Water is a basic human need, but the amount one consumes varies from person to person. While there is no definitive answer for how much water one should drink in a single day, eight eight-ounce cups is the general recommendation supported by Mayo Clinic; however, Harvard Health reports that between four and six cups is sufficient.
Similarly, Cleveland Clinic stated everyone’s needs are different, but they suggest tailoring a person’s water intake to their individual health. Some people might need more, and some might not need that much. For the sake of this experience, I stuck with Mayo’s benchmark: the classic eight eight-oz cups, or 64 ounces.
Day One
In all honesty, I could not meet my goal on the first day. I filled my water bottle to the top that morning, but did not even finish the 40 ounces it held. I could not force down that much water, no matter how hard I tried. I felt heavy by the end of the night, but it was most likely because I had been drinking way more water than my usual 20 ounces daily.
Day Two
I was able to complete 64 ounces, but only with a lot of reminders throughout the day. It was still difficult, as I was supposed to consume enough water to fill a two liter bottle. I did not notice any immediate changes other than the need to use the bathroom became more constant.
Day Three
Since classes began, I had noticed a little bit of acne on my face. After three days of this challenge, my pimples began to clear away. I drank all 64 ounces and had continued my new habit of frequenting the bathroom..
Day Four
My face continued to clear up and keeping up with my water intake was slightly easier. I was thirsty more often – my body was adjusting to this new diet. However, the amount of water was still a little intimidating.
Day Five
I had grown used to my water quota by this point, and I grew more thirsty throughout the day. On the other hand, I felt less hungry and did not snack as much as I would have before this week. Urinating was a little less frequent.
Day Six
I felt more awake and energized, and I did not feel as heavy as I expected with so much water in my system. At this point, my skin was almost completely clear, which it hadn’t been in a few weeks.
Day Seven
Everything was just about the same as the day prior, but more bittersweet. I felt more awake than usual, my skin looked great and I had mixed emotions about ending the challenge. On one hand, I was glad I no longer had to force myself to drink so much water, and on the other hand, I knew it was good to flush out my body and give it a jump start.
I consumed over 400 ounces of water in the span of a week, and I did see somewhat immediate results. Although I urinated a lot more frequently at first, my body adjusted to the change, and I saw my skin improve, my appetite shift and I felt more awake. If I had continued this trend for longer than a week, I would probably see even more benefits, such as a boosted metabolism or healthier joints. However, it was very difficult to keep up with my goal, and I likely would have seen similar results if I had settled for 50 ounces as opposed to 64. While this challenge should have been something that I was already striving for, it was still difficult. This week has taught me the benefits of maintaining the proper water intake and how important it is to fuel the body in a healthy way.
