eli5 What’s the difference between “water weight” and calorie based weight?

Question

They both add weight, so I’m confused.

In: 2

Answer 1

When you drink water, it stays water. It might be in your blood or sweat glands or such. But it’s water and leaves as water (urine, sweat, tears). Proteins and fats and carbs can be dis-assembled and repurposed so that they are part of your body — a fat cell, a muscle fiber, an organelle — and convincing your body to lose that kind of weight is a lot harder. You have to (literally) burn it – which is why we think of that weight as associated with energy (calories).