Question...

[dZasta0]

I've been reading posts about sodium making you bloated and what not. Well I was wondering, I seem to carry more weight on my stomach compared to anywhere else. I'd say that I take in about 3000 - 3500 mg a day of sodium eating anywhere between 3500 to 4000 calories a day. I'm trying to bulk up some. I'm 5 6' and I weigh about 185. Just wondering if you think that my sodium intake is too much. Hope someone can help...

[RagingRandy]

That is more than double what you should have. If you are not sure about sodium intake you are probably taking in even more than that. All processed foods are full of sodium and should be avoided.

[dZasta0]

I'm eating as well i can. The sodium is coming from eggs, egg whites, some whole wheat bread (around 4 slices a day), cottage cheese is a killer because it's 390 per half cup and i take a cup for a serving, and a few other things. It's just that it adds up very quickly as most things have 100 to 300 even when there considered 'bodybuilding' foods.

[5151]

sodium won't make you fat and the bloating is nothing that can't be counteracted in a day or two. proper water intake should remedy the problem anyway. It is common for men to hold weight in the abdomen, it sucks but hey that's life.

[RagingRandy]

Drop the cottage cheese and sub in whey powder.

[Ritch]

Dude when bulking my stomach is the only place that gets big. Legs, chest, shoulders, triceps and back always have definition. You`re eating lot`s of food pilling meals on top of meals, of course the stomach will look big!

On days I train I consume 2 scoops of gatorade during and 3 after training this is 1050 mg of sodium right there. Don`t worry with what the RDA is for the average johny luch pail. At your height and weight I`d say don`t let your waist get bigger than 34-36. If you surpass that, then you gotta rethink your diet alltogether, never mind sodium.

[fourarms]

If you're using cottage cheese as a pre bed meal to stay full whey protein won't cut it as a replacement, you'll need casein. You might want to try dry curd cottage cheese. Its higher in protein, lower in carbs, and much lower in sodium. Taste isn't great, pretty tough to eat it alone. I found the best way was to mix it in to low cal fat free yogurt and its OK. Its more money than regular cottage cheese, but casein protein is expensive too.

Fat free cottage cheese per 125grams
90 cal
15 g pro
6 g carb
0.4 g fat
440 mg sodium

Dry curd cottage cheese per 125grams
110 cal
22 g pro
2 g carb
0.5 g fat
15 mg sodium

[Gettin'r'round]

I found the joy's of cottage cheese on my vacation last year. I also farted so damm much my wife wasn't a happy camper. I ate so much at the time I figured it was too much food. Later I decided to try the cottage cheese again and wow does it ever have a LOT of lactose, farty party. I acually had a mix of fat free yogurt and CC with some fruit. However looking at the nutrition facts the yogurt and CC were for all intensive purposes the same, EXCEPT, that the CC had a whole lot more sodium. I use Liberte Organic yogurt.

[JonnyO]

That is more than double what you should have. If you are not sure about sodium intake you are probably taking in even more than that. All processed foods are full of sodium and should be avoided.

Sodium is fine and those levels he's taking in are on the LOW end. Even when dieting I take in around 6-9k a day of sodium and I never deplete sodium either. Your muscles need sodium and it keeps your muscles full.

The only time I might drop sodium is for 24 hours or so sometime during the week before a show and even then it will just be LOWERED not ZERO.

[dZasta0]

Damn, that's a lot. My waist hasn't gone over 33, most pants are 34 so it's been fine. More tight around thighs compared to before. I was aiming to get up to 195 before starting a cut. Do you think that is too much? I weigh about 186 and I've been putting on a pound a week since i started counting nutrients whereas before I was just aiming for a certain amount of protein and carbs per meal before..