Buzz
I’m starting to agree with the Mytour commenters on this: Drinking a fixed amount of water every day (such as a gallon) feels like pseudoscience, a figure that sounds impressive but varies greatly from person to person—and, of course, depends on your diet, since you also get water from the food you consume.
Is it essential to drink a gallon of water each day? Probably not. Does consuming more water than the average person improve your health? To a certain extent, yes. But I’m beginning to feel like the main advantage of drinking a gallon of water daily is that it forces you to move more, constantly getting up to go to the bathroom.
Regarding real health benefits, I’m no expert, but I’ve been trying to drink as close to a gallon of water as possible every day this month (it’s tough!), and I don’t feel much different. My skin, which is usually dry, hasn’t suddenly become soft and moisturized; I haven’t lost any noticeable weight (though maybe once the bloating from all this water settles, that’ll change); and I’m still not exactly a morning person. The only difference is, I now wake up and drink water while I stare at my computer screen. I suppose drinking water does help wake me up a bit more than doing nothing—but jumping into the shower as soon as I wake up would probably have a similar effect. Or sipping on a nice cold brew.
I’m having a hard time thinking of any other benefits from Mytour’s watery Fitness Challenge. I’m using the bathroom a lot more, which constantly reminds me, 'I really should schedule some time to clean the bathroom,' and that’s never a bad thing. I’m also cleaning my water jug daily—something I never used to do. That’s a positive change! Plus, drinking refreshing water instead of sugary soda is a win. I haven’t had soda since March started, and I’m sure I’m reaping health benefits from cutting out empty carbs and sugar. Still waiting for the scale to witness me, though.
Still, this water challenge reminds me of the basic truth that quick fixes don't make for a healthy lifestyle. You can’t simply improve your body by making one big change—like drinking an excessive amount of water every day. Gradual changes across several areas of life will bring a better payoff than a drastic change in just one, unless you're aiming for something obvious, like 'no more fast food.'
More to the point, I believe I’d probably see more tangible health benefits if I combined my newfound love for water—not obsessively sticking to a gallon a day, but just drinking more water overall—with other healthy activities. Maybe taking a walk during lunch a few times a week, or dedicating time to the spin bike. Even small things like 'going to bed at a reasonable hour' or 'taking breaks from staring at my computer screen, my lifeline during the pandemic' would likely help.
The main takeaway from this three-week water challenge is that it hasn't worked miracles for my skin, but it has made me think more about living a healthier lifestyle. As a result, I’ve started to make other small changes that could hopefully lead to steady improvements. Drinking all this water daily has been a good reminder of health, though not necessarily a quick fix for boosting my health on its own.
That being said, my bladder is probably at Olympic-level by now. If anything has gotten a workout this month, it’s definitely that.
