I Lost 20lbs in 2 Months By Drinking Only Water
Serendipity Found in Simplicity
It’s been 55 days since I’ve been drinking nothing but water.
It’s part of this 100-day mega self-improvement bet I made with my sister. Our primary goal was not fitness, it was more about finding focus and creativity time, but drinking only water was.
We wanted to quit drinking alcohol for a while, for all the reasons people sometimes do. We knew, though, we would drink nasty diet cokes and other crap instead of alcohol, so the rule became strictly only drinking water.
When I say just water, I mean just water.
Well, we allow ourselves bubbly water, but that’s it.
The first days of no coffee were pretty hard, but you get used to the monotony. I sometimes felt I had signed myself into a Buddhist monastery. I emerged myself into my writing in my bedroom and accepted what I had to do. Did I mention whoever cracked first had to pay the other $300?
Just quitting alcohol alone for that long will significantly impact anyone’s weight loss success. You generally eat less, get more rest at night, and it speeds up your metabolism. You are also more hydrated, which is the key to fitness.
There was also no going out to eat. All our meals had to be at home, but we are not on any diet or food restriction. I have been to a few food stands and delis I had to order from a few times, but only when I have to go into work or starving with no food at some other location. There has been some meal skipping because we are too busy, but nothing extreme.
I started eating a lot more chocolate, honestly, because life was so boring, plus there was nothing in the rules about chocolate. If you have not tried sea salt dark chocolate, you are not living life right.
Exercise 30 minutes a day is part of the rules, but that could mean taking two doggie walkies. It’s been too cold to do much, plus I have been too focused on writing to care for more than that.
Still, with this little effort, but keeping true to drinking only water, amazing things were happening to our bodies every day. Around day 35–40, we were becoming real believers. Overall, body inflammation reduced drastically. My skin started having an unmistakable glow about it, plus my face was thinning up. My hair is fuller and healthier. I feel more beautiful and younger even; I can see a distinction in the mirror.
I am now down to the weight I graduated from Marine Corps Boot Camp 24 years ago.
It’s truly remarkable the difference just drinking water makes to your body. I went from 150 to 130lbs. Not to mention the significant changes that were also happening to my mental health. I have been happier and more clear-headed than ever before in my life.
I focus on my job and my writing like never before. My complete body and mind are the healthiest it’s been in decades, to be honest.
I have saved some money by not visiting restaurants, buying coffee, and such as I used to, and truthfully I will never again. So I bought myself a JEEP and visiting nature and all the National Parks in the area. I want to make #TreeHugs a thing.
My friends can’t believe I have taken on this journey either. They call to check “on me,” but they are also curious to see if I have cracked yet. I don’t blame them; I have enjoyed life a little too much at times. Now some might even be envious a little, dare I say, wondering if they can drink only water for 100 days. They certainly don’t want to, I am sure.
Sometimes we got to keep it simple.
Simplicity and determination can make such a difference to your body and your overall health. There might be some mental willpower involved, but that is always within you.