WATER DRINKING CHALLENGE

Losing weight and exercising are popular New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, a lot of people fail. Myself included.

This is why I want to tell you about the 30 day water challenge I completed that will give you the jumpstart you need to make 2019 your year to succeed.

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Maybe your 2019 resolution isn’t losing weight, but we can all drink more water and be healthier.

Let’s get right to it.

30 Day Water Challenge Rules

What am I allowed to drink?

-Besides drinking water for 30 days straight you can have coffee, milk, or juice as long as it’s unsweetened. No alcohol. If you’re doing the water challenge mainly to lose weight you will want to cut out everything except water to avoid the added calories.

How much water do I have to drink each day?

The amount you choose to drink is up to you. Common amounts are:

– 8 to 12 cups (8 ounces) a day

– Half a gallon

– Half your body weight in ounces. E.g If you weigh 140 pounds you would drink 70 ounces of water.

Water Challenge Goals

– Drink more water, stay hydrated

– Lose weight

– Get clearer skin

– Gain more energy

-Flush out toxins from your body

-Get less headaches

I decided to do the 30 day water challenge mainly because I wanted to have clearer skin and more energy. I drank half a gallon of water (about half my weight in ounces) a day for 30 long days. I didn’t cut out milk because I wanted to have cereal some days, but I did cut back on the amount I normally consume.

Here is what happened

The first few days I felt like I constantly had to go to the bathroom. Be prepared. I was making multiple trips to the restroom.

I kept track of how many glasses of water I drank by marking my water bottle. I wrote it down when I used my thermos or water infuser. I’ll post some infused water recipes soon here for the days you are sick of plain water.

To make it easier I tried to drink a glass of water before every meal. This also helped curb my appetite.

At first the challenge was hard for me because I don’t drink much water to begin with.

Changes I noticed:

-My pee was almost crystal clear. When you aren’t hydrated it will be a darker yellow.

-I didn’t feel hungry as often as I normally do, which is often.

-My face cleared up a little bit, but I didn’t get that heavenly glow that others have experienced.

-I lost a few pounds, but have since gained them back with all of the holiday baking and eating.

-I didn’t notice a huge increase in my energy level, but I was less lethargic in the late afternoons. Probably because I was running to the bathroom a bunch of times and didn’t have time to feel tired lol.

Water Challenge Tips

If you aren’t used to drinking a lot of water per day start with a few glasses per day and gradually increase your way up to your desired amount.

Try to drink at least one-third of your daily water intake in the morning. Once I started spreading out my water intake I didn’t have to pee as frequently.

I also suggest cutting off your water intake a few hours before bed or you will find yourself waking up in the middle of the night to pee.

The goal is to drink more water throughout the day, NOT in one sitting.

Please do not force yourself to drink all the water in a short period of time.  Forcing water down can be harmful to your body and can cause water poisoning.

Now that the challenge is over do I still drink 2 liters of water a day? I do not. However, I make a conscious effort to drink more water each day. It has helped to prevent me from overeating and get over my colds a lot faster.

I’m going to attempt the challenge again once the holiday festivities are over. Here’s to hoping 2019 will be your healthiest year and mine.

Drinking Water Challenge