Drink more water.  It’s the only dieting advice that I’ve gotten that is universal.

On a good day, I can drink about forty eight ounces — without disturbing my life — too much.

The latest advice though, is really hard to follow.  Most recently, I’ve been reading that I should drink about sixteen ounces of water before I exercise — preferably two hours before.

Now, since I exercise about six thirty in the morning, the two hour window is not the least bit feasible. 

But not one article I’ve read talks about the consequences of drinking so much water — peeing.  I’ll admit it.  I drink and I have to go.  Now that’s fine if I’m at home.  But it’s not fine if I’m in the car — especially if I’m trapped on the 405 or Coldwater Canyon moving about two miles an hour with no way out.  It’s especially bad before exercise, I’ve found out.  Trying dutifully to drink, a few weeks ago, I drank a couple of glasses of water before doing the Fryman Canyon hike.

It was a hellish two hours.  The entire time, I had to go.  Every step up, every step forward irritated my bladder — and on top of that I was thirsty, but resisting drinking because honestly, where was it going to go?

I’ve also tried not drinking anything — but in response my hands and feet swell uncomfortably.

The way I figure it, there are only two options — either there have to be CLEAN public bathrooms everywhere — or I have to live the the effects of dehydration.

So as Adam has pointed out today, I’m at 155 pounds.  Which is thirty pounds of weight loss — or more accurately, twenty nine point four pounds.

How do I feel?  More energetic — but I’m running out of clothes.  I’ve been quickly paring down — losing clothes that don’t fit — but I haven’t been buying anything new (except exercise clothes).  and wearing my stretch khakis everywhere it a bit tiring.

My thought is to wait until I get to my goal weight before I buy anything.  Now let’s just hope my pants can stay up.

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