Day 16 - Your Success Threatens Some

82.9 Kilos

I have taken note that some of my smoking friends feel a little uneasy witnessing my success. It is important to set a good example without rubbing in the fact that you are a non smoker. I am concisely not mentioning my status as an ex smoker to friends who are still puffing.

Yesterday I had dinner with 2 non smoking friends. There is no question that non smokers are different than ex smokers in that they don't share the experience of beating an addiction.

It is going to be a scorcher today so its a pool day, then off to the Arena to see Aida.

Day 10 - Quiting with a partner who is smoking

83.6 Kilos

It's Getting better all the time. Yesterday was a fun day with a Sunday pool party at the Gola's place on lake of Garda. One guest was telling me the story of a couple where the wife quit and the husband did not. She was climbing the walls. Things were getting ugly and the 6 year old daughter was loosing it as well seeing her parents fighting. It took a few weeks but finally the hubby came around and decided to quit as well so everyone lived.....

Serena is coming into town with Fernanda, her friend from Florida, (see photo above) today and I am going to guide a sightseeing afternoon. I hit the gym this morning and managed to run some errands.

Serna, and Fernanda came over for dinner with Giuseppe. Serena immediately lit up and I asked her to smoke on the balcony where I left some ashtrays. I only now begin to appreciate how I irritated non smoking friends leaving butts in their garden or smoking on there terrace with the door still open so half the smoke blew back into their house.

My ciggy-bank is getting fuller. I will take it to the post office on September first and see if I can buy a cigarificat of deposit.

Still get lots of cravings but I find them easier to control as each day passes.

There is a real advantage to quitting in summer because you can spend lots of time outside and enjoy walking, biking and swimming.

Day 2 - I'm a non Smoker

84 Kilos

A good nights sleep and when I woke up I was not searching for a cigarette first thing, good sign. Today I am hit the gym and pool. I want to see how long I can go this morning before I feel the need for a patch or gum.

I weighed in this morning and I am up to 84.1 Kilos still inside my normal range.

In the morning I went with a friend to visit some friends in the countryside with a pool, all three smokers. A good test for me. No gum no patch. After a quick lunch at home I went to Lake of Garda for more swimming. One friend who is a smoker laughed when I told him I had quit. "Talk to me in a year, you are just trying to quit" My answer, No Zeno, "Now I am a non smoker, If I can last a day, I can last 2 days and it gets easier as each day passes." Of course I know that it will be challenging but by making such a belligerent stand it will be even more difficult to loose face and take up the habit again.

I took a stroll through town after dinner and I admit I was really thinking about having a smoke but I treated my self to an ice cream cone instead.

Ex smoking friends and non smokers are encouraging. Smokers seem threatened. Very strange.

Lets see what tomorrow brings.