Since living with my girlfriend through college and onward, I've always been amazed at the sheer amount of water she drinks. Like... I thought if I were to drink that much, I might as well be drowning myself. Cut to us starting our new job(s) out of college. Out of pure chance, we were both hired on at the same workplace doing the same job. We had worked together at two jobs prior with no issues and with great bosses- we just work well like that.
I've been going through some medical troubles with my throat over the last year and have been constantly carrying water around with me wherever I go to help suppress the feelings I get. To be honest, I really didn't drink all that much water before these issues. I might drink water with crystal light or flavorings, but I despised plain water. It isn't realistic to just carry flavorings with me everywhere now though, so I learned to start accepting plain ol' H2O.
In an office job where a group of us have our desks open to each other, it is pretty apparent when somebody gets up. You know, because I can see them stand up and walk out of our little group. I see some people that get up once, sometimes twice through the day to refill their cups. Sometimes they walk down to get coffee or a soda in ADDITION to water. Seriously? They're drinking that much?
Then I get curious. I've always heard you're supposed to drink several cups of water a day. I've heard 8, I've also heard that isn't all that accurate. I've also heard that if you just DRINK WHEN YOU'RE THIRSTY you'll be fine... Thirsty? What IS thirst? I drink water because I feel like I HAVE to, either to wash food down or to suppress the feelings I get from unrelated throat issue. But... legitimate thirst? How is that identified? If my throat or mouth is dry, one sip takes care of it right? I ask my girlfriend, "Hey, what do you feel when you're thirsty?" She gives me something of a definition of thirst, dry mouth, so on.
I start thinking back...
If I'm not careful and actively setting reminders, I will go a whole workday without drinking more than half a bottle of water.
She's told me before that my pee smells, but I guess I've just become desensitized and it's ALWAYS smelled like that even after I drink "lots" of water.
It isn't often by any means, but I just get random headaches some days. I've always attributed them to lack of food or lack of sleep (and it is often the latter, I'm a night owl).
My cousin had introduced me (us) to delta-8, and recently after having taken a bit more I've started feeling sick to my stomach the following day.
I think... I've been dehydrating myself for years.
I've always thought to drink when I'm thirsty, but I just... never really recognized thirst? Only an inherent need to drink when eating. Sometimes a drink is tasty and I'll gulp it down, sure. I'll slam a Gatorade or Powerade. But I was easily drinking somewhere around 40-60oz of liquid a day every day for years- nowhere close to what is recommended, and only a fraction being actual straight water. MAYBE if it was a particularly warm day I would drink a little more, but I digress.
I get an app on my phone solely for tracking liquid intake, and the next day I start tracking it for real. I put in my body info and it recommends I shoot for ~111oz of water a day. Sounds good, I'll just make sure I'm casually sipping throughout the day.
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