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

Day 15 - My Third Week Begins

83.3 Kilos

I begin week 3 as a non smoker and I really feel good about myself.

I remember when friends who are smokers would tell me they had quit smoking but began again after 3 weeks or more I was always baffled. "After going through the struggle how could you start up again?" I would think to myself.

Despite the sense of accomplishment that I have passed the first step I don't allude myself on the temptations I will face ahead.

A wonderful sunny Fieraugusto holiday. I will meet up with a friend to go swimming this afternoon.

Day 11 - Pool Party

83.6 Kilos

We are having wonderful summer weather with tempretures in the 30's C (90's F). I am becoming a pool bum. One advantage of lots of sport and swimming in addition to helping detox is that you can indulge in some extra treats like an after dinner geleto without adding weight.

I am drinking loads of water and I think this along with the excercize and warm weather is helping me de toxify more quickly than I would in winter time.

Day 9 - Cravings like backround Noise

Weight 83.6

It was a strange sensation yesterday. Strong cravings have been replaced by a sensation of wanting to smoke with every breath but it is less of a craving than an insidious backround noice easily distracted. I was a bit tired yesterday and that may have stimulated this state of mind. This generally makes them more sensitive to my situation.

I felt good about being out with smokers last night, I was in the Piazza (see photo). Of course it is still tempting to smoke when you are around smokers in a social situation but I always let them know that I have quit right away.

Making Preparations

I have begun telling friends that I have set Saturday as quit day. Everyone wishes me good luck but some are skeptical that I can do it.

I purchased what will be my last packet of cigarettes today.

I realize that this will not be easy. I have some nicotine gum and patches at hand to help with the withdrawals and I am planning a weekend with lots of physical activity, swimming , etc. And I plan to keep myself arms distance from temptation the first days.

Tomorrow I will clean house and collect up my smoking paraphernalia.

I have not yet made any announcement to family, that will wait until Saturday.

Here are some basic tips
How to Quit Smoking in 5 Days

I am also going to book a nice massage Saturday to get me in the right mindset for this journey.

A Decision is Taken

I have taken the decision to quit smoking after more than 40 years on the weed.

I have been badgered by family and friends for years and now is the time.
It is 4 months since I retired from my job and 16 months since I went on a diet and exercise program after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I took off over 50 kilos and have gotten back into shape with regular exercise.

I have run out of excuses and now is the time to face an even bigger challenge to quit smoking.

I have decided to make a blog of this journey which is sure to be full of challenges and ups and downs.

I have set Saturday 1 August as quit day and I am preparing myself by reading up on smoke cessation.

My motivation is not dissimilar that which I had to follow a diet and exercise for my diabetes. It is not fear of dying but the desire to enjoy the best quality of life I can for the time I have here. I do not wish to finish my days bridled to an oxygen tank or wasting away with cancer, a stroke or some other degenerative disease.

I am a hard headed slave to nicotine but I am tired of it all:

Enough of my shortness of breath
Enough of the anti social behavior of slipping outside to grab a smoke
Enough of the stink in my clothes, on my breath, in my house, in my car, on my person.
Enough of running out at night to fight with an uncooperative vending machine to get my fix.
Enough of wasting time when we have so little to spare to give myself a cigarette fix.
Enough of not being able to smell and taste as well as I could.
Enough of being enslaved by addiction
Enough of self denial which cheats none but yourself
Enough of wasting money on a self destructive habit
Enough of committing slow suicide

So let the adventure begin. Another step in taking control of my life.