I used the motivational Fidus water bottle to start drinking more water daily - and it actually helped

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• To drink more water throughout the day, I decided to try the 1 Gallon Motivational Water Bottle from Fidus.
• It helped me be more aware of my hydration and I liked the vibrant colors and motivational check-ins on the bottle.
• Though it did have a positive impact on my daily water intake, it's quite heavy and may not be ideal for everyone.

When my doctor told me I was dehydrated, I was initially surprised. But then it dawned on me: I could easily count how many cups of coffee I'd had that morning but was unsure if I drank anything else.

I decided to look for ways to motivate myself to drink more water. After stumbling across an Instagram story posted by Khloe Kardashian, I was introduced to the Fidus Large 1 Gallon Motivational Water Bottle.

Despite the slight controversy surrounding her Instagram hydration rant, I was still inspired enough to buy the bottle and give it a go - it looked like the perfect way to improve my hydration and I was up for the challenge of finishing a gallon of water per day. Here's what it was like.

Not your normal water bottle

The Fidus Motivational Water Bottle is large and comes in a variety of color options, of which I opted for an orange to blue ombre combination. Timestamps paired with encouragements like"Good Morning" at 7 am, "Keep Chugging" at 1 pm, and "Don't Give up" at 5 pm are written on the front while measurements in ounces and milliliters are printed on the back.

There's also an included straw and a cap to keep everything sealed, as well as a lanyard-like handle around the lid for easy carrying. Though it's plastic and has no cooling technology, I found that filling the bottle with ice was an effective way to keep my water cool throughout the day.

What it's like to use

On my first day using the bottle, I stayed fairly sedentary and drank it to completion. I felt extremely full, too - barely drinking any water over the course of a day to drinking an entire gallon was shocking to my body.

I quickly found that keeping a giant water bottle on my desk was a great way to remind myself to stay hydrated. But drinking a gallon of water per day was a bit unrealistic for me - once I reached the 5 PM mark, I'd feel uncomfortably full. The typical rule for how much water one should drink in a day is 8 glasses, so drinking a gallon was the equivalent of 2 times that amount.

I did find it easier to finish all 128 ounces of the bottle on days I was extremely active, however. I'd bring the bottle with me on hikes (but leave it in the car since it's far too heavy to tote along) and even attempted to use the bottle as a weight during a workout. This didn't turn out to be very effective as there was a bit of leakage through the cap when I held the bottle horizontally above my head.

Is drinking 1 gallon of water actually healthy?

As I continued to use the motivational bottle, I wondered how healthy it was to drink a gallon of water every day. Dietitian Samantha Cassetty told Insider that, "people's water needs are personal to them."

Cassetty explained that one's hydration requirements vary due to numerous circumstances: One's time spent outside in hot/humid climates, exercise, and how much they might perspire. She recommended using tools to maintain awareness and mindfulness to hydrate and explained that, "these devices are intended to help you meet your needs."

In other words, drinking a full gallon of water isn't the bar by which everyone should strive to achieve each day.

But if you are trying to improve your hydration like I was, a technique Cassetty shared is to place a water bottle or a glass of water on your desk and attempt to finish it before lunchtime. From there, just "refill and repeat" throughout the day.

Should you buy it?

If you're looking for a fun way to stay focused on your hydration goals, this water bottle is a great purchase. The vibrant color options paired with the motivational check-ins written on the bottle serve as incentives to drink more water throughout the day.

Keep in mind that it actually is 1 gallon of water, which means it may be heavy for you to lift. If you instead need something a little easier to carry, opt for something smaller.

What are your alternatives?

Cassetty said she enjoys using bottles from either S'well or Hydro Flask (both are staff favorites here at Insider Reviews, as well). She likes how her S'well bottle keeps water colder throughout the day while her Hydro Flask is ideal for being on the go as it features a handle on the lid. That being said, she acknowledged that different tools can be used in maintaining hydration.

"That 128-ounce mark is not the golden rule," Cassetty said, though she added that it isn't harmful for average people who are healthy.

The bottom line

I found this bottle to be a great way to keep myself accountable for drinking more water each day. I no longer approach it as a challenge to finish the gallon but do fill the bottle each morning.

There are a few drawbacks, though. Not only is it heavy when full but drinking a full gallon of water each day isn't for everyone.

That being said, it still helped me improve my hydration habits and I plan to continue to listen to my body when it comes to drinking an adequate amount of water. Though I might not finish a full gallon each day, my Fidus Water Bottle still reminds me to "Keep Chugging" to stay hydrated.

Pros: Cute colors, giant straw, and motivational writing on the front makes this bottle a fun way to remind myself to drink more water

Cons: The bottle can be heavy when full due to its large size and it doesn't keep liquid cool all day.