Taming the Urge to Smoke

85.3 Kilos

An Article from the New York Times

Link Here

Lung Rx

84.1 Kilos

I got an Ex ray of my lungs. There is some permanent damage to my lungs this explains some of the pain I have from my chest and occasional coughing (early stages of chronic emphysema and bronchitis). Of course this comes as no surprise after over 40 years of smoking. Although much of the damage cannot be reversed, quitting smoking has saved me from more severe condition.

The moral of the story, the earlier you quit the better it is.

3000 cigaretts not smoked

84.9 Kilos

I'm 11 weeks into my quit. It is getting more manageable as each week passes.

Tomorrow a trip with friends to Venice to see the Biennale Art Festival.

A quote From Alan Cohen

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.

Alan Cohen

Last Night I dreamt I was Smoking

84.8 Kilos

Last night I woke up from a nightmare. I dreamt I was smoking again. I was unhappy and was feeling bad that I failed in my quit. When I woke up and realized it was a dream I was relieved.

Smoke Smoke Smoke that Cigarette

85.1 Kilos

Click below for

Smoke Smoke Smoke That Cigarette

Is Quitting Contagious?

It seems that quitting can be contagious.

That undertaking a difficult task is easier to do with the help of someone you love. Nearly 5 million people die each year around the world from smoking-related causes [source:Harvard Univ]. About one-third of these deaths are due to heart disease and stroke -- not a pleasant way to go out.

If you and a friend, relative or spouse smoke, try quitting together. That buddy you take smoke breaks with at work? Give it a go as a team. It's a radical thought, but you could always step out and enjoy some fresh air together instead.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/quitting-smoking-contagious1.htm

Weight Gain after Quitting Smoking

Link to Video on Gaining Weight after Smoke Cessation

CLICK HERE

10 Weeks. Keep on Truckin'

86.5 Kilos

10 Weeks and still smoke free. This is starting to grow on me.

I have put on weight but my waist remains the same so it is in part due to a lot of working out.

To quote from Mr Natural you gotta keep on Truckin'.

I ran into a friend who broke up with his lover after 7 years 2 months ago and started smoking again after being off the cigs for 3 years. I hope he gets things together soon and quits again.

I was out to the club last night. Drank more than I should have. In the outdoor terrace half the people were lounging and smoking. Inside on the dance floor they were pumping artificial smoke which was almost as bad. Needless to say I didn't last too long.

Off to the gym today

A note to Allan

Dear Allan,

It sounds like you have a great reasons to get fit, and quit smoking. Sharing quality time with your wife, and to be able to enjoy seeing your grandson grow up and have the energy and health to participate. Getting fit will not give you immortality but it surely contributes to making our short journey here much more fulfilling.

Too many seem to seek some magic bullet (a quick cure, a pill, or miracle excercise machine or program) that will transform them, well there is no magic to quitting smoking and getting healthy. It is a question of setting priorities and changing ones life style, and being consistent and patient to realize permanent results.

The internet can be great sources of information but the change needs to come from you. No one else can do it for you. No magic pill will transform you.

G-d gave you the power of choice so don't fool yourself into thinking you can sit on your behind, watch TV, eat unhealthy food, and smoke or indulge in other self destructive actions and then go to church on Sunday ask for forgiveness and pray for the strength to quit smoking, loose weight, to have your bad back improve, or your bad heart cured.

When you reach inside and decide that you want to live healthy so you can die healthy the strength and power to follow a good lifestyle will come easily.

Good luck and focus on making small changes one at a time that will be permanent. You will make progress and be much happier for it.

Once you have made the commitment to your self you can begin a journey towards a healthy life style remember, with the proper motivation anything is possible.

Good Luck

Daniel

Happy Birthday Jack LaLanne

"Remember this: your body is your slave; it works for you." - Jack LaLanne

Happy 95th Birthday Jack.

There is no question that Jack was ahead of his time in the promotion of avoiding self destructive habits like smoking, healthy eating and exercise. Is he a bit of a fanatic? Yes; but Jack set an example for millions of fans and made an important impact on heath awareness in the United States.

My Grandmother who passed away at 97 free of illness was a big fan and followed a no meat Mediterranean diet and exercised regularly.

Jack was an avid supporter getting people to quit smoking at a time when his when his employer was running television adverts promoting smoking and cigarettes.

Jack's key message is that you are in charge. Your health is dependent on you being a master of your body and you need to make the right choices in leading a healthy life style.

His positive energy is contagious and an inspiration.

Farewell Lunch

85 Kilos

A long planned lunch to celebrate leaving the company I worked with for over 20 years was held last weekend. It was wonderful to join colleagues and customers from around the world at a nice lunch. One nice surprise was to see that Ilyia Shapiro, my chain smoking customer and friend from Russia has quit his 2+ pack a day habit of strong menthol cigarettes. He is using some nicotine gum to help and has been off the weed for 3 months.

I got dressed up for the event and it was so nice not to have to excuse myself between courses to steal a cigarette. There were still a few of the quests kept disappearing for breaks during the lunch.

Beginning my 3rd Month

84.9 Kilos

540 Euro Saved!

I have made it 2 months off the cigarettes.

Now comes the tough period from week 8 - 12 the where you begin to forget how nasty the first weeks were. A period where you start thinking you can control your desire and enjoy the occasional smoke. I am not going there. Dealing with the cravings gets easier as each week goes by.

Autumn at the Door

84.6 Kilos

The leaves are beginning to turn. Crisp sunny autumn days are in arrival, perfect for bicycle excursions. As the cooler weather arrives only the die hard smokers sit outside. I saw my friend Greg last night. He was a having a (good?) time drinking beers and smoking with friends. He got a little defensive when I told him my quit had stuck now almost for 2 months. He started mumbling about how I have renounced all my vices (I don't drink a lot, no smoking) and how he is still "enjoying" life.

It is not easy for good friends to always accept changes we make in our life styles even if it is for the best.

Imitate Non Smokers

Here is a great post from the Smoking Cessation Blogs on about.com

From:
kallanjames (kallanjames)
To: JeffEverything

I've just completed a year off smokes - after 47 years of failing to stop. There are reasons why I succeeded - meeting a great lady for one - but the best tips I can pass on are:-

(a) Watch the non-smokers and imitate them. That's who you want to be like so start now. Be a non-smoker not an ex-smoker. You'll need lots of willpower to become an ex-smoker. You don't need any to become a non-smoker! Those non-smokers you are watching - do they need willpower to keep them of cigs? They don't experience any less stress in their lives other than that they do not feel sick and guilty everytime they light up. They do have more money in their pockets!!

(b) There'll be an internal battle raging between the heroic quitter "I need and want to stop smoking" and the cowardly saboteur "Go on, one more cig won't make that much difference" and "It's hopeless, I can never succeed in this". Decide now and forever which one is in charge. It is only your choice so make it.

(c) Carry a notebook and record each powerful crave. This way you'll still reach for your pocket but only for the book! Before you make that note ask yourself if the crave/urge is actually strong enough to bother writing it down. It's surprising how weak you'll think the urge is when looked at that way. you'll also benefit from the feeling that you are studying the crave and not directly experiencing it - it's all psychology but it's helpful!!

(d) You might start feeling pain in areas you don't expect it - you say you are young so you'll probably avoid most of this. If it does start - usually about a week in to a quit, a cigarette won't make it go away. you'll have to smoke all those you've missed in order to bring the poison levels back to their pre-quit status. For a younger person the nicotine withdrawal should be complete within 10 days - when you've had 40+ years smoking it's like each vital organ has its own addiction and the pains are strong and unrelenting for some time. You don't want to wait until you are that old do you?

(e) Get on this forum, write lots of messages, help others with all your newly gained wisdom - make it up if you have to. The very act of trying to support others will strengthen your own resolve.

Dreaming of smoking

84.1 Kilos

For the first time last night I dreamt that I smoked a cigarette! Very strange to wake up this morning thinking I had failed in my quit after almost 2 month only to realize it was a dream.

A note I sent to someone who just quit smoking:

Yes You can Jeff !!!

You have already gotten past 12 hours and the worse will be over soon. redouble your effort and take it one minute at a time.

The five or six days of physical withdrawal will be a challenge, believe me. It will be a battle the first days and you may suffer irregularity in sleeping, fever or cold sweats, shakes or muscular spasms. I smoked over 2 packs of Marlboro Reds a day and had to wake up in the middle of the night for a nicotine fix.

Thousands have made it and believe me when I tell you, "you can as well!!!"

Here are some tips to minimize the pain of your withdrawal from the nicotine.

1 drink lots of water, carry a water bottle with you.
2. try to increase your exercise, cycle or walk, hit the gym, go swimming
3. For the first week avoid places full of smokers or where you will have triggers tempting you to bum a smoke, (poker games, outdoor beer garden, smoking areas at break time, etc)

5. Eat heathy: a diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and fibre will speed up the detoxification of your body.
6. Reduce the quantity of red meat you eat and eat more fish and skinless chicken and turkey.
7. Reduce or eliminate cola and caffeine drinks, substitute with herbal or green tea, water, and fruit juices.
8. keep sugar free chewing gum or mints handy.
9. If you have the desire to put something in your mouth carry some swizzle sticks.
10. If you have a partner ask him or her to help you with your quit by making love.
11. If you don't have a partner take advantage of your new status as a non smoker to meet some new friends for horizontal recreation.
12. Every time you take a deep breath and beat off the crave one more time, you get stronger.

YOU CAN DO IT JEFF

Good luck on your quit

Daniel

84.1 Kilos

I had a visit to the dentist. I have decided to replace the caps on my front teeth. It's amazing how much healthier my gums and mouth is after only 7 weeks off the cigarettes.

I am continuing my exercises and eating lots of fish and vegetables to keep my weight in line.

Feeling Stronger Every Day

84.5 Kilos

My breathing has really improved. I am keeping my weight under control by lots of exercise. At this point it is less a matter of fighting off the cravings and more a matter of reminding myself that I'm a non smoker. It is getting easier to be around smokers as each day passes.

49 Days- Shana Tova - Happy New Years

84.1 Kilos

I am back home after 3 weeks in the states. I have managed to keep my weight under control and during this 3 week trip it was a challenge. I wish I could say that things have been getting a lot easier this month. The truth is that the cravings are still there. I am just getting more practice in fighting them off.

This evening begins Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Years. This year: apples and honey and a cigarette free new year.

Cravings Hit at the Airport - 1 1/2 months

Publish Post
84.5 KG

Of all things, the place one cannot smoke I get the biggest cravings. I am leaving for home after wonderful 3 week tour of the US and before boarding my flight from Detroit to Germany I get mega cravings. I resist and do not even put my foot into the cocktail bar at the Detroit airport, which allows smoking. I even buy a carton of cigarettes duty free for a friend who is still smoking. I am convinced that I have a better chance of encouraging him to quit by not being judgmental, but just by setting a good example.

The cravings probably come from my old habit of loading myself with nicotine before long flights. I would often smoke close to the point of nausea and still suffered cravings 5 hours into a flight.

I am happy that is behind me