Lose weight the fun way.

Posted on April 16, 2015

I've been moderately health concious since I stopped eating meat at the age of 15. Since then I've bounced back and forth from vegetarianism and veganism. At the age of 17 I started smoking cigarettes. I know, it's awful and been a constant pest ever since. I managed to quit a few years ago but stumbled and rejoined the smoking train when my car was stolen. I seriously walked straight to the nearest gas station after discovering it( after 2 years of not buying ciggarettes!). Not that smoking helped, but when you are stressed, it's like the straw that broke the camels back. Unfortunaetly it also did not stop my next car from being stolen as well! Seriously, I don't get that but I digress. Life always seems to be "too stressful" or the time just "wasn't right" to quit smoking.

I have come to realize, this type of mentality makes a life long smoker. I am currently a full time EMT and a full time Biochem Student working toward my BA. I support myself financially 100%. I also have a traveling musician as the love of my life. My days are filled with stress, aches and pains, small joys, smiles, sometimes loneliness, and occasionally some ass kicking accomplishments. Just like everyone else.

It's not just smoking that has been a crutch to me, but also eating really really good food. I love to cook, and try new dishes. I love snacking like nobodies business. I also know that when I quit smoking before I gained about 10 lbs. Which, petty as it sounds, is a factor in the difficulty of quiting for many a smoker.

In order to get healthy and handle my stress more efficiently I have ordered a complete recalibration!

Essentially, I am choosing happiness. I know that I need to make changes to get there. I've always struggled with a low self image and always felt like I could look better. Quitting smoking and losing weight seems daunting, but I know that I am capable. It sure as hell beats gainging weight and second guessing the effort put into quitting. I'm already 6 days smoke free! I joined my first diet bet and yes gained a pound, but that's nothing. Im ready to kick some ass and look damn good doing it (and smell better too!).

Thanks for reading and feel free to follow my journey!

p.s. Plant Powered For The Win!

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bahhhhh

04/28/2015 7:49AM

First, good for you! First week is the hardest, they say. I don't know who they are. But, I do know quite a few people who read that book and quit smoking immediately, too. Maybe I should read it and apply it to my life in general. Good luck with the cravings! Ginger is supposed to be good for that, if you're into ginger, which I am. Candied ginger, sugar aside, is the perfect craving killer for me. It's so sharp and flavorful that I only need a nibble. Keep up your good work!

Jenni

04/18/2015 9:53AM

Thank you Tia. I am going cold turkey as you say. I actually read a book called Easyway by Allen Carr and was so ready to stop by the end of it that I haven't had much of a problem. I do however know what you mean about the habits arounds making. I sometimes find myself standing there wondering what I should be doing instead of smoking. It's not so much that I really want to smoke as just don't know how to go through the day and not do it. I'm developing new patterns and just jumping on my treadmill for a walk to keep me busy. I have a really long commute to work, I would smoke anywhere from 2-3 times. It's definitely a struggle to keep my mind from fixating. It's day 8 smoke free today, and to be honest, I have had a hard time the last 3 days specifically. Not in craving a cigarette, but craving ALL the food. It's the hardest part right now.

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bahhhhh

04/16/2015 5:53PM

I wasn't done but I ran out of characters, lol. I was saying breaking the habits around the smoking were harder than quitting smoking itself. IE: I had a 20 minute commute to work in which I would smoke on the way to a coffee shop, stop for a coffee, then smoke another one while I drank my coffee in traffic. When I quit, driving was nearly intolerable, even though I didn't really want a cigarette, I was so used to breaking up the time and the physical motor memory was the hardest habit to break. Anyway, good luck!

bahhhhh

04/16/2015 5:49PM

I'm an ex-smoker. I started at 14 and never looked back. I had an easy time quitting because I got pregnant-- I quit cold turkey. I do not recommend that as a technique. That said, I always heard that quitting smoking was 100% mental. I 100% called BS, until I did it. Ok, so, re-reading that, it sounds like I'm humble-bragging or just generally being a DB, so let me qualify all that by getting to the point. My point is just that you can do ANYTHING if your brain says it's important enough. I wasn't important enough for me to quit-- my fetus was. And I'm totally guilty of boozing with the girls and sneaking a couple of smokes because I'm a grown-up at the bar and I do what I want! But the next day, I smell myself and I remember. Or I wonder who crapped in my mouth and I remember. Or I get into an elevator with a middle-aged person with leathery skin and an ash-tray aroma and I remember. Breaking the habits and routines AROUND smoking are harder, I think, then quitting smoking itself.

Jenni

04/16/2015 2:07PM

It really is a lousy substitute. For anything. Thanks for you support! No reforming of whores here, I just want whats best for me personally. If it helps others, that's swell.

Les

04/16/2015 1:54PM

It is a daily commitment - wake up and recommit. Nothing worse than a reformed whore, as the old saying goes, but, you know you will feel and smell better if you don't smoke and......................it is a lousy substitute. So, I hope you find the willpower to stop that, once and for all! Good luck to you - go with intention and eat mindfully and drink the daggone water!

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