Dry feb: done & nearly dusted
Another year doing Dry Feb and I approached it the same as I typically do: with a ‘Let’s see if I can pull this off’ attitude. Well, these past few days I’ve been sick with a virus requiring medicine so I there is zero chance I’ll be drinking today - or tomorrow - or probably for the next several days/weeks. I’m considering that a win!
Did I have some drinks on Family Day Long Weekend? Yes. Of course!
The truth is (for me) that I enjoy social drinking and am in the best shape I have probably ever been in (in my life - thanks to this surgery you may have heard me talk about). This Dry Feb I challenged myself to stop drinking during the week and that, as it turns out, was pretty easy.
Every day is a good day to re-evaluate your dietary/life choices. Just as every day is a good day to check in with yourself physically and mentally. This initiative is predominantly to promote awareness and raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Over $50 million went towards cancer research through last year’s efforts. In addition to said research, funds also helped over 6,800 people get to their cancer related appointments through Wheels of Hope. To learn more about Dry Feb: Click Here.
That said, I have one day left in February and haven’t reached my fundraising goal. If you feel so inclined, you can donate (and get a tax receipt) by clicking the button below!
Thanks for reading & following my daily adventures.
DryFeb: Day 21
Living in downtown Ottawa, it sure feels longer than 21 days of DryFeb. Things have settled down in the capital but there is tension. People are tired. People are on edge. It’s been a hectic start to 2022, to be honest.
I used a vacation day to have Friday off, giving me an extra long weekend with the family. I pressed pause on DryFeb and had a couple drinks on the weekend. I’m back to it now, though. I’m proud of making it eighteen days without a drop of alcohol. :-) I am also looking forward to getting back into the alcohol-free routine. I definitely sleep better and feel better, overall, when I’m not consuming any alcohol.
I also am not a super-huge lover of anything in ‘finite’ terms; like never having a drink again! or never giving up <insert item I like here>… life isn’t black and white and sometimes my comfort zone is just doing what I want to do (within reason) and not really worrying too much about it.
Balance! I guess that’s what some might say, ‘balance’. DryFeb is going well from our fundraising perspective. Started with 50$ and our team has now raised just shy of 1.700$. I’m excited to embrace our final (full) week, back in alcohol-free mode. Here’s hoping we can raise even more for our friends at the Canadian Cancer Society!!
If you’re hoping to donate (you will get an official tax receipt) there is still time. Here is the link to give:
DryFeb: Day 15
Happy Dry Valentine’s Day to you! Well, I’m a day late but better late than never.
Thank you for donating to the DryFeb cause. This money raised by us not drinking will help Canadians living with cancer through the Canadian Cancer Society. A noble cause on its own BUT I have noticed some selfish perks to being alcohol free:
no hangovers or lingering foggy brain (Just the regular life induced type)
weight loss (i am down 2.1 lbs and it’s been 15 days, like, woah.)
healthier habits are emerging (eating better, sleeping better, saving money)
Are you doing DryFeb? How is it going for you? You can comment on this post below or in the comments section wherever this gets posted (to social media).
I do have a holiday coming up this weekend (using a vacation day + the STAT holiday) and I am considering having some alcoholic beverages… maybe I’ll feel less guilty about it if we reach our team goal of $2,000… we’re almost there!
It’s been strange times in the capital and being alcohol free during this two week period has been a blessing but WOW, I SURE DO MISS BEERS and/or GIN!
Hope you are doing well right now - Dry or Not. We’re almost there! We can do it! And if we hit pause: that’s okay.
DryFeb: Day 7
One week in and feeing pretty great. Going to do a “weigh in” tomorrow to see if I’ve gained or lost any pounds due to being alcohol free. Going dry has many positive effects on one’s overall health, and pre-surgery, I’ve made it my goal to shed a couple of pounds. I won’t be posting my weight, just a plus or minus in terms of where I was 8 days ago.
Had a very busy weekend with the kids. My youngest started her (mega-postponed) skating lessons and that went pretty well. We’ve been doing some recreational skating here and there, specifically in the valley at the Laurentian Valley Skating Trails beside the Alice & Fraser Rec Centre (highly recommend BTW), so she has really strengthened her skills prior to where she would have been if the course hadn’t been postponed. However, we did a mini-Lunar New Year’s dinner celebration on Friday night so the kids stayed up late and she was tired the next morning during the lesson. We ended up leaving about 5 minutes early but I told her we could leave when she wanted to, and she took that offer sincerely. We will go to bed earlier this Friday night!
On Sunday, we checked out the Countryside Adventures tubing hill (Moose Creek) and had a blast! They have a nice skating area and trail there as well, so we’ll have to return to have that experience some day.
That brings us to Monday. I have wanted alcohol but not in a major way. Any sort of mild craving has been easily satiated by a glass of Diet Coke with ice.
So far, so good! I hope you are doing well in your alcohol-free journey, too.
If you would like to jump on the DryFeb bandwagon, there’s always room: CLICK HERE.
We’ve reached over $1,300.00 in donations for the Canadian Cancer Society - and our goal is $2,000.00. Be proud of yourself for attempting this feat during a hectic time of year. :)
DryFeb: Day 1
Should I start this off by admitting my “cheat” strategy? Here’s what I did last year and what I have put in place this year as a celebratory measure, should it be employed/necessary.
I did not have any alcohol on Monday, January 31st and DryFeb, for me, means being alcohol-free for 28 days! So this “cheat” means that if I wish to have a celebratory drink on the last day (Monday, February 28th) then I will! Judge if you must but being alcohol-free is a feat worthy of cheers!
Day 1: Tuesday, February 1st
Started the day by weighing myself. I will be sharing a + or - result once per week (every Tuesday) but no totals will be given because weight isn’t my favourite topic of conversation. I would like to lose a couple pounds this month and am curious to see if a lack on alcohol consumption will do anything for me in that respect.
Health benefits of Dry Feb
By signing up for a Dry Feb, not only will you be raising funds for the Canadian Cancer Society, but you could feel some great personal health benefits too.
Each year participants report sleeping better, having more energy and being more productive!
Here are some of the benefits you could experience by going dry this Feb:
Sign up for Dry Feb (source: DryFeb.ca)
I also had my first assessment with a new Athletic Therapist downtown. She is very awesome and our first session gives me hope for pain management and “prehab” structure which will help me post operation.
I’m at work now and we have a new contest goin’ which keeps us hosts incredibly busy so I hope to be posting about DryFeb a few times per week throughout the month.
If you want to see what being alcohol-free does for your overall health, join our team! We’re called the Dry Babies and we’ve already nearly met the halfway part of our fundraising goal! Joining is no-obligation, free and fun. You can be dry for as long or as little as you are comfortable.