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.