Since I started training for my half-marathon I have been trying to drink loads of water!
Water is still a topic that people like to disagree about. Which I have always found fascinating. Someone will say that they drink two litres of water a day, and the other person might argue that science now proves that we only need to drink when we are thirsty. I don’t know who or what to believe anymore, but I can tell you what I learned.
I am the person that drinks two litres of water a day. I really just go on the colour of my pee, and two litres seems to be the volume that allows my pee to not be dark, showing me that I am hydrated. Although I will be honest I have been challenged on where I heard that the colour of your pee is linked to the amount of water you drink. To that I thought it was obvious, I recognize that there is a link, but I just couldn’t argue anymore about WATER. I drink two litres of water because it makes me feel good, and have no digestion issues. Below are the advantages and disadvantages of drinking lots of water that I have come up with based on my personal experience.
Advantages
1. My skin is glowing
Seems ridiculous, I know. However, from the time that I was drinking water when I felt like it, to actively trying to drink two litres of water a day, my skin began to clear up. Now every now and again there might be a pimple that appears, especially if I have gone off track with my nutrition, but all in all my skin looks great. Some might argue it is because I don’t wear makeup that often and while that can be a playing factor; I have not been wearing makeup for my entire adulthood, and I am really noticing a difference now with the water intake.
2. I’m not as peckish
I love to snack. Since I was a kid I preferred having finger foods and snack like items over an actual meal. When I wasn’t drinking lots of water I felt like I was hungry all the time, and would reach in the cupboard for some form of snack. Although in my household a lot of snacks have loads of nutrients in them; having a whole bag of dates is still not ideal and a lot of sugar in the body, even if it is natural.
Now that I am drinking lots of water I find myself less apt to have a snack, even when I am supposed to. I am so full on water that I don’t feel like snacking anymore; and really only eat when I am actually hungry, not when my brain is trying to convince me that I am.
3. I’m more regular
It is gross to talk about, but going to the bathroom is an important part of our health. Our bowels can say a lot about our health and what we are putting in our bodies. I drink at least half a litre of water before even eating anything in the morning, and I have read in multiple articles that drinking water on an empty stomach allows for your colon to be cleansed. I don’t know the science behind it, but unless I have really gone off track with my eating, I go to the bathroom every morning at almost the exact same time… that is because of water.
4. Headache Relief
Personally, when I have a headache I take it as a sign of something that I have done to my body. Whether it is lack of sleep, too much sugar, too much alcohol, or even too much screen time/stimulation. I used to often get migraines due to stress; although my environment is not as stressful anymore I am still prone to headaches. However, because of how much hydration I am giving my body, I don’t find myself as susceptible to them, unless I have done something that goes off of my routine.
5. Harder Workouts
When I go for runs, I sometimes bring my water belt, I sometimes don’t, depending on the length of the run. However… because I drink loads of water every day, I find myself having more energy to workout, thus allowing me to workout harder.
Disadvantages
1. You have to pee…. a lot
I am the type of person that really doesn’t like the feeling of having to pee. I don’t know if I have always been like that, or because there have been a few times I had to hold it in until it physically hurt, and that has given me the need to go the bathroom when I feel the urge. I can’t tell you; however, what I can tell you is that the more water you drink, the more you have to pee, which can be a disadvantage depending on your job, where you are and if you have access to a bathroom at all times.
I work from home. I have access to a bathroom anytime I want, and I still get annoyed with how many times I have to pee because of how much water I am drinking.
2. If you take all day to drink water, you won’t sleep
I have had to plan out my drinking times.
What I mean by that is I try to have all of my water in five hours before I go to bed. That is for me, some people are different with how much their bladder can hold, but I try to drink my two litres by three in the afternoon… if not, I am up every two hours going to the bathroom and I don’t get any rest.
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Drinking water definitely has more advantages than disadvantages. Although the disadvantages are annoying, there is so much more in the health benefits for me, that I go with the flow and hope that eventually my body and bladder will get used to having this much liquid stored inside.