Sodium Shmodium - It's not that big a deal!

...unless your doc recommend you avoiding salt due to pre-existing issues.  But quite frankly, sodium is not all that important in relation to dieting and fat loss in normal healthy humans.  Sure, it causes the bloats, but it's not that bad as it is temporary.  Weight gain due to abnormally high sodium intake is due to water retention; thus I would consider this as temporary weight gain, or "who cares."  Weight gain from fat is another story.

Let's say you are a normal healthy human being.  Let's look at the general mechanics of your body.  Your body is constantly adjusting itself in every way possible to seek homeostasis.  In relation to sodium, if you consume the same amount of sodium every day, then your body has already sought homeostasis.  Let's say you eat the same amount of sodium every day, then on Saturday, you go eat some sodium-laden deliciousness at Maggiano's or Panda Express.  Your body will be shocked that your sodium intake skyrocketed.  That increase in sodium levels is abrupt and your body cannot react fast enough at a moment's notice to regulate that spike in sodium.  Therefore, your body will be affected by increased sodium and this causes water retention.  Let's say you go back to eating that same amount of sodium the next day on.  Your body, after a few days, will be able to go back to normal and alleviate the bloats.

For me, I've noticed that it takes 2-3 days for my body to return to normal.  For example, I had some spaghetti leftovers from Maggiano's for lunch on Monday.  On Tuesday and Wednesday I returned to eating my normal daily amount of sodium (all I did was prepare my own food and not add any spices or condiments with much sodium in it), my weight increased from 169.2 lbs. to 171.4 - 171.8 lbs.  Today is Thursday and I now weigh 168.8 lbs.

Of course, this cannot be achieved without a healthy level of water intake.  They say "8 cups a day," but if you are highly active like I am, then a gallon a day is more fitting.  The natural cleansing diuretic effect of water is the best way to flush your body of unwanted nasties.   It is not to say that sodium should be avoided at all costs!  Sodium is essential to the mechanics of your body.  I would suggest just not to ADD salt to flavor your food.

So what happens when you eat out ALL the time?  Lunch at Taco Bell, dinner at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles, breakfast at Denny's, brunch at CPK.... All dishes prepared by anyone else aside from yourself will have different sodium levels.  Some will be higher than others, but most definitely, ALL will be higher than what you prepare yourself.  You have total control over what enters your mouth and what your body digests because you prepared it yourself.