“Water” you drinking? If your answer is H2O, dive into the Life. Inspired. challenge going on this month!

From now through April 27, the Life. Inspired. program is challenging you to replace sweetened and caffeinated drinks — including diet drinks — with water. Why water, you ask? This amazing molecule makes up about 60 percent of your body weight and is important to your overall well-being.

It’s easy to Rethink Your Drink!

• Count how many 8-ounce cups of water you drink each day.
• Log in to PASSport and click Enter your cups of water.
• Enter the number of cups of water you drink each day.

For the first three weeks of the challenge, participating associates are entered in a random weekly drawing to win Life. Inspired. gifts. At the end of the challenge, the top 20 stores and top 3 support areas receive trophies. The No. 1 store in each division and the No. 1 support area receive grand prizes (and bragging rights!).

Need some hydration inspiration?

This issue of Life. Inspired. features all sorts of information to help you and your co-workers succeed during this challenge, including why you should avoid sugary drinks and tips to sneak more water into your daily routine. So, read on to learn more.

H2Oh, really?

We love a good competition — if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be hosting these challenges, right? But, the one thing we’re asking you not to do is have chugging contests. While it doesn’t happen often, it’s possible to drink too much water, and the risk is higher when you drink a lot of water in a short amount of time. This can dilute the body’s electrolytes and sodium levels, and that can be dangerous to your health.

Drink it all in…

Whether you participate is up to you, but if you choose to dive into this challenge, time spent tracking and entering your cups of water must be completed during unpaid time. The Dietitians Corner provides information on how much water you should drink each day.

Now, go wet your whistle and Rethink Your Drink!

What counts…

Water! It doesn’t matter if it’s still or sparkling, bottle or tap. Added flavor — like lemon juice or infused fruit and herbs — is okay, but added sweeteners are not.

What doesn’t count…

• Sodas — regular and diet
• Coconut water
• Vitamin water
• Milk
• Coffee
• Tea
• Juice
• Powdered drinks — including sugar-free
• Energy drinks
• Sports drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Alcohol

Want more information? Visit www.publix.org > Life. Inspired. Program.

Life. Inspired. content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or a substitute for the professional opinion of a doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional involved in your treatment. We encourage you to consult with your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional before volunteering to participate in a wellness activity and for diagnosis and treatment decisions. Restrictions may apply to the benefits offered under the Life. Inspired. program.