Beating back temptations.
Posted at: 01/13/2012 5:05 PM
| Updated at: 01/16/2012 12:11 PM
By: Peter St. Cyr, 4 On Your Side Producer
It's still too early to declare victory on a 30-year smoking addiction, but it's been almost 100 hours since I last puffed on a cigarette. And, the good news is I'm not craving them as much as I thought I would.
Chantix, a prescription bill that blocks nicotine receptors, gets a lot of the credit, but I'm also thinking tips from the American Lung Association are pivotal to my early success. They recommended writing a plan. I did, it's helping me to cope with all the smoking triggers. Without the plan, I might have had a relapse today.
Here's what happened.
On the way back from a morning meeting in Santa Fe today, I started craving a smoke as I got drove near a gas station where I regularly purchased cigarettes. Just the sight of the station was triggering something in my brain. I really wanted to pull into the store's parking lot and buy a pack. I was far from home and knew I had a boring 60-minute drive ahead. On past trips, I wouldn't have given the 'pit stop' a second thought. But, this time I was in a mental battle.
It is a battle I plan to win.
Committed to quit
Rather than succumb to the temptation, I opted to take a couple of deep breaths, and with a snap of the rubber band I've been wearing around my wrist, I decided to drive past the gas station. As I cruised on to the freeway I was glad I planned to tell myself "forget about it" everytime I had a strong temptation to stop quitting.
Even if I had stopped I wouldn't have a lighter.
Last night at home, I rounded them all and tossed them in the garbage. I couldn't believe how many I had. There were all the colors, blue, red, yellow, orange, white, black, purple and black. Some were full, others only left with a small trickle of fuel and small flames. I remembered buying some of them when I still lived in California. There all gone now, but I bet I'll find more later buried in pockets and dresser drawers.
Making healthy progress
It's good to know that my body is already beginning to heal.
Of course, It will take decades for my heart and lungs to recover, but the doc says my carbon monoxide levels are back to normal already, and the folks at the Pfizer, who make Chantix, say our bodies have a remarkable ability to heal. It's like how blood rushes to form a scab after accidently cutting your finger. It's cool how the body already knows everything it needs to do.
Just thinking about the improvements to my health is keeping me motivated ahead of the long weekend. Now if I can just get the brain to cooperate and stop sending me smoke signals.
I'm already looking forward to noticing these improvements in the next two to 12 weeks. I understand my taste buds will recover next. I love food and I can't wait until it tastes better. I'm already starting to get some energy back and plan a few long walks this weekend.
Here's to a great start. Thanks for all your advice and support. See you next week.
Previous post: Quit Day - No More Cigarettes
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