It is about sodium loading and depleting and stuff like that. Before you immediatly disagree, read the article. Im thinkin theres a possibility you didnt do it right when u did it. What do you think of this?
There is no argument that excess subcutaneous water detracts from definition, but muscle is more than 75% water. Each gram of Glycogen, or Carbohydrate energy that your body stores as energy for muscle contraction binds with 2.7 grams of water. the more water you have in your body the bigger and harder you will look if you are able to force water into the muscle. The water balance across the cell membrance is regulated by the balance of potassium inside the cell to the sodium outside. When there is an excess of potassium, water is drawn into the cell. By reducing your sodium intake and taking potassium supplements you increase intracellular water. Because the body tries to maintain the potassium/sodium balance, when you restrict your sodium intake too long the body begins to excrete potassium to restore the balance. There fore you should only restrict your sodium for about three days before the contest.
Because of the extra carbohydrates, you should be drinking approximately three times as much water by "weight" as you are taking in carbohydrates. Use distilled water along with potassium tablets for the 3 days before the contest, and any excess water taken in will just be eliminated.
When high levels of sodium are consumed the body conserves potassium in order to maintain a balance. Therefore, if you eat reasonably high levels of sodium a week before going on a low sodium diet you will naturally have high balance more pronounced. The movement of the water into the cells will be more pronounced. Sodium loading does not have to be excessive to work, and is not recommended for more than one week due to its association with disease like hypertension. Soy sauce is a natural source of sodium.