Yep, that's right. My first day was Monday and I didn't think about starting this blog until today so I have to start out with day 3. It's actually going quite well in comparison to the previous two. I've had some wicked with drawls that past couple days.
Like anyone who has quit before can tell you, you have trigger moments. These are the times when you always remember smoking a cigarette. I.E. after a meal, in the car, with coffee in the morning, etc. I actually do okay in the morning and while I'm working. I don't smoke at work to begin with. I work for my father and I don't smoke around my family so it's pretty easy for me during the day to not smoke. My trigger comes the second I get in my car after work. I used to always have a cig on the way home. Then, I'd have a few more in the evening. The car is definitely one of my worst trigger moments.
Yesterday was really bad. I had cravings all day, even at work. It was really tough. I take an Irish Dance class on Tuesday evenings and I got frustrated trying to learn a new dance last night. All I wanted to do when we were done was get in my car and smoke it up. It was difficult but I fought through it and made it home smoke-free! That's my first success I think. Actually my first success is deciding to quit, right?
So, today has been a lot better for me. Less physical with drawls which is awesome. And that will only get better and better. I still constantly think about smoking though. That won't go away for a long time, if ever. But at least I'm on the right track!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Beginning Again
That's right. I'm quitting smoking again. I can't even count how many times I've tried quitting. I lost count a long time ago. I'm trying something different this time. If I tell as many people as possible, maybe I'll feel more accountable for my actions and be able to knock this horrible habit for good.
I guess I should start by introducing myself. My name is Stacy, I'm 30 years old and live in the K.C. area. I've been in this area my whole life. I work with my father who is a financial advisor. My mother is a Mary Kay director. They are the best parents a person could ever ask for. I have one brother who is currently serving our country. He has a wife and two small children in San Antonio. They are the light of my life. I have no children yet so I like to claim them as much as I can :)
I started smoking when I was in high school. At first it was because I thought it was cool. My first cigarette ever was when I was about 8. I was staying over at a friend's house and we took a couple of her mother's cigarettes and went outside and "smoked" them. Of course, I wasn't actually smoking because I didn't even know how to at that age. I didn't pick up another cigarette until I was much older. The ripe old age of 15 to be more specific. I had a couple of friends that thought smoking was cool just like I did. So we'd smoke whenever we hung out together. It was pretty harmless at first. Little did I know that I was creating a pattern that I would truly regret ever starting.
I started smoking regularly by age 16. Granted, I would only have 2 or 3 a day but I was smoking every day. I don't think I was truly addicted at this point, however. I got caught a couple of times by my parents. On one occasion, they took my car from me for 3 weeks. They said it takes 3 weeks to make and to break a habit so that's how long I'd be grounded for. I stopped smoking during that time but as soon as I had my car back I went right back to smoking. I continued to hide it from my parents though. I was more careful this time because those few weeks without my car was torture. I was a senior in high school after all. I had places to go and people to see!
So, off to college I went the summer of '98. I was addicted to cigarettes by this time, unfortunately. I think I tried to quit a couple times when I was there but I always failed and continued smoking throughout my college career. The serious quitting attempts started after college. I don't remember all of them because, like I said earlier, there are too many to count. I've always been able to go about 1 month without smoking at all and 3 months allowing a couple of slip-ups when I'd go out drinking with friends. I realize now that the second I have a slip up I need to start the count over because that's what has led to the failed attempts up until this point.
So there's my smoking "career" in a nutshell. I feel like a hypocrite because I'm healthy in all other aspects of my life. I exercise regularly, eat lots of fruits and veggies, avoid fast food and I practice yoga so I'm spiritually healthy too. Smoking is the one vice I can't seem to get control over. So, I decided I'd start blogging about it. I intend to write about my struggles, my successes and anything else I feel necessary on here to help me overcome this nasty addiction. I haven't done this before so we'll see how it works for me but I'm hoping it makes a big difference and I'm able to keep on track this time. Wish me luck!!!
I guess I should start by introducing myself. My name is Stacy, I'm 30 years old and live in the K.C. area. I've been in this area my whole life. I work with my father who is a financial advisor. My mother is a Mary Kay director. They are the best parents a person could ever ask for. I have one brother who is currently serving our country. He has a wife and two small children in San Antonio. They are the light of my life. I have no children yet so I like to claim them as much as I can :)
I started smoking when I was in high school. At first it was because I thought it was cool. My first cigarette ever was when I was about 8. I was staying over at a friend's house and we took a couple of her mother's cigarettes and went outside and "smoked" them. Of course, I wasn't actually smoking because I didn't even know how to at that age. I didn't pick up another cigarette until I was much older. The ripe old age of 15 to be more specific. I had a couple of friends that thought smoking was cool just like I did. So we'd smoke whenever we hung out together. It was pretty harmless at first. Little did I know that I was creating a pattern that I would truly regret ever starting.
I started smoking regularly by age 16. Granted, I would only have 2 or 3 a day but I was smoking every day. I don't think I was truly addicted at this point, however. I got caught a couple of times by my parents. On one occasion, they took my car from me for 3 weeks. They said it takes 3 weeks to make and to break a habit so that's how long I'd be grounded for. I stopped smoking during that time but as soon as I had my car back I went right back to smoking. I continued to hide it from my parents though. I was more careful this time because those few weeks without my car was torture. I was a senior in high school after all. I had places to go and people to see!
So, off to college I went the summer of '98. I was addicted to cigarettes by this time, unfortunately. I think I tried to quit a couple times when I was there but I always failed and continued smoking throughout my college career. The serious quitting attempts started after college. I don't remember all of them because, like I said earlier, there are too many to count. I've always been able to go about 1 month without smoking at all and 3 months allowing a couple of slip-ups when I'd go out drinking with friends. I realize now that the second I have a slip up I need to start the count over because that's what has led to the failed attempts up until this point.
So there's my smoking "career" in a nutshell. I feel like a hypocrite because I'm healthy in all other aspects of my life. I exercise regularly, eat lots of fruits and veggies, avoid fast food and I practice yoga so I'm spiritually healthy too. Smoking is the one vice I can't seem to get control over. So, I decided I'd start blogging about it. I intend to write about my struggles, my successes and anything else I feel necessary on here to help me overcome this nasty addiction. I haven't done this before so we'll see how it works for me but I'm hoping it makes a big difference and I'm able to keep on track this time. Wish me luck!!!
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