CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE MARCH || ISSUE 32 | Page 25

Water retention is not necessarily a
bad thing, the average adult is made
up of roughly 60% water. Our
muscles are actually made up of
roughly 75-80% water. Being properly
hydrated will be key in order to
progress in the gym and be able to
train as hard as possible. Even being
slightly dehydrated can affect your
performance and results. There are 2
types of water retention that occur in
our body. We retain water
intracellularly and extracellularly.
Intracellular water retention is when
water is deposited within our
muscles, this is the desired look a lot
of physique competitors go for when
“carbing up” for a show or a
photoshoot. This is the effect of
having water fill the muscle as much 
as possible giving it a larger look.
Extracellular water retention is when
water is deposited in other tissues
like right underneath your layer of
skin.  This may give your physique the
appearance of having a softer look
not desired by many people. When
trying to peak for a certain physique
event, it is not about completely
ridding the body of water, but it is
about having the proper balance
between intracellular water retention
and extracellular water retention.
Although you want to be dry, you also
want your muscles to be full and
popping, as this will give you a much
better look.