1/8/10 Day four of not smoking.

Have changed from drinking coffee to drinking tea. It helps that I caught a bad cold while hanging out with my nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grand nephews over the holidays. This is the first cold of my adult life that I have not forced myself to smoke through! Still get urges that go something like this: I'm doing something and the thought runs across my mind that as soon as I finish this I can sit down and have a smoke. Then I remember that I stopped and it doesn't feel bad at all. If the urge is really strong I chew a nicorett gum. I'm using 2mg as opposed to the 4mg. I want to get through this successfully, but I don't want to drag it out.

I have increased my walk time from one hour to an hour and a half. I'm trying to compensate for my insatiable appetite. As God is my witness (in the words of my favorite big screen heroine Scarlet O'Hara) I will not be fat! I have been eating healthy. Lots of whole wheat, fruits, fresh raw vegetables, chicken breasts, fish and on rare occasions, lean red meat. We're going out on the road tonight and I've prepared lots of healthy snacks for us along those lines. I purchased one of those vacuume sealers that I will use to keep things fresh.

We're finally leaving the house after a long holiday break tonight. My next big challenge will be not smoking during my shift. I will overcome that challenge and share my experiences here on this blog.

Okay, that's all for now.

The first day of not smoking.

We've finally stopped smoking. I know that it's awfully optimistic of me considering that I have tried to stop quite a few times over the last two years, but I think that optimism is necessary in this case. I can't believe how hard it is to quit. Can you believe that this stuff is legal? I had an easier time quitting contraband (no, I won't spill my guts as this stuff stays on the web FOREVER LOL).

In the past, when I have quit, I have quit on my own and hubby kept at it (he smokes cigars and while he claims he doesn't inhale, I live with the guy and know better). This time we are doing it together. I have a good feeling about this time!

I smoked my last cigarette last night at I don't remember what time. Here lately though smoking wasn't as enjoyable as it once was oh so long ago. Even that last cigarette was smoked simply to feed the beast. It makes me feel like a hostage. As I inhaled the last of that cigarette all I felt was relief that I was finally on my way to being free.

There are so many hindrances to smoking these days. For one thing, while I don't believe all the dangers attributed to secondhand smoke, it doesn't really matter because everyone else does. When someone comes to my house who is not a smoker I always wonder how my house smells to them. To me I don't notice any smell, but I know from past experience with quitting that there definately is a smell. And let me tell you, it is no picnic having to go outside in subzero temperture to feed the beast! While I'm out there feeling like an adict I wonder why I'm putting myself through that.

I hate that deep need of wanting a smoke after every meal. I mean what's up with that? On a positive note, I really look forward to being able to actually taste my food. I guess I'm going to have to really ramp up that exercise schedule.

The cost of cigarettes has become prohibitive. Here where we live in the southwest it costs $54 a carton, that's just for ten packs. In other areas it costs upwards of $70 to $80 dollars and in other areas it costs a little less. If a carton lasts me for ten days and we have 365 days in the year that means that I am spending $1,971 for cigaretts (on average) each year. That price doesn't include those times when I run out of cigarettes and have to pay a per pack price. Times that by the money my hubby spends: one double pack of Blackstone Cherry (five cigars in each pack) costs an average of $7 each and he smokes at least one pack a day. Times that by 365 and he spends about $2,555 per year. Our grand total for smokes a year is $4,526!!! Believe me, these numbers are understated. Sometimes hubby smokes two or even three packs of cigars a day when we are out on the road. Sometimes I smoke a pack and a half! So, we are potentially looking at saving over $5,000 a year by quitting. I'm motivated!

I always feel bad when people bring little children and babies to our home especially if those people don't smoke. I've always been a polite smoker, but it is really a hassle having to go outside of my own home to smoke at those times.

On waking up this morning, my first thought: damn I'm not smoking! What an addiction! My hope is that by publicizing our progress it will serve as a motivational tool not only for us, but for others thinking about quitting.

Well, we're on our way and we can do it!