Fat Gain vs. Water Retention: What's the Difference?

Question
I was wondering if you knew how you can tell if a "fat" gain on you if really fat or water?  I've heard there was some way that you can pinch or squeeze it to tell...

Answer
Hi Sue,
I must apologise about the lateness of my answer here - my email has been playing around lately, and I've not been getting what I am suppose to from some people which certainly doesn't help you (or me)out!
There is no way that I know of to tell if it is water retension or fat.  Your fat tissues will hold on to any 'additional' items stored in your body, being excessive energy from your food/alcohol (ie fat), toxins from things such as coffee and alcohol, and any other item it cannot actually recognise to process (transfats).  Because it stores these other things in the adipose, or fat, tissues it will try to dispell them by diluting them with water which in turn adds the 'gain'.  
You can use those electrical current scales that tell you your body water percentage, but in general they will not be accurate due to the way the current may run through your body.  Think that electricity runs the shortest route it can and if you have your feet on the scales that would probably be up one leg and down the other - forget about the upper body!!!!
If you are not sure and would like to lose some extra pounds, then (as I have mentioned to the previous questioners) try an elimination diet that will get rid of the toxins and hopefully the excess build up in your body by eating heathily, no processed foods and get rid of that caffiene and alcohol that will just pull in the water!
Good luck!!
Tara