Why Do You Pee More When Losing Weight? (Explained!)

Last updated on February 24th, 2023 at 01:43 pm

You’ve probably noticed that your new healthy lifestyle means that you’re having to make more trips to the bathroom.

And this is probably something that you’ve never experienced before.

So, is this a cause for concern or completely normal?

Allow me to explain why you pee more when losing weight.

The main reason why you pee more when losing weight is due to increased waste production. This is typically caused by an increased metabolic rate through fewer calories consumed and more calories burned through exercise. Additionally, your liver will need to metabolize your existing stores of glycogen, as your reduced calorie intake may mean that you’re not producing as much glycogen.

Increased Metabolism Equals Increased Waste Production

Firstly, you can relax, as in the vast majority of cases having to pee more while losing weight is perfectly normal.

In fact, you could almost view your excessive need to pee as a good thing.

Basically, urination is one of the ways that waste products can leave the body.

And if you’re trying to lose weight then stored and broken down fat will leave your body when you pee.

So, in effect, you could almost say that the more you pee, the more potential fat you are removing from the body.

I would hazard a guess that your weight loss journey typically includes a healthier diet and more exercise.

In other words, you are consuming fewer calories through the foods you eat, while you’re also burning more calories through being more active.

The knock-on effect from this is an increased metabolic rate.

Furthermore, an increased metabolic rate is probably what will have the greatest impact on your weight loss.

The higher your metabolism, the more calories you will burn on a daily basis.

Plus, your increased metabolism also means that you’re burning more calories while at rest, and even while you sleep.

However, what you may not be aware of is that an increased metabolic rate leads to an increased level of waste production in the body.

And remember, this is a good thing.

You’ll generally produce waste from water cells, ketones from burning fat for energy use, and also urea from protein metabolism.

So, in essence, the more waste product your body produces, the more you’ll need to pee.

Increased Liver Function

There is a huge connection between losing weight and liver function.

Basically, every single thing you put into your body needs to be filtered through your liver.

One particular function of the liver is glycogen storage.

Glycogen is a form of glucose, which happens to be a form of energy storage in the body.

So, whenever you eat anything, especially carbohydrates, your liver will store any excess calories as glycogen.

And it is these glycogen stores that typically fuel your workouts.

This is also why you often fatigue much quicker when exercising without eating first.

It does take a good few hours for your glycogen stores to deplete.

So, in truth, if you ate a hearty meal the night before you should have more than enough energy for a “fasted” workout the following morning.

With that being said, you’ll usually only have enough glycogen stores for 45 minutes of very intense exercise, and 2-3 hours of moderate-intensity exercise.

However, you’ll usually reduce your calorie intake when you want to lose weight and body fat.

And this reduction in calories means that you won’t be producing as much glycogen.

So, your liver needs to compensate by metabolizing whatever glycogen the body already has stored.

And increased glycogen metabolizing increases the need to pee.

Therefore, your excessive need to pee is once more a good sign, as you now know that your liver is doing its job.

A Healthy Lifestyle Means More Fluids

Something else to consider is that your new healthy lifestyle means you’re taking on more fluids.

And often you’ll be taking on more fluids without even realising it.

Firstly, increasing your water intake is extremely important when it comes to losing weight.

In fact, regardless of whether you’re trying to lose weight or not, you should ensure that you’re drinking plenty of water on a daily basis.

This actually helps with many of the things I’ve already mentioned.

And this is especially true when it comes to an increased metabolic rate and increased liver function.

So, if you’re drinking more water you’ll quite clearly be peeing more often.

However, something you may not be aware of is the water content of some of the healthiest foods that you’re probably eating.

One of the first dietary changes that most of us make when looking to lose weight is to increase our consumption of fruits and vegetables.

But, as an example, broccoli contains 90% water, cabbage has 92% water, and cucumber has 95% water.

So, in effect, many of these healthy foods are also increasing your fluid intake.

The exact same can be said for fruits, which most of us typically eat more of when trying to lose weight.

Blackberries contain 88% water, peaches have 89%, grapefruit and strawberries have 91%, and tomatoes have 94%.

So, once more, your healthy eating is simply increasing your fluid intake.

A Reason to Worry About Excessive Peeing & Weight Loss

Now, I’m sure this all sounds wonderful so far.

And as I’ve mentioned, in the vast majority of cases your increased need to pee is actually a good thing.

But unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

If you find that you’re suddenly peeing excessively, as well as losing weight, this could be a cause for concern.

And this is especially true if you’re not actually trying to lose weight through controlled calorie consumption and increased activity.

Unexplained weight loss and an increased need to pee are both symptoms of diabetes.

Okay, I don’t want to unduly worry you, but this is something you need to consider.

If you haven’t significantly changed your lifestyle and you’re not trying to lose weight then clearly you shouldn’t be dropping pounds or needing to pee every 10 minutes.

So, I would suggest that you book an appointment with your GP, even if it’s just to rule out the possibility of diabetes.

Furthermore, excessive peeing can cause an electrolyte imbalance, as well as low potassium levels.

This could eventually lead to your body not properly absorbing essential vitamins and minerals.

So, if you have unexplained weight loss and excessive peeing then make sure you visit your Doctor.

Ley Learning Points

• Losing weight will typically involve an increased metabolic rate, which in turn increases waste production.
• Your need to pee more often is usually directly related to the need to remove “waste products” from the body, e.g. body fat.
• Your new and healthier diet may involve lots of fruits and vegetables, which are made up of a high percentage of water, i.e. you have increased your fluid intake and therefore need to pee more often.
• If you’re losing weight and peeing more than usual without doing anything specific, e.g. dieting and exercising, you should visit your GP to rule out anything untoward.