Stop Smoking Today

In general I’m finding the no smoking much easier now, but there are days like today where I just feel there is something missing.  Particularly during moments of boredom or excitement.  I haven’t worked out a strategy for specifically dealing with these situations (except to ensure I don’t go and buy that first pack of cigarettes).  I’m trying to waste as much time during my day by walking – so trips to the shops for 1 item are now very common.  In any event, days like today are a reminder that while the first few days are hard in many ways, as soon as the plain sailing starts you can still have challenging days, but the hope is these are few and farther between.

Well, as we approach 2 weeks all I can say is so far so good.  Unlike my first quit attempt in jan I don’t seem to have reached the stage where I’m coughing up all the nastiness that has been building up in my lungs for 10 years.  In the meantime, I’ve been feeding the addiction with food and to be fair I’ve put on a few pounds.  But I’m relaxed about that, with all the nervous energy I’ve got I’m comfortable that I’ll be able to knock that on the head.  I’ve ordered a green tea diet pack, to see how that helps things move along.  All in all, at this stage I can say I still miss the activity of smoking, but not the associated nastiness.  As I learnt from my earlier attempt no need to get complacent – one day at a time.

Well, I’m finding it tough going – while I know that having a cigarette won’t make me feel better, as is often the case you imagine things being nicer than they are.  Given that I am eating an enormous amount of food at the moment I’ve decided to undertake an emergency health regime.  I’ve joined a health club against my better judgement as I’ve usually not had the discipline to keep going – but I guess I might as well replace something I thought I enjoyed with something I’m sure I don’t enjoy in the hope that I could come out of it a health freak … we shall see.  I attempted my first run, and I was shocked at the state of my fitness – it seems the dcombination of smoking and a sedentary lifestyle has put my heart into hibernation.   It was a dreadful feeling being so short of breath after so little excercise, but I’m going to persevere.  I also found a great site about various aspects of self improvement – in this case an article on self discipline.  I was so inspired by it – I put on my trainers and went for a run (ok it was less than a mile), but the point is you need to inspire yourself into action.