Day 19 - Get the Urge? Sing a Song!

82.6 Kilos

With so much swimming and exercise I am eating more than usual and even indulging in an evening gelato without putting on weight. It was stracatella and cocconut last night.

One of my techniques to fight the urge of the wanna smokies is to put on some music and sing along.

It is another hot day, forecast to be over 35 degrees, and I have tickets for Tosca in the Arena this evening... It was a good performance with innovative staging.

I'm really feeling improved breathing.

Link to Article

There is No Substitute for Time

Day 18 - Keep it Under Your Hat

82.6 Kilos

A Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Gelato from Venchi. it will cost 30 minutes in the pool but it's worth it!

People don't want to hear about your new found freedom so it is best to set an example but keep your secret under your hat. I am going to try to limit my vaunting about not smoking on this blog.

It's great to not have to work during the hot days of summer and we are having an african scorcher this week. I am going to the pool this morning.

Day 17 - The Game Isn't Over until the Fat Lady Sings

82.6 Kilos

I went to the Opera last night in the Arena. Aida is the most popular of all the Operas in the Arena. There is a popular saying in America attributed to Dan Cook a sports reporter from Saint Antonio, "the Game isn't over till the fat lady sings" it might have been inspired by the operas like Aida.

With smoking cessation in one sense the game is never over, it just get easier to play as each day goes by.

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 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 14 - After dinner desires

83.8 Kilos

I am still a bit edgy and irritable.

Recovery from smoking takes time but I am feeling better every day. Here is a link to an article on recovery from smoking (LINK).

It seems that the worse time for me now is after meals, particularly dinner but the intensity of the cravings is less. I have eliminated caffine in the evening and try to take a walk after dinner to help. I have the feeling that I need to be sleeping more.

Watch this

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of week 3.

Day 13 - My hands aren't Peeling

84.1 Kilos

Today I am going to the Lake.

I have had a chronic skin problem of the skin on my hands peeling. It has gone away. I have been putting lemon juice on my hands to get rid of tobacco stains.

It is hot and humid summer weather with an African heat wave in arrival. This means lots of water and sweating. I imagine along with the exercise this is helping me speed up the detoxification.

I have taken no nicotine supplements this week. I'm just using deep breathing when I get the urge. I have come too far to go back.

Day 12 - Sun and Vitimins

83.6 Kilos

My weight has been exactly the same each morning this week. Very unusual, normally there are small fluctuations between one day and the next.

It's sunny weather today and will be in the 30's (90's F). I have a full day but I am getting a few hours of pool time in this morning. I read that when one quits smoking one absorbs antioxidants better so a healthy diet is even healthier.

The benefits of not smoking are becoming more evident as each day passes.

The desire to have a smoke is becoming weaker but still there, nagging like the noise of street traffic generally one does not notice it after time. Now I can say that the benefits and the desires are coming into balance. It makes it much easier to find the power to resist temptation.

I am really noticing improvement in my breathing and breath capacity.

I am sure that as time goes by I will forget how bad smoking was making me feel and not realize how much better I actually feel as a non smoker. For the moment my improved health makes it easier for me to keep away from the cigarettes.

I found an "Effects of Smoking Chart". It is very good to help one see many of the medical effects.

I had an hours swim at lunch time and a good work out in the gym this afternoon. I treated myself to a nice steak dinner and a cinnamon and ginger ice cream cone. I got some opera tickets for next week. Tomorrow: pool time at lake Garda.

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 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 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.

Day 8 - Nicotine Stains

Week 2 begins

83.5 Kilos. Weather is a little uncertain today. There is an aqua gym class my gym is sponsering at the city pool later this morning. I am going to cook up a caponata and I need to drop by the travel agent to get my train ticket for Oktoberfest in Munich in September.

I want to get rid of the nicotine stains on my lips (gross) so I am using lemon juice therapy.

I met up with Serena and some of her friends after dinner. They were smoking I was chewing peppermint gum. I missed the aquagym class so I will do it tommorow but I did do 20 laps (1000 Meters) at the pool.

Friday Night Out

83.8 Kilos

I had a good time Friday Night. Saw some friends at Re Carlo Bar. Rudy was smoking. We had beers and I picked up his pack of cigs to smell them... yuck.... I was out until late but I am really happy to celebrate 7 days smoke free. Busy weekend ahead

Day 7 - The Cigars

84.1 Kilos.

Tomorrow will mark one week.

I really have not been giving a lot of thought to my cigars during this week of quitting. I still have a humidoor in the house with about 400 fine cigars. Havanas and Dominicans. I saw a friend who is a Cigar appasionato in the Piazza. This reminded me of my cigars so I went up to my flat and took a few boxes of Romeo y Julietas and gave them to him along with a cigar punch.

I decided to take a puff of the cigar. Even though it was a fine aged Havana and I did not inhale, It did not taste good. Heavy and it left a bitter aftertaste. I am sure that the cigars will not represent a temptation for me.

I will probably send the Domenican Cigars to the States to be auctioned off for charity. and give some as gifts.

A friend at the Gym who quit 10 years ago told me that his big cravings hit more than one year after he quit on a half dozen occations. He had to use a little will power not to succomb and then it passed. His last craving happened a couple of years after he quit.

I did 20 laps at the pool today, and gym time. I am really gettig hit by cravings this evening after dinner. I have taken no nicotine supplements either yesterday or today. I'm going to take an after dinner walk and treat myself to an ice cream.

Day 6 - Resisting Triggers

84.1 Kilos

I am building my strength and getting more used to my new non smoking self each day that passes. I am avoiding putting myself too much in harms way by placing myself in enviorments where there is a lot of temptation. For sure social drinking with friends who smoke is a big trigger. So I'm exposing myself in small steps.

After dinner I went out last night in the square and ran across a group of friends finishing a dinner sitting outside with espressos and drinks, all smoking. I sat down with them had a barley coffee and chatted for a bit. When I noticed the smoke I thought to myself "Smoke=Choke=Poison=Suicide =Disese-Wrinkels-cough- ugly = Death." I took a deep breath and thought of myself "I am happy, relaxed, free of tobacco, able to breath and smell, healthy, calm , healthy and sexy - I'm a non smoker"

No smoking discussions with my friends just small talk about August holidays, but I felt for a brief moment a silent and small sense of smugness and superiority which I hope they did not sense. I then walked to via Mazzini and treated myself to a chocolate fondent ice cream.

Day 5 - No Weight Gain

I weighed in this morning, 83.5 Kilos so back to my form weight, up side limit is 85 Kilos. All this extra excercize and swimming is helping.

I did my You Tube Hypnosis and watched a Mayo Clinic film on the benifits of quiting this morning.

Busy day in front of me

Quit Smoking:
Quit Smoking. Experience Health Benefits

Day 4 - Mosquito Bites

Cravings on waking this morning, but easier to fight off today. Tongue is starting to loose its grey patina. Still coughing up gunk. The mosquitos had a feast last night, Possibly I smell sweeter. I will get some repellent spray.

My Mom got the news and wrote me "Daniel! Daniel! Daniel! I am SO excited I can’t tell you. What an accomplishment! I AM so proud of you. WoW"

My neighbor Evelyn is being very encouraging. She is a non smoker and has always given me a hard time about me smoking.

It's a nice sunny day with scattered clouds. After lunch with ex colleagues from Masi, I did some grocery shoping an then hit the pool in the afternoon.

A good relaxed day I did a You Tube Hypnosis. And read some stuff on CODP, a good reminder as to why I don't smoke any more.

As each day goes by, my confidence is building. Of coures it is still a test to be around smokers but even this is becoming easier.

Day 3 - Pool Time

83.8 Kilos

I got to sleep early last night. A more difficult night woke up at 4:00 AM and then got back to sleep. I received a nice note of encouragement from my friend Brad O'Connor

"Daniel: Wonderful, Bravo and by all means stick with it. It will be tough for a while, but in this case time really does heal. I know this from experience. I quit twice in earnest. The first time I backslid was when John, at barely 2, was hit by a pickup truck at 55 mph. It was nick and tuck for hours whether he would live and I was, to put it mildly, a basket case, pacing the hospital halls, bugging the doctors and nurses (including Anne), then a crusty old nun thrust a package of Chesterfields, so dry and old they probably belonged to a long-deceased patient. This broke the chain and it was another two months before I finally quit for good."

"You have done it and there should be no looking back.
Anne and I are mighty proud of our Man from Verona."

Weight down a bit this morning to 83.8 KG

It is nice to know that others have done this as well. Today thunderstorms are forecast for the afternoon. I think I will go to the pool this morning.
The Lido (city pool) was deserted, what luxury to have an Olympic 25 Meter pool almost to yourself. I swam 7 laps back and forth - 700 meters. And got some reading in. Home for a big salad, I will go to the gym later this afternoon.

My tongue has been feeling like bitter sandpaper the last few days but it is getting better. I still have lots of cravings particularly after I have eaten or taken a coffee, but rather than chewing nicotine gum I am taking a deep breath and trying to distract myself when the cravings hit and I continue to drink lots of water.

I hit the gym this afternoon 2 hour work out and after I enjoyed a good dinner salad, steak and pasta, followed by Barley coffee in the piazza. I am beat and ready to hit the sack. we shall see what adventure tommorow will bring...
This is tough but sure to get better with each passing day.

Mosquitos are biting me must be that I don't stink of nicotine.

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.

Day 1: Quit Day Begins

83.3 Kilos
Day One, Let the adventure begin......

I am coming across smoking paraphanellia, ash trays, lighters etc and I am putting them in a shoe box. I have planned a day of outdoor fun. No massage because they are fully booked.

Dropped off left over cigs and lighters. Took a walk and saw a few friends. When I tell my friends who are smokers that I have quit they tend to roll their eyes. Some get defensive, others are supportive.

I put on a patch, I am off to the gym and then to the pool this afternoon. It is hot today so I am drinking lots of water.

Got home and fixed a salad, steak and whole grains. After dinner constant craving for a smoke so I keep breathing deep and distract myself. It is only a mater of some perserverance and the worse is sure to pass.

I'm to bed. It will be a hot day tommorow, pool day for me.