We’ve all heard that drinking about eight glasses of water per day is the not-so-secret secret to A+ health. But could those eight glasses not be enough? To find out, one woman drank an entire gallon of water, every day, for two weeks — and the health benefits she experienced were pretty astounding.
Olivia Charles was studying to become a nurse when she realized she wasn’t practicing what she was preaching. While Charles was learning to teach others the ins and outs of a healthy lifestyle, she was struggling with high blood pressure. And during college, she put on more weight than she bargained for.
So, Charles decided to change her lifestyle. She challenged herself to drink a gallon of water every day for two weeks. She also worked on upping her exercise routine and bettering her diet.
It’s 4:23 and I have just taken my first sip of a drink. And it’s a coke. I seriously have a problem. I need to drink more fluids. Really water.
— Morgan Rogers (@MorgaaanMorgan) December 20, 2018
You ever go through phases where water tastes really good and it's all you drink, and the phases where water tastes bland and you need a bit more flavour? Or just me? .
— Joe. (@TheNigelMarven) December 19, 2018
i need to drink more water pic.twitter.com/qEAT7Ibgpz
— savanna (@who_is_savi) December 11, 2018
Need more efficient ways to drink water. Buying a new pack every week aint it
— JIGGA 🇯🇲 (@JIGGYKESO) December 15, 2018
I really need to start drinking more water. I drink like a bottle a month it feels like lol.
— Nolen Salazar (@Nolen_24) December 13, 2018
Morning me:
— Brandon Kellum (@BrandonKellumAZ) November 17, 2018
“I need to drink more water.”
*sips coffee
Night me:
“I need to drink more water.”
*sips beer
Since setting this goal three years ago, Charles has maintained her gallon-per-day intake and has lost a total of 35 pounds.
“I still keep up with my goal of drinking a gallon of water every day,” Charles told Delish on August 19th. “Honestly, being hydrated just makes me feel better. Plus, drinking so much water prevents me from drinking anything super-sugary — I rarely have soda or juice cravings anymore.”
Charles’ diet consists of protein bars and coffee for breakfast; chicken, sweet potatoes, and broccoli for lunch; and steamed veggies with chicken, tuna, or deli meat for dinner. She keeps her caloric intake at around 1,500 each day, and although she doesn’t count calories, Charles keeps a food journal.
“Once I started getting into the habit of food journaling,” Charles said, “I became so much more mindful and conscious of what I was eating.”
According to an article from UCDavis.edu, your brain functions so much better when you drink the recommended amount of water. You’ll be able to think faster, focus more, and experience clarity and creativity when hydrated.
ok one more, place glasses/bottles of water by your bed and by your desk. i know you dont wanna listen to pinterest fb wishy washy stuff about how drinking water will cure your mental illness but this is me, ur depressed gremlin dad telling you to drink water and go outside
— 🏳️🌈 noah 🏳️🌈 (@ParagonRaptors) December 12, 2018
Fun fact: always drink a cup of water before coffee in the morning. You need to hydrate before drinking caffeine. Caffeine will make you more tired if you don’t hydrate first. #waterisalwaystheanswer
— Alexis Engelking (@AlexisE90) December 20, 2018
Take a moment to drink more water today and take breathers when you need it! You got this ✌🏻
— ☝🏻 Kirsty⁷ 🍉 (@highlightyoongi) December 20, 2018
Despite the whole “eight glasses of water” factoid, the amount of water one needs to consume daily to stay hydrated depends on gender, age, weight, and activity level. But like Charles, upping your H2O intake can positively impact your lifestyle and make you feel so much better.
you all need to drink more water
— Brian Michael Wille (@BrianWille) December 13, 2018
We’d also like to note that drinking more water wasn’t the only change Charles made to her daily routine. She also transformed her diet and began exercising more. In other words, many different factors go into a healthy lifestyle, and drinking more water won’t automatically make you healthier. If you want to improve your health, you should speak to your doctor about bettering all areas of your lifestyle.
To give you an idea of how much water you should be drinking, check out CamelBak’s Hydration Calculator.
