100 Days

Not as impressive as the movie title "300", but still impressive to me.

I told everyone I'd write a bit of a rant for my 100, my centennial, my "holy crap it's been this long"...so here it goes.  I'm going to recap a bit...hop in my time machine with me.

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Day 1.
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I decided to quit smoking.  Only after I went out for my morning smoke almost by accident.  It was just a habit.  My Girlfriend asked if I was going to quit, I almost forgot that I wanted to quit that day.  Patch went on, and I went to work.

After only a few hours into work, I was getting twitchy as I had "missed" my smoke breaks.  I kept busy as best I could and not think about it.  It was not easy.

I for some reason, decided to put together the IKEA shelves I had purchased a few days before.  Got really bad cravings after only getting one together and realized my patch fell off from the sweat.  I panicked, put it back on, and relaxed for a bit.  Almost lost it!

Day 2
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Yep, first morning wake up with no smoke.  Put that patch on as quick as I could (after showering).  Man I wanted to go out for that smoke.  Was doing everything to try and convince myself that it would be OK.  I didn't do it, and I'm glad for that.

I started chewing on some straws.  Someone on another unrelated forum suggested that.  What a great suggestion!  Grabbed a handful from the cafeteria and chewed and sucked on those things for the day.  Better.

Day 3
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Hell Day.  Yep, Day 3.  And yep, it *WAS* Hell Day.  September 11.  Was going to a bonfire that night with friends.  Being around a campfire type of thing was a huge trigger to smoke.  Guess what.  I didn't.  Yay me!

>>>>>

1 Week
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Fast forwarding to the 1 week mark.  Stressful day, minor slip (took a puff off a smoke and almost puked).  I don't count that as "returning to smoking".  That was a painful reminder though.  I still remember that gross taste, and that was a looong time ago.

2 Weeks
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I was starting to get very irritable.  Any noise was really making me mad.  I was freaking out at the cat for meowing, I would yell at a door for creaking at this point.  I knew I just needed to sleep this off, but I couldn't get to sleep if I heard a noise.  It was a very rough night, but things HAVE to get better...right?

3 Weeks (21 Days)
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I'm just going to grab a quote from my Blog for this...

"Anyway, I'm 3 weeks in and I'm having issues.

I want to smoke.

I'm not sure if it's a craving, and urge or whatever they want to call it on the different websites and books and stuff. I have the desire."

There was alot more to that post, and if you want to read the whole thing, visit my blog (see link at the end of this post) and find Sept 29.

Almost 4 Weeks
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Almost at the month mark, and as I got ready for work, I checked my pockets for smokes and a lighter.  I hadn't done that in a month.  Even at the beginning of my quit, it wasn't a reaction, but for some reason it was this time.  Didn't make sense, and I dismissed it shortly after.  As I mentioned in the blog, if I did find them, I likely would have lit up by habit.

This was also my last day on step 1 of the patches!

At the month mark, I was starting to crave again.  The cravings were pretty strong.  I kept referring to it as a "desire".  Maybe it was...

Thanksgiving Weekend (in Canada)
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Family, stress, want to smoke.  Didn't smoke.  Need I say more?

42 Days
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At this point, I'm stepping down again!  Man it went by fast.  But it was time to hit Step 3 in the patches.

Just prior to this however, I spent the weekend at Canada's Wonderland for the Halloween Haunt!  It was a great time, and I really didn't want to smoke too bad.  I was impressed with myself as I figured I'd want to stop constantly for a smoke.  I didn't.

It was also my first fairly long car trip without smoking (even though we DID stop a few times like I normally would have requested just to have a smoke).  5 hour drive with no smoking.  woo hoo!

The next day I had a great time.  I had a trip to the photo club to learn the studio, went out for the Zombie Walk (whcih was a blast...see photos in my blog) generally had a great time.

Almost Halloween
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Another quick copy and paste from my blog....

"A co-worker that I used to go out and have a smoke with stopped me at the door as she was headed out for a smoke. She looks at me and says "Did you quit smoking?" I'm like..yeah, almost 2 months ago now. She comments "huh, didn't even notice". I told her I don't even notice anymore that I used to smoke, as I don't have the urge to go outside and freeze for a smoke. and then her comment, that made me laugh..."Well, I guess that's both a good and a bad thing". Huh? What? I had to get an explanation. Her explanation "Well, it's good for you that you quit, but bad because now you aren't outside with us". Nope, that's a GOOD thing on both accounts."

Halloween is here!
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Now, you have to understand...I'm the MC at a big halloween party here in town.  I get stressed about this every year.  Stress = wanting to smoke.  I didn't this time.  I enjoyed every minute of the party instead of having to go huddle outside in the cold for a smoke!

I totally enjoyed myself, and realized how much of the party I would have been missing by smoking a pack during that party like usual.

Patted myself on the back and had another beer!

November
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I did some math at break with some co-workers.  I figured I smoked almost 20 a day.  I tended to time my smokes to once every hour.  Obviously I smoked more than once an hour if I had 20 a day.  Then I thought to the people that smoke 2 or 3 PACKS a day.  That's one smoke every 10 minutes or so.  That they are awake.  Do the math.  Say you sleep 8 hours.  That leaves 16 hours of wake time.  16*60=960 minutes in the day.  3 packs = 75 cigarettes.  That is one cigaretted every 12.5 mintues (roughly).  Now, figure it takes 5 minutes to leisurely smoke a cigarette.  You *DON'T* have a smoke in your mouth for 7.5 minutes. 

How Do You Have SEX? 

Just sayin...

November 10
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Last day on the patch.  I made it through, but I was nervous about getting rid of the patch.  I stayed on 2 weeks longer than the box said, but 2 weeks prior to this, was the halloween party coming up and I knew I needed the help.

But, better the patch than smoking!

November 11
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Another sad day to not have the support of NRTs.  Well, other sad day was Sept 11, and that was day 3 for me.  Still.

I made it through.  Craved a bit, but not as much as I had thought.

>>>>>>>>>

December 6
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It's my Birthday!  Woo Hoo!  I made it another year!  Hopefully now that I'm not smoking I can make it lots more years!

December 9
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3 months down!  I made it 3 months!  I got myself a Playstation 3 with all the money I saved!

December 17
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100 Days!  Maybe I should write a rant on the Q for everyone.  Who am I kidding, nobody is going to read it.  It's going to be WAAAY too long.

Vidar
D100
$800 Saved!
http://vidar-quit-smoking.blogspot.com

*repost from the quit smoking forums*

Made it this far, and yesterday I had a stressful day. I had an xmas party to attend with my GF and some xmas shopping. The party was her circle of people that I don't know, so it made me feel a bit uncomfortable to begin with.

Now, to start the day, I was sick. I woke up with a migraine and muscle stiffness in my neck, shoulders and most of my back. I got up, had some breakfast and started to crave a smoke.

I just about lost it at that point. I couldn't believe I've come this far and still crave it. It wasn't as much a craving as a want though. I know it's just my brain playing tricks on me, but I felt like going out on my patio and smoking.

Anyway, this "craving" lasted almost ALL day. It was all I could seem to think about. Get out of the car to go into the store "hey, I could have a smoke"...you know the routine, I don't have to explain that one.

Today was a bit better...the cravings are still hitting me though. I feel almost "nervous". I'm a bit twitchy and can see myself outside smoking.

So let this be a warning that has been put out by many people, and not just me.

"NEVER LET YOUR GUARD DOWN".

It doesn't matter how long you have gone without, one craving *could* put you over the edge.

Oh, and I almost forgot...after dinner the other night for my GF's mothers birthday, I got up after dinner, put my coat on and went outside. I didn't even know why until someone commented "What are you doing? You don't smoke anymore". Talk about a reflex action...sheesh.

Vidar
I have been quit for 96 days. I have saved approximately $768.97 by not smoking 1,922 cigarettes.  My Quit Date: 9/9/2009 7:00 AM. 
http://vidar-quit-smoking.blogspot.com/

Looking back

Today I'm going to do a bit of reflecting.  It's time to look back on my quit attempt this time around and see where the trouble spots are.  This is what is normally done after someone caves and starts smoking again, but I think it can be healthy for me now that I've gone this far.

Today is a landmark day.  I have officially hit 90 days.  This is day 91.  Tomorrow at 7am, I will have officially been quit for 3 months.  The 3 month mark is supposed to herald in a new set of challenges, but I think I'm good to go now. 

I've done lots of work during this quit to help me stay quit.  I removed a few stresses from my life which were starting to push me over the edge.  I've started working on hobbies for the sheer fun of having a hobby.  Keeping busy is a good thing, and having down time is another good thing.  I'm happy about both of these things.

Getting through a birthday weekend was a miracle for me, but I'm glad I did not smoke the whole time.  I had a fabulous time for my birthday, and not being able to smoke at a spa and subsequently not WANTING to smoke while I was there was a nice thing.

I've heard lots of things during this quit, like "you're not really free until you stop counting the days".  Bite me.  Does that mean you never age if you stop counting birthdays?  Hell, people call 3 year olds "Oh look, he's only 36 months old"...No, he's 3!  Pretty soon, I can start counting my quit in years.  Hell, let's start now.

I'm 1/4 of a year non-smoker.  Nah, that does sound silly.  But after the 12 month mark, it's a year damnit.

Anyway, I'm off topic there.  There were people that stated that I would be happy as a non-smoker, until I started smoking again, then I'd be truly happy once more.  Not so.  I'm quite happy not smoking.  It's getting cold outside now (into the negative temperatures) and we're expecting a snow storm tomorrow.  Glad I'm not out in that puffing away.

Also, I've had the comments lately of "you smell good".  I wasn't sure if I should take that the wrong way.  LOL.  But it is true.  Nicotine is not leeching out of my pores like it probably used to.  I'm happy, those around me are happy, what's not to like these days?

Do I miss smoking?  Maybe once in a while, but it's getting more and more rare to miss it.

I'm good with where I'm at.  I'm at 3 months.

Oh, and I got my PS3 with the money I saved.  Had enough to buy a few games to go with it too.  Yay me!

Oh, stats time.  Then I'm done blogging for the moment.

I have been quit for 90 days. I have saved approximately $721.16 by not smoking 1,802 cigarettes.  My Quit Date: 9/9/2009 7:00 AM.