I suppose if had an addictive personality, I too would choose working out over anything else, so that's a great trait to have if you are in control. My problem is complacency and at times laziness. I just have to keep building and submitting and building some more. :) |thumb

Yes food can be a problem; I can respect that. Aside from so many health benefits there are also some serious repercussions to over indulging too. But that goes for just about everything out there, be it smoking, toking, snorting, fucking, sleeping, eating or whatever. Now I understand when I talk to older people like my parents and neighbours they always stress 'everything in moderation' and then they turnaround and go eat a dozen doughnuts or watch like 13 hours of tv. |jester|

I have a friend that weighs about 300 lbs and has several health issues to contend with in addition to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. This guy also has sciatic nerve problems in both legs, asthma, a heart condition plus he's had his gall bladder removed and has suffered through liver and kidney problems. He was very skeptical about my quitting smoking simply because he didn't see me prepare for it as I have explained to you all over here in this thread.

Yet, everyday he wakes up around 12-1PM, takes an hour to get ready to go to his office to work and complains about his 'health problems.' He says he's exhausted every possible avenue to improve his health and does not think that quitting smoking would do anything for him whatsoever. I really feel bad for the guy because he is in denial about the fact that smoking probably accounts for 50% of his health issues, if not more. He has been smoking since he was 15 (he's 41 this august) and cannot go two hours without lighting up. Before I quit we used to hang out all the time. NOW, since I've quit I don't want to be around him and his smoking especially at his place. I don't need the temptation nor do I need the second hand smoke and to be honest I should not have to put myself through that. Its for that same reason I won't ride with him in his car. And that goes for any and all other people I know. If I don't take this stand I will only fail.

Anyhow, enough said for one late night. I'll tell y'all how things work out for me tomorrow.

|peace|

For making money too..:) Course with anything, it's tough to really believe and see yourself as you would like.

ronnie

Tough yes, but impossible, no.

I was at the grocery store earlier stocking up on apples, pears, and oranges and I ran into the bank teller I usually see where I bank. She asked how my efforts were going to stay smoke free and I told her that so far so good, knock on wood and all that jazz. She then told me that she 'wishes' she could quit too.

I've found out that wishing ain't gonna cut it because if it was that easy, we'd all wish for more money, the nicest cars, etc. Just like with work/business: you need a strong work ethic, discipline, the right guidance and perhaps a little luck and you can do great things. Wishing is great if I had a real genie in a bottle but unfortunately life is not like that.

I gotta 'run'.

|peace|

I've had one cig in the last 8 days, don't feel any different except for an urge to rip someones head off

I'm going to give up eating. Food tastes way too good to only indulge a little.

Now your just being silly. :) If you want, try eating bran flakes or sugarless wheaties - then come back and tell us how good food tastes.:D

Congratulations player...|bananna|

glad to hear you are still doing well with quitting smoking pornrex!

Thanks people. |bow|

Its really weird. Sometimes these past few days I feel really wiped out while other days I can work through the night. I know eventually I am going to have to get into a disciplined routine of some sort because consistency is the key to just about anything. Although I did not have time for a 5k run today, I did manage to do about 3k jogging and I sprinted the last 100m to my place. I'm excited about entering my 3rd week of being smoke free. My counsellor tells me that I am still not out of the woods just yet, and that I should be wary of hanging with smokers, just for a short time more. I burnt toast this evening and just about tossed my cookies. |shocking|

Anyhow, tomorrow's a new day.
Time for bed.
|peace|

Way to go Pornrex...I feel for ya. :)

Tomorrow marks one week smoke free for me. Having tried unsuccessfully to quit via many ways in the past, I finally figured out what I 'thought' would work for me...and so far so good.

I got Zyban from my doc, then after taking it for 2 weeks, I went to a hypnotherapist.

I have to say this has been my most painless quit attempt ever. I'm not tempted at all, even when around smokers. My cravings have been minimal (and I know the Zyban is really helping there). I have a cd from the hypnotherapist that I'm listening to each night, she recommended I do so for 2 weeks, so another week to go.

I think the most important msg is in two parts...you cannot, and will not, quit until YOU are ready to do it for YOU. Attempting to quit for any other reason is doomed to failure from the beginning. Secondly, there are many many methods/aids/programs that people use to quit. Find what will work for you, and never give up on quitting. :)

Well done Lisa.
I couldn't have said it better myself. :D

I went for another jog today and I am finding that my shins are starting to ache big fucking time. Oh and I am running out of gas to make it to the 3k mark. :( I think I may be pushing a little harder than I should. Any runners or joggers in here that could offer me some good advice? I could really use some help here.

Lastly, I'm really likin' the amount of cash I've saved so far not to mention the fact that I smell better, sleep better, get up easier, work longer, don't hack, don't wheeze, don't sniffle and I don't sneeze either.|thumb

Anyhow, time to get back to the grind.
|peace|

|thumb

Thumbs up to ya' pornrex, and to everyone here who has been able to exercise some self-discipline.

Thanks glowlite, it has not been easy. I have basically had to turn my back on a few friends in order to stay smoke free. I knew I had to expect that because at the end of the day people will only do what is right for them regardless of what you ask of them - its human nature.

Case in point.

I've posted about an overweight friend in an earlier post. For quite sometime now he's been nothing if he's been disrespectful to me and to be honest I've grown tired of his condescension, his arrogance and his verbal abuse about my me and my take on life.

So I started to verbally shellack him back in the exact same manner that he had been ripping into me for almost a year now. He cannot for the life of him see the lesson I have tried to teach him out of this exercise. Its only been four maybe five days that I've given him his own medicine back and lo and behold he has not called me back in the past two days.

Making this decision was very tough because it wasn't just friends that I am prepared to let go of only. I have relatives that I have begun pulling away from too.

I knew what to expect and I prepared myself for it. If you are deciding to quit and really mean to do so, take it seriously. Real friends will support you while pretenders eventually show their true colors.

|peace|

Day 17 is just about written into the books. Although my body seems to be adjusting quite nicely, I find that my mind needs more time. Having smoked for 17 years non-stop and then stopping is making me fidgety but I know that's just my sub-conscious mind playing tricks with me. This too shall pass...

|peace|

Did I give you a thumbs up already?

If not...|bananna|

Keep the faith.

ronnie

Day 21 and all's well. |bananna|

I think I'm trying to exercise too much too quickly because I managed to pull a muscle in my back from doing some weightlifting (nothing spectacular) and have been out of it the past 3 days because of the back meds. :(
Lesson learned *sigh* I guess.

WTG Pornrex! Looks like I'm running a week behind you...day 14 here. :)

Feels kinda nice to see someone going just ahead of me and still surviving. :)

congrats

Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update. :)

Things are still going a-ok for me, even though I'm not constantly writing about it. I'm finding that I've settled into a bit of a groove now with the whole thing and boy oh boy can I smell it on other people. Yikes! It makes me wonder just how awful I must have smelled when I was smoking. I don't even want to think about it.
The running/jogging is taking time though, which is what I expected. Being as how I'm not a "spring chicken" anymore the whole recovery period is a little tough on me for now. I'll let you know how that's coming along.

I'm looking for tips from seasoned runners/joggers. Anything that could make shin splints 'disappear' completely plus tips on how to improve daily, weekly and so on.

WTG Lisa...keep it up. I found that once I started doing the opposite of smoking the results spoke for themselves and now I would not even consider ever going back. But try to train your mind to not think survival. It sounds so submissive to smoking. Your character is much stronger than that. Train your mind to believe that you can do this and you will!

|peace|

God bless those who can quit.

I'm a non-smoker, but I can tell you that if I had ever started I don't think I would be able to quit.

Heck, I can't even stop cracking my damn nuckles.

I stopped 2,5 years ago after 20 years of heavily smoking
One of my best moves ever! :)

You're right, it does! It's too late now for me to go back and edit, but if I could I'd change 'surviving' to VICTORIOUS. :D

Just thought I would give you all an update. Today is the official one month mark and I am very happy about that.|bananna|
Although today has been a very windy day here in toronto, I did manage to get my ass outside and go for a brisk walk a couple of times, so this day is not lost.

This is what I have learned so far. I smell better. Food tastes better and if I don't exercise, I will balloon as far as my weight is concerned so that is a guaranteed must. I've also realized that I really don't like smoke anymore and that certainly bodes well for me.

Got any anecdotes? Share them here! I will continue to post from time to time too!

I have sat in the background watching your progress pornrex. More power to ya'. Congrats my friend |bananna|

later .............................

By the way, I smoke and you've really got me thinking .....

Good luck, and again my congrats!

Congratulations VicD |thumb
Its stories just like Vic's that inspire someone like me to keep my personal little momentum going. Way to go!

aye nice going. i quit just over 1 year ago after smoking for 10 years. the thing i found that helped the most is to try and avoid the areas of your lifestyle that you associate with smoking, for me it was drinking beer... only 1 year later i can drink beer again and not feel like a smoke :/
i tried the patches, nicotine gum and all that shit about 10 times before i actually quit for good. i think those things didn't work because it's just substituting one thing for the other.

exactly. There is no substitute for good old fashioned will power. :)

Still going strong well into my second month over. A little frustrated by this crappy weather though because its putting a dent into my efforts to run but judging from what I've seen as far as long range and short range forecasts its just a matter of time.|bananna|

I'm at one month and two days now. Still doing just fine.

I was a bit worried about last Friday night, as there was a game on at my boys footy club. And I've spent many nights down there drinking AND smoking.

It was fine tho...I was pissed as a parrot and didn't even want a smoke. It seems it's no longer part of my psyche.

WTG Lisa...that's great to know.|thumb I too was out recently with some friends and got really hammered. The booze and beer buzz was actually better - go figure.
Stil waiting on some good weather and I can't wait for saturday and sunday.|bananna|

Just a follow-up.

Tomorrow is 2 months since my last cigarette. I don't have physical cravings/yearnings/whatever at all. Occasionally, I 'think' (as opposed to feel that) I'd like a smoke, strangely it's usually when I see someone smoking on tv. Being around smokers isn't bothering me at all. And I've had plenty to drink plenty of times and not a problem.

I think I've kicked the bastards for good. :)

Way to go Lisa - that is good news.

Until I blew out my appendix not too long ago, I was well on my way to getting right into the whole running and jogging thing I was talking about in earlier posts. I've had to modify my plan slightly and postpone it a bit due to the amount of time needed to recover from what happened but nonetheless I am still smoke free (2 months plus now) and I too am not looking back either. |thumb

Its strange though. All of my so-called 'smoking friends' have stopped calling!|jester| And whenever I go anywhere for a walk or any social function, I can smell a smoker from a mile away and it makes me cringe now and in some cases I even struggle to breath!! I never expected that to happen.|huh

Great for you Lisa! You did it..:)

Maybe some day I'll be saying the same thing.

ronnie

WOW!!! I think that's one hell of accomplishment. Keep it up dude. By the way, I am smoking right now. And it feels so fuckin good. Do you guys want some?

|thumb Congrats to both of you! I quit a year ago on April 1 and haven't looked back. I developed severe adult asthma and being in the hospital for two day stays several times got me motivated to go cold turkey. Once I started being able to breathe a bit better, I joined the gym and have actually managed to lose 10 lbs. I still "want" a cig once and a while but i just think about having to quit again and that squashes the urge. I also installed QuitKeeper. Plug in your numbers and it tells you how many dollars you've saved, how many days you've been smoke free, etc.. So far I've saved over 1200 dollars. I don't even want to think about how much I spent on them in the 20 years i smoked!

Hi Tart |waves|

And thanks for quitkeeper and more importantly, congrats on being smoke free!|thumb

Yeh I can now smell smokers miles away too. Makes me crazy and also makes me realize just how much I stunk!

Normally i'm not a fan of bumping old threads, but this seems appropriate...

Today is my 1 year quitting smoking anniversary. :D

I made it!

Outstanding!

Congrats you sexy thang |thumb