SHI BLOGS TOO

Forty Two Days - Smoke Free

"My Smoke Report"

As of today I am forty two days smoke free! That's quite an accomplishment for me.

Here I am listing my pro's and con's of quitting this addictive habit that I had since age sixteen. I am now 64 years old by the way. Remember these are only my reactions to quitting cigarettes.

1. Am I feeling the results? Yes, I have more energy now.

2. Do I see a physical improvement? Yes, my cheeks are rosy every morning! They haven't had this much color in years.

3. Do I crave cigarettes? Of course, but I am in control, and the cravings don't last longer than a few seconds at the most.

4. Do I eat more food now? Yes, and I get some crazy munchies! Mostly in the evening while watching TV. I'm told that this will level off eventually.

5. Have I gained weight since quitting? Yes, I weighed in FIVE pounds heavier at my last dr. visit. which was May 21, 2008.

My Dr. told me "better to be five pounds overweight than to still be smoking those cigarettes". Heck, he even offered to give me something down the line to help with the weight gain.(like I really need another daily pill?) No thanks Dr.

6. Can I smell better now? Yes, I can smell "everything better now". I can smell things that even Ron can't smell, and he never smoked in his life. The best part is smelling the sweet fragrances of all the flowers in bloom. The worst part...uh is that my shoes down there that I can actually smell???

My clothes no longer smell of tobacco. I never smoked inside so I can say that my home never did smell that way.

7. Can I breathe better now? Wow, boy can I ever! This has got to be one of the best parts of quitting...if not THE best part! I can actually take deeper breathes than ever before. I am not winded from our daily walks like I used to get either.

8. Can I feel good results in any other part of my body(other than my lungs)? Yes, I actually feel less aching in my legs. I am not sure if this is related to being smoke free or our walking on a DAILEY basis. I like to think that it is due to both of these.

Well, I guess that pretty much sums up my report on "quitting smoking".

Hope it helps some, or even one of you, that may be reading this and still smoking...but thinking about quitting.

I have not done this on my own, however. I have been on the Chantix(varenicline) non-smoking program. It is a pill that is doctor prescribed. It contains no nicotine like the patch does. It somehow blocks the ability of nicotine to activate receptors in the brain and thus stimulate the central nervous system.

The most common adverse effect is nausea. This can be adjusted by dosage, however. I take a lower dose daily than what is called for and I don't have the nausea any longer.

Another common reaction is sleep disturbance. I have very strange and vivid dreams. I can't really call them nightmares though.

I know of others who have completed this program and succeeded at being smoke free.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone who has had difficulty with trying to quit smoking.

It's never too late to quit.

For end results...stay tuned!