Day 98 - Observations of a non-smoker

Been busy folks...

I went to my son's crew regatta this past Friday and Saturday. I was in a truck (pulling the shells) for about 7 hours each way, plus tons of time out at the lake. No smokes at all, no need to sneak off for a smoke, no need to obsess about figuring out how to work in a smoke.

Freedom is great. Nicotine is prison.

Interesting... I had another one of my "smoking dreams" the other night. Dream: dream of smoking, get mad about losing my quit (in my dream), realize I was dreaming, wake up and be grateful that I was still free of nicotine....

Wow. Almost 100 days.

92 Days

92 days, wheat snacks, lots of steps, feeling OK...

Now, if I could just get enough sleep...

Perspectives of a ex-smoker - day 91

I've had no nicotine for over three months. A quarter year. 13 weeks.

I still think about smokes. Nicotine is a great liar and an ugly dictator - it likes to say, "Just give up everything, don't question me - and I'll take care of you."

I, personally, am jammin' on the fact that I'm free. Freedom rocks, and is greatly underrated.

Day 86... whew - muscle up, weight up

I've actually gained a few pounds in the past few weeks. The good news is that my middle-section is a little flatter and less jiggly. The exercise is paying off, but I've still got some distance to make when it comes to eating less-than-healthy food.

I regularly think of how grateful I am to be free of nicotine. I guess I will, at some point, think about it less.

But, as a trade... I'd rather spend a few minutes every day thinking about not smoking - than to spend even one more day wishing I had quit.

My brain is still re-wiring itself. Good.

Observations of a Non-Smoker, 4.13.2007

I think that nicotine actually calms nerves and makes deep emotional things less severe. I also think it makes me more patient.

Now, nearly three months nicotine-free, those things are having to be re-learned.

I get mad easier. How can I count to 10 better? Learning...

I get frustrated faster. How can I get myself to be more patient? Learning...

I feel more selfish about the things that are important to me. I love my family more than anything... I need to be there for them, even as a non-smoker. Learning...

81 days, and around the world?

I've been having a bit of a funk for a few days. Not being right in the right place, really... I guess lots of things are going on.

Especially since: my brain is rewiring itself to recover from a 30-year nicotine addiction. Ugh. However, I'd do it again. This is far better than smoking!

21 laps today at work, 26 minutes. Went too fast and stumbled on the last lap up. Gotta be more careful and not get in a race.

81 days without nicotine - next Monday will be 12 weeks... and Sunday-week will be the three-month-aversary of quitting (Jan 22 - April 22).

Ate too much junk food today. I love holidays. And the dollar-bin candy after the holiday loves me...

Catching up... starting day 81

I've been absent from posting for a few days... been down in the mouth...

Getting better... getting back to my exercise soon...

77 Days - 11 Weeks!

Had a great day today.

77 days have passed - I am still clean from all nicotine, and the craves are fewer and lesser... I still think about nicotine (and the lies it tells you), but more as an empowered freed man than as an ex-smoker.

Did 21 laps in 30 minutes in the stairwell at work today. Kept the snacks to a minimum (although there were some Easter chocolates in there), and kept the caffeine at a small amount.

Ready to do an informal gig tonight! So nice to not have smokes be a part of it...

Catch up from yesterday/weekend, days 74-76

No smokes or any nicotine at all this past weekend. Closing in on 11 weeks. How cool is that?

Exercised by yardwork and by practicing bass for a gig on 4.9.2007 (yes, practicing is exercise - try dancing around with your bass for an hour, with movement of 80-lb equipment at the beginning and end :-)).

Actually did OK this weekend on snacks... just some Easter Chocolates and a few Harry Tweeter chocolate-chip cookies...

Had a big cup of McAlister's tea this weekend - split up over three days... Otherwise, no incidental caffeine...

73 days, and a new cool thing for my music!

73 days with no nicotine at all, and no medication for smoking cessation either!

Got yard work exercise this evening after work, stayed away from snacks and caffeine today...

Cheers!

Short Hair, Locks Of Love, No Smokes!

Yesterday was a busy day for me...

I donated my hair to Locks Of Love (you can see more about them here: http://locksoflove.com).

Today is my 72nd day with no nicotine.

Today I had a good snack day (a few M&Ms, but mostly healthy nuts).

I walked my 21 laps of the stairwell at work in 30 minutes today, but with a new twist: I was working a five-pound weight in each hand the entire time.

You can see more about my hair donation here: http://jimmybearpearson.com/locksoflove.php.

71 days!

No smokes for 71 days. Was too busy to do exercise stuff... did get my hair cut for Locks of love, though! I'll be placing the story on my music blog.

Day 70... All is well!

I've been 10 weeks (70 days!) without any kind of nicotine. And I don't miss smoking very often any more... The urges are actually always brief and occasional. All my urges tend to happen just before leaving work for home, or after dinner - and they're decreasing.

I'm hoping that some day it will be nothing at all.

Did 21 laps in the stairwell at work today... 30 minutes of continuous exercise.

The snacks thing went OK... I had a great weekend, but work seems to set my stomach growling for some reason.

Better every day. Better in most every way. And I'm much less of a sourpuss than I was before...

Observations of a non-smoker, 4.2.2007

Folks who light up right when they walk out the door of a restaurant/movie theater/store remind me of the old me...

It doesn't make me mad to walk through the smell and the exposure... it makes me glad that I've not had a smoke in 70 days.

I do wish they didn't smell so bad, though...