If you’ve ever seen my posts on Facebook about how bad I suck at drinking water then you know…I suck at drinking water so I’m challenging myself to REALLY drink some water!

Me and my water issues…

It’s not that I’m awesome at drinking soda, or tea, or coffee or beer or…anything else, though I do enjoy all of those things, it’s just that I’m rarely thirsty so I barely drink anything at all. In fact, when I do drink throughout the day (other than my morning protein coffee) it’s almost always water. The problem is that I can go a whole day and drink less than 12 oz of water and not realize it until that night, sometimes not even until the next day! Yes, it’s THAT bad!

If you read my last post titled “Living in Limbo” then you know that A) I have been feeling like am stuck in limbo B) That I am not currently training for anything right now because of said, “limbo” (more on that coming soon…because I’m slightly insane) and C) I am working on eating (which includes drinking) intuitively, meaning that I eat and drink only when I’m hungry and stop when I’m satisfied…which is why my next sentence is going to add to the insanity of my thoughts, and well, life in general.

So without getting into the “more to come” (because that will require a post of its own) I have decided to challenge myself to drink 1 gallon of water per day for seven days to see if I feel any different…hopefully better!

I am tired of dealing with crappy hips, tight hip flexors, nasty shoulder, stuck ankles and knees and general overall mobility issues that have created LOTS of setbacks over that last year. I have been completely attributing them to overuse, both in and out of the gym…mostly out…and mostly due to sitting at my desk where they seize up in a nice flexed position and then don’t want to extend– because why would they?

I get a lot of relief from massage and have had some from chiropractic but the issues never seem to go away completely. I’m being assessed for an autoimmune disorder (which may provide some answers) but I have no interest in sitting around waiting for a (potential) diagnosis. So in the meantime I’m going to (attempt) to drink the shit out of some water.

Seriously, I know some people do this habitually, like it’s no big deal and maybe, just maybe by the end of the 7 days it won’t be a big deal for me either but so far, I am struggling!

Yesterday was day one for me and as of 10:00pm I had about 2/3 of a gallon down. I assumed I’d end there since I was headed to bed soon but I drank a few more sips before heading to bed around 10:30. When I went to bed I could NOT sleep. My right hip, quad and calf were killing me and I couldn’t get comfortable. I also got up to pee three times before midnight.

At midnight, after my third pee in 1.5 hours, I decided I was hungry. I went to the kitchen, ate 3 pieces of cheese and then drank more water– I don’t know if I’m an idiot or brilliant but I REALLY wanted to say that I drank a whole damned gallon of water. At 12:03 there was still 1/4 of a gallon left, staring me down. I just. Couldn’t. Do it.

I lost track of how many more times I got up to pee last night but needless to say, I woke up tired today. I worked out this morning, trusty gallon jug in hand and as of almost 3pm I have probably less than a quarter of it gone.

So far, I am sucking at this challenge! But I’m not giving up. I will get an entire gallon in EVENTUALLY.

Today I am focusing on the positive by being grateful indoor plumbing and my Costco-size package of Charmin.