I am about 12 days into my 30 Day Capsule Wardrobe and things are going great! I will provide a more thorough synopsis of that experience in a later entry but for now, I want to talk about a new 30 Day Challenge that I just started!

In an effort to be really, really well hydrated, I have decided to drink 1 gallon of water every day for the next 30 days!  I am about 3 days into the challenge, which can also be broken down to roughly 43 cups or 350 ounces of water and one million trips to the bathroom (I am probably exaggerating on that last part, but only slightly).

What’s the value in drinking so much water?

Hopefully, you have heard a bit about the importance of this little molecule called dihydrogen monoxide, cause it is pretty important in keeping us alive. Our bodies are made up of 60% water and there are a lot of reasons why staying hydrated is very important to your overall health and well-being. I won’t go into the full litany of why water is good, but here are some links if you question the authenticity of why water is good for you…

• Bodybuilding.com
• Everydayhealth.com
• Livestrong.com

Why a gallon of water? Everyday?

Admittedly, a gallon of water is a LOT of water. It is 128 ounces. Everyday.  I think most experts out there would argue that anything more than about 80 ounces of water a day is probably unnecessary. There are a lot of people out there that have attempted this challenge (like this very honest account, this story from Thrillists, and this general overview) … and from their experiences here are the key reasons that I am interested in aiming for a gallon a day is as follows:

• Clearer skin
• Weight loss
• General body detox

Is drinking that much water a day even safe??

I should mention that there is this thing called hyponatremia or water intoxication, which is serious and if left untreated can be fatal.  Essentially, water intoxication occurs due to an imbalance of sodium in your cells (basically where you dilute your cells to unsafe levels). In researching this condition, it is important to be measured in your approach and drink slowly throughout the day.  While hyponatremia is very rare, you are at most risk when you drink a lot of water very quickly, so note to self: no chugging water.

The details of the challenge

• Drink 1 gallon of water every day- that boils down to 128 ounces. I am using a 32 ounce water bottle that will get filled 4 times/day
• Build a water schedule– My goal is to drink 1 bottle of water in the morning before lunch, 1 bottle before the end of work, 1 before dinner and finish the final bottle by 9pm.
• Listen to your body- Again, since I am not looking to die or kill my kidneys from water intoxication for the victory of a 30 Day Challenge, I am going to pay attention to how much water my body actually can handle.  I would rather sacrifice some required ounces of water than cause significant damage to my kidneys.
• Minimize caffeine and alcohol– this is less of a rule and more just common sense I am trying to follow. No need to add the challenge of diuretics into the mix.

I will keep you posted on my progress. For now I have to pee (again).