over a few weeks.

[HansAndFranz]

Ok thank you.