Exercise. I had never really done much of it, nor did I want to. Yet, in my quest to stop smoking, I felt like I should start trying.

I’ve been rather jittery lately and I can’t have a cigarette and I can’t eat. My skin was crawling because I was so restless as what to do with myself.

Then it occurred to me, I felt like running around the block. That only lasted a few minutes before I was gasping for air.

So I’ve started out slowly by taking my dog for walks. However, we seem to be doing a lot more sniffing than we are walking (the dog I mean).

I have checked out several local gyms and I have to say that I am getting excited about joining. I reasoned with myself that the money I will pay going to the gym doesn’t even compare to all of the money that I use to spend on cigarettes, so I know that I will not suffer financially because of my new membership.

I am rather proud of myself because by joining a gym and deciding to exercise, I am making even more of a commitment to myself to remain smoke-free and healthy.

–BETH

Now that I am back on the wagon (so to speak) and I have been smoke-free for several days since the incident where I smoked just one, I am feeling much better and I have a renewed sense of resolve.

From now on, I will not put myself in positions where I am likely to be tempted until I’ve been smoke-free for at least three months.

To give me even more resolve, I recently had a few of my non-smoker friends telling me how much my smoking habit annoyed them. I asked them why they never mentioned this to me before and of course they responded that they didn’t want to hurt my feelings or make me mad at them. Honestly, I probably would have been offended.

They mentioned that they didn’t like that we all had to sit in the smoking section, even if I was the only smoker. They didn’t like having smoke around them when they were eating. I felt bad. They also mentioned that no one liked to ride with me because I smoked and my car stunk. Okay, so that really hurt.

Yet surprisingly, these comments have only given me additional fuel in my fight against smoking. I don’t want to be that friend that my other friends just put up with the smoking because they love me. I want the time that they spend around me to be completely enjoyable to them, and now it is and I love that.

–BETH

I look back to when I was young child. My sisters were smoking & I didn’t like it. Smoking was gross to me back then. I would get mad at my sisters for smoking in the house, but as I grew older, I didn’t mind being around people who smoked. Finally, I decided I was going to try smoking. I don’t know what made me pick up that first cigarette, but I was with the in-crowd now. I didn’t even know how to smoke properly. People asked me why I swallowed while I was smoking. I guess it was out of habit, trying to squeeze all that nicotine in my system.

Smoking calmed me down. If I felt stressed, I would roll up a cigarette & light it. I made sure to have a cigarette handy for when I had breaks at school or just to have something in my hand. First thing in the morning, I would have a cigarette with my coffee. I had to have that first cigarette to start my day or I wouldn’t be able to function. That’s what it felt like anyways. I would always have to have a cigarette every hour. I would look at the clock & tell myself it’s time to have another cigarette. It was like a ritual I had to go through.

Now that I think back in those days, I wanted to quit smoking. It wouldn’t bother me. That’s what I thought. Wrong! The more I think of quitting smoking, the more I need a cigarette! How could have that happened? Now, I have got to get help for my addictive habit! It’s like drinking or smoking pot. You need that one drink or that puff. People go to AA or NA for help. Is there a meeting for smokers? Well, I found a Support Group called QuitNet. I just started, so I have a long journey ahead of me.

I got a scare of having cancer & smoking wasn’t healthy at all. I found out I spend like $950/year supplying my smoking habit. I smoked for at least 9 years, so that would add up to $8550 give or take a few dollars. That money could have went to better use, like saving up for a vehicle or even a mortgage on a house. The way the taxes are going up every year on tobacco, I wouldn’t be able to afford to smoke anymore, so why fight the inevitable?

I know there are people who are willing to help. They are out there. You just need the resources.

There is a toll-free helpline, support groups on the web, nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine patches, nicotine gum), acupuncture, hypnosis, and medication.

I checked out a stop smoking lens that I highly recommend.

http://www.squidoo.com/smokefreereality