I Drank Eight 8-ounce Glasses of Water a Day for 4 Weeks, and This Is What Happened

Getting Ready!

I Kept Track

I also downloaded an app so that I could keep track of every finished round. Otherwise, there was no way I'd remember how much I was getting.

Man, I Felt Bloated

The first day was miserable. Actually, the first several days were. If you're not used to drinking this much water—and it really is quite a lot—you may feel a bit bloated getting in every ounce. In fact, the last 16 ounces every day were the worst. I had to force myself to finish and often I'd go lay down afterward.

I Started a New System

The app started being a pain, too. So, instead, I just kept track on Post-It notes, which worked well enough. I could keep it next to my computer, where I did most of my drinking, or slide it into my jeans pocket if I was going to be away (or on weekends).

I Peed Constantly

It's not that surprising, but I was peeing constantly. What goes in must come out.

It Was Clear Pee

Also, at some point, my pee got pretty clear. That was kind of how I knew I wasn't really hydrating well in the first place. Fun fact: The less hydrated you are, the more yellow your pee is. Clearer (but not completely clear!) pee is a good thing.

I Had Clear Skin

Another thing that got clear was my skin. All the beauty magazines recommended the "8/8 water per day" thing to look better, which always sounded suspect. But my skin looked less red and I had fewer breakouts. It also seemed, overall, less oily.