I drank the clinically recommended amount of water – 2 liters – every day for a month… what happened?
This challenge was actually… a lot of fun. I enjoy experimenting on myself. Learning my body is a big step on the healing journey.
Related: I Meditated Every Day for 31 Days… Here’s What Happened
There’s a lot of claims about the “miracles” of water. And I thought what better way to demystify it than to just do the thing? So for a month, I drank 2 liters of water every day and documented what happened.
Disclaimer: there’s a lot of debate on this in the health landscape. Some doctors don’t prescribe a specific water volume and just say to drink when you’re thirsty. Because who needs a formula when your body can tell you exactly what you need, right?
Except… wrong. Most of us lead busy stressful lives. Sadly, this means we may not be listening to our bodies. I have a hard time reading when my body is hungry or full. I don’t really taste my food since I’m often multi-tasking and I’m even less attuned to my body’s thirst signals. And yes these are horrible habits.
So yeah, I’d rather be clinical about it to ensure my body’s getting what it needs.
So for a month, I drank 2 liters of water every day (counting coffee and tea) and here’s what happened.
Benefits of Drinking the Right Amount of Water
- Lubricates your joints: keen to test this since I get joint pain from running and yoga
- Improves skin, though this is always under debate
- More energy and better brain function
- Better physical performance
- Weight loss
- Reduces headaches: this is something I struggle with too
- Helps constipation: oh yes, we’ll be addressing this
- Helps prevent hangovers: I won’t be measuring this since I don’t drink enough for a hangover
RESULTS
Day 1
Peeing is actually so annoying. Has anyone ever been too busy to pee? Sad that we prioritize our work over our bladder.
Outside of a hundred toilet trips, it’s immediately noticeable that I ate less… like a lot less. I am NOT doing this to lose weight so I’ll need to make an active effort to listen to my body and eat!
Day 5
I don’t know if this is because of water consumption but my knee and elbow flares have significantly reduced… I’m able to sit in a way I couldn’t before, such as crossing my knees and sleeping with my elbow underneath.
My pee is colorless now, so yay for better waste filtration.
Also I’m really really not hungry. Makes me wonder how often I reach for food when I’m just thirsty instead. Water has been shown to regulate your weight and I may be seeing early signs of this.
Day 10
So. Much. Peeing.
There’s a notable difference in joint pain when I slack off with the hydrating. It goes away in a few hours after some guzzling.
My headaches improved during the day, but not so much at night.
No noticeable difference in energy levels, but my bowel movements have definitely improved! This may be a combination of drinking water and more mindful eating.
Day 15
The peeing seems to have normalised, but it’s still a lot. The color never goes darker than a very dilute yellow.
The inflammation in my joints is going down much quicker after exercising. That’s super cool. And I’m definitely less hungry than usual.
Headaches have mildly improved, but still pretty bad at night. It makes me wonder if the issue lies outside hydration. Like maybe too much laptop time.
Day 20
I’m used to the peeing now! And I pay better attention to the color to tell me if I’m dehydrated. Yay for reading my body’s signals!
There’s definitely a significant improvement in my joints. I can’t believe how much water has helped, I thought a doctor visit was in my near future. In a way, that’s certainly improved my physical performance. Movement feels smoother and my body can go for longer. I’m sure this will add to weight regulation.
It’s amazing how a small tweak can cause a cascade of changes in the body. More proof that everything is linked.
Day 25
I haven’t noticed a significant difference in my skin but my dark circles seem to be better.
I’m a bit more clear-headed and my focus has enhanced… I guess those cognitive benefits are kicking in. My body feels better overall. More energy, more motivation in tackling daily tasks. Dexterity in my fingers has also improved, maybe as part of joint lubrication?
This is cool!
Day 30
Last update and wow! This was actually a pretty cool experiment. It turned out to be wider than just drinking water. I learned to read my body better. To respond to its signals.. which was a relief to my wellbeing. And to prioritize my body over work. This is huge. As someone who is building a career out of mental health and wellness, this is an important realization.
As to how my body feels, I certainly think I’m better off.
First, I get pretty thirsty if I don’t drink as much as I should.
The radical improvement in my joins is amazing. I can’t believe how much my mobility improved. Perhaps even my brain function because I’m no longer chronically inflamed.
There’s a definite improvement in headaches. I hardly get them anymore because I learned through this experiment that water can only do so much if I never take a break from my laptop.
The amount of water helped my bowel movements in the beginning, but this has since evened out. BUT I did notice hot water in the morning and at night (with lemon or tea) worked wonders for constipation.
Also a weird benefit… I generally stink less. My breath is nicer, my sweat isn’t so pungent, and yes, even my number 1’s and 2’s are better. This is definitely a plus. Who wants bad breath?
My body just feels cleaner and healthier. There’s a spring in my step. It’s a subtle difference that’s hard to explain. Movement comes easier and life is better without chronic pain.
Do you drink enough water? I suggest you try this experiment and see what changes. It seems like a big ask at first but you get used to it pretty quickly! And the benefits are lovely.
Nothing life-changing, just a few tweaks in the right direction. But that makes all the difference.
