88 Days

Cigarettes Today (or since my last post): 1 teeny tiny drag of a cigarette last night at our housewarming party.  I'M SO PISSED.  I'm a drag away from a pack a day.  I'm a drag away from a pack a day.  I'm a drag away from a pack a day.
Chantix Side Effects (on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst): This week has been spent weening myself off the Chantix.  Add that to PMS and being really hard on myself about it all and you've got one emotionally confused ex-smoker.
Mood: Ehhh, still figuring it out.  Mostly SO HAPPY, though!!
Cigarettes NOT Smoked Since Quit Date: 1760

So, I totally skipped over celebrate my 12 weeks mark on the blog, but it did not pass in vain.  This week, I finally had feelings that I really liked myself better as a non-smoker.  I'm so dang productive and I feel proud of that.  BUT, this week I have faced several moments where I've had to honestly say no to cigarettes.  The cravings are back.  Luckily, I am fine if I don't drink.  BUT, last night Josh reminded me how hard I have worked the last 3 months and that it would all be for nothing if I had even just 1 cigarette.  And I agreed.  Then, I had a drag of a cigarette - what a horrible addiction nicotine is!  I emerged re-committed to quitting.  Without the Chantix, I am going to have to do more of the work.  I am set up for success, though, as I have built up healthy habits and routines AND I can celebrate the fact that I am done with the Chantix side effects!  WOOHOO!

Wish me luck.  I have come so far in my quitting journey, but this is just the beginning.  Follow along and share my struggles and triumphs!

11 Weeks!

Day 77
Cigarettes Today (or since my last post): 0
Chantix Side Effects (on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst): Still a bit concerned about mood swings when I cease the Chantix, slight dissociation at times, but that could be due to stress, too.
Mood: Good.  I laughed a lot today.
Cigarettes NOT Smoked Since Quit Date: 1540

Celebrating 11 weeks today!  That's over $500 and 128 hours (over 5 days) that I have back since quitting!!

Enough said.

New Side Effect

Day 20
Cigarettes Today (or since my last post): 0
Chantix Side Effects (on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst): 10
Mood: Determined at work, tired at home
Cigarettes NOT Smoked Since Quit Date: 400

What I did today instead of smoking:

1. Joined co-worker in back while he had a cigarette. I realized that he and I hadn't really talked since I quit. Good news: he is quitting March 1! Woohoo... smoker revolution!
2. Called my Auntie Aye!
3. Listened to my old boss tell a story about back in the day when my high school was a drug dealing mecca. He was there during that time.
4. Wore a Snuggie to the Taco Bell drive thru (I never said I was proud of any of these things).
5. Laughed at my cat Peanut playing dead.

I've found certain joys in quitting smoking that I never really noticed before. For instance, warm feels cozier and food tastes better (that's a given). Laughing feels funnier. Maybe it's the Chantix, but I like it. I like being a non-smoker.

What I do not like about Chantix (read this past blog post if you're curious how Chantix works to help you quit smoking), is a new side effect that I experienced last night. Normally, Chantix makes you feel sleepy, so taking it right before bed is no big deal. And, by the time you would normally start to feel nauseous, you're already asleep. It's really a win/win!

But last night, when paired with a Large Diet Coke in the afternoon and a Diet Mountain Dew with dinner, my Chantix got angry. I fell asleep as usual, and then was awakened shortly thereafter burning up and with the worst stomach ache! My mind was racing and I could not get comfortable or fall back asleep for what seemed like eternity. I'm not positive it was the caffeine, but I don't normally have a problem falling asleep or staying asleep, so I think that might be it!