P.S. Don't forget about music2quitby - site now closed and owned by someone else

I used to have a site named music2quitby. Let go of it for financial reasons. Someone else owns it now. The storm that followed the dissolution of my earlier life ate it.

Perspectives of a Tobacco-Free life

It has now been more than 4 months since quitting... 129 days o' the calendar. My health is reasonable, and breathing is definitely something that is improved.

Curiously enough, my nasal passages must still be freaking out (after stopping the nicotine and smoke trash coating they got every day for about 30 years). I still get a sticky nose and little bits of nasal congestion almost every day. The good news is that I can breathe better through my nose these days. Breathing is good. Breathing without thinking of smoke is better.

I still get quit-zits on occasion. I don't get them like I did when I first quit, but still do... well, at least one part of being a teenager has returned...

I don't equate smoke to reward any more (at least, not several times a day). There are urges here and there, but most of the time the urges are nostalgic and not gnawing craves. The addiction part of my brain still things it is a good thing to get nicotine, so that part of my brain wants to "guilt" me into "feeling good again" with cigarettes. Sorry to tell you, addicted-part-of-my-brain, I'm not going to fall for it.

I have stamina, but my body has returned to its normal (pre-quit) rhythms - I don't get enough sleep (4-5 hours), so I don't have boundless energy... maybe if I ever take a leap and work into a life where I can get reasonable amounts of sleep, I'll become more energetic. The good news: I feel better about myself - not smoking is good.

Four Months, No Smokes

Wow. It's been four months to the day since I quit smoking.

I've not had one bit of nicotine since January 22, 2007. I've been off Chantix since March of 2007. I'm free. (My heart health is much improved.)

There have been urges here and there. Recently, I was drinking Diet Caffeine-Free (rhymes with 'bloke') - and I noticed something I have felt many times, but couldn't put my finger on it: when I drink (rhymes with 'bloke'), it makes me want to smoke. It makes nicotine urges fairly strong. When I don't drink (rhymes with 'bloke'), I almost never get urges to smoke. This is surely a personal thing, since smoke and (rhymes with 'bloke') went together for me for decades. So, I don't drink (rhymes with 'bloke') very much any more.

Besides, I've been a big water-drinking guy for a while. I just drink more plain water now...

Observations?
I can tell when my neighbor (two houses up the street) is outside having a smoke. Really. (Glad it's not me!)
Restaurants are much more pleasant.
I don't miss the $30+ cigarette cost on grocery purchases.
My beard has returned to its natural strawberry blonde/graying color.
I haven't coughed in many days. I go weeks at a time without coughing.
The garden smells much better! The garbage smells worse.
The cars smell better. The kids like it better.
It's easier to breathe when exercising or doing something strenuous. I dug up monkey grass all weekend - and the worst problem was creaky joints (never got winded).
It is SO MUCH easier to wash cars without keeping a cigarette dry. :-)
It is getting easier to not smoke - the urges are less often.
When I do get an urge, it is easier to put down.
I have stronger hopes of living to see my kids get gray hair of their own (can't wait - they gave me gray hair ;-)).
I have stronger hopes of living to see my grandchildren grow up.

4 months.
Cool.

Observations of an Ex-Smoker, 103 days...

Nicotine is addictive. It is something that doesn't just control you - it modifies and takes over emotions and feelings.

For example: an ex-smoker sees someone casually enjoying their cigarette or cigar... and is jealous because "the other person gets to have a smoke."

I'm so glad I'm free. Lorillard owes me. Big. Time.