Hey y’all! Last week in the Midlife Minute I talked to you all about my gallon of water challenge and some of the benefits of drinking this much water a day. I know this may sound extreme but the truth is drinking water daily is essential to our health. Unfortunately many times when we are thirsty we ignore water and opt for soda, energy drinks and other beverages. These drinks are often full of sugar and unhealthy calories and can contribute to unwanted weight gain. Consuming water instead of these sugary drinks daily can provide many benefits. You will have you more energy, clearer skin, less bloating and fewer issues with constipation. This was a win-win for me so I challenged myself to drinking a gallon of water every day for a week. Little did I know that this challenge would be more difficult than I anticipated.
HEADACHES – WHO KNEW?
A gallon of water can be intimidating! As I poured water into my glass, I honestly felt as if the water in the gallon never decreased. I was experiencing a groundhog day moment, I thought that I would never empty that container. Unfortunately a headache came along with it. I immediately turned to my most trusted source of information – GOOGLE. I discovered that it is possible to over hydrate which can cause brain damage…who knew? Brain damage certainly isn’t a benefit. CAUTION – As much water as you take in you have to sweat some of it out.
DOES anyone have a portable potty?
On day 2 when I woke up I had enough energy to go for a walk. With my water bottles in tow I was able to walk a few miles and consume 3 bottles of water. It felt great to get out however I failed to remember that I would need to go to the bathroom. The urge and consistency reminded me of being pregnant and having an 8 pound baby pressing on my bladder…Not fun. There was water everywhere! That definitely is a benefit, my kidneys were functioning properly and I was clearing out toxins from my body. I somehow managed to drink the gallon after going to the bathroom at least 15 times. This was the worst side effect of drinking a gallon of water a day, but I mean, it was to be expected — what goes in must come out, right?
WHO’S HUNGRY?
Experts say that drinking a lot of water can curb your appetite, and they’re right! Each morning I enjoyed my spinach, pineapple and mango smoothie and could get through the day without feeling hungry. I actually skipped lunch many days; the water filled me up and curbed my desire to munch and snack throughout the day. Whenever I would get hungry sipping on my water would satisfy my need for food.
I was able to drink a gallon of water 4 out of the 7 days. I really tried to do it everyday; on the days that I fell short I had a lot of energy and I still managed to eat less. Drinking a gallon of water a day is definitely not an easy task and I probably won’t try to do it again. Managing a healthy intake of water is important and I will continue to strive to do that daily. My gallon of water challenge is over and now I can move on to drinking a bottle of wine a day…just kidding!
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